Fun With Bells - Bell And Handbell Ringing Interviews

Who better to quiz about the future of ringing than the President of the CCCBR, the chair of the Association of Ringing Teachers, and an ordained ringer and co-author of a book about ringing and the church? Show host Cathy Booth puts this esteemed panel through its paces, posing some vital questions on what needs to happen to keep change ringing alive, and to recruit and retain young ringers.It turns out that most of the answers lie with young people themselves, and that the ringing community has a lot to learn from the way young ringers organise, communicate, and socialise.So, tune in for a free-ranging and thought-provoking discussion that might end up with you questioning some of the current values, beliefs, and rituals of ringing culture …Top five takeawaysMake the most of the relationship you have with your church – they may well have skills and expertise that can help with your recruitmentListen to the views of your young ringersDon’t forget the role of parents in encouraging their children’s hobbies. T

‘Unique’ is often overused as a word, but host Cathy Booth’s guests on this wonderful episode, John, and Debbie, can certainly claim it for their ringing experience. That’s because they ring at St Thomas’s Church, Kilifi in Kenya which is one of the remotest rings of bells in the world, with the nearest bells hung for change ringing being at Harare in Zimbabwe over 1,000 miles away.Cathy learns about the fascinating history of the church and the bells, as well as hearing how John and Debbie became ringers, their learning experience, and their amazing ringing trips to the UK.Although much will be familiar to other ringers, such as the ringing room with its set of handbells, cabinet of ringing books and bottomless sweet tin, there are also some eye-opening challenges of ringing in a tower that is, well, unique!If you are beginning to take ringing a little bit for granted, this podcast will stop you in your tracks and possibly rekindle your romance.Top takeawaysRead all about the Kilifi ringers 2015 adventures i

Why do you ring in a gallery? Who were the ringers whose names are on the peal boards behind you? Where can you find an example of an art deco ringing association certificate?Host Cathy Booth quizzes knowledgeable guests Chris Ridley and Gareth Davies about the amazing range of historical sources at your fingertips to help answer these questions and more.Thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of Chris and the volunteers from the historical and archive working group of the CCCBR there are collections of just about everything - belfry artefacts, newspaper extracts, biographies, rolls of honour, badges, the lot!Gareth goes on to give some great insight in how historians can make the most of these resources and what we can all do to promote them to the ringing historians of the future. All fascinating stuff.I think they all deserve a certificate! Yes, there’s a collection of those as well …Top 5 takeawaysAccess many of the resources mentioned in this episode at the CCCBR website History & Archive (cccbr.org.u

In this special fifth anniversary episode, the Fun with Bells Podcast celebrates by turning the tables on host and producer Cathy Booth, as she takes her turn on the other end of the microphone and is grilled by team member Emily Roderick.Emily digs into the background to the podcast, its aims, and the entire podcast process from idea to launch. The origin of the name is also revealed. Who knew?Cathy and Emily also choose some of their favourite episodes from the last five years and play some great ‘best bit’ clips. There is then a tantalising glimpse into what topics to expect in the future, so stay tuned, and with your support, the podcast can keep entertaining and informing ringers for the next five years to come.Links to the episodes mentioned:The Joy of Bells: New Ringers Reflect on Their New Obsession: funwithbells.com/ep69Remarkable PhD Study of Cambridge Bellringers Pay and Habits: funwithbells.com/ep23Recording Your Bells: funwithbells.com/ep15What Ringers Wear: funwithbells.com/ep53Thirty Voices, Se

In this episode, David Smith makes a much-welcome return to the podcast for another conversation with host Cathy Booth that’s brimming with insight.Find out about about the differences between ringing associations in the UK and those in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With David’s global ringing teaching experience there are plenty of anecdotes and observations, on all things teaching, learning and mentoring.It’s also an episode that poses some philosophical questions about the nature of ringing associations and what it means, as ringers, to connect and belong. Associations may not be the future, but from David’s perspective, ringing itself has a very positive and promising outlook!Top tipsA ringing course might not be for you, but why not think about offering to lend a hand and help outFeeling brave? Why not ask another ringer you trust to observe your teaching session and ask for some constructive feedbackCheck out the NorthWest ringing course website nwringingcourse.ukNow’s a good time to updat

This episode sees host Cathy Booth catching up with three Ring for King recruits to find out what their first year of ringing has been like. And what a year it’s been!Jessica, Lindsey and Andy have notched up an amazing collection of ‘firsts’ since starting their ringing adventure. First tower tour, first wedding ringing, first quarter peal and first striking competition have all been ticked off the list. Also worthy of note are their first ringing blisters!Find out what they have found hard, what they have found easy and what’s helped. Turns out that ringing is not easy as it looks, but as they enthusiastically point out, if it is too easy, it’s not worth doing!Top five takeawaysIf you’re a novice ringer, pop into the beginners bell handling practice - it will make you realise how much progress you have made!Looking for some reading material? Try out Steve Coleman’s books www.ringingbooks.co.ukIf you fancy a challenge and love a list then give 50 ringing things a go https://smartringer.org/50things/Inspired

The debate around ringing and music is taken to an entirely new level in this fascinating conversation between show host Cathy Booth and composer Helen Ottaway.Deeply inspired by the sound of bells, Helen’s passion for this shared soundscape has led from the creation of individual musical works to an entire bell-inspired festival! It’s amazing to hear what can happen when composers and ringers come together to exchange knowledge and enthusiasm across different art forms, contexts and places.Be inspired, listen to the recordings and maybe even download the ringtone - but don’t get so carried away that you forget to turn your mobile off before that peal …Top Five TakeawaysWhy not get in touch with existing festivals to see if there’s a way your tower could get involvedGiven the heritage aspect of ringing, the National Lottery is a good source of funding for creative projects www.heritagefund.org.ukCheck out the Ring Out Festival website for more inspiration https://www.rooklanearts.org.uk/ringout/Interested in

Show host Cathy Booth aims high this month in conversation with accomplished ringer and leading light Linda Garton.Linda strongly believes that “success breeds success” and, as you’ll hear, this is amply illustrated in both her own ringing career and the winning bands that her leadership has inspired.So muster your motivation, make a plan and put some of Linda’s practical ideas on training and development into action. You’ll then be set to celebrate all levels of ringing, from rounds right the way up to the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths* and beyond.*Other ringing societies also availableThis podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to ringingteachers.org.www.funwithbells.com

How many bells are enough? Six, eight, ten? As show host Cathy Booth discovers from Peter Heard, once the offers of help and support came rolling in to Nevern Restoration Project, it was easy for their ambitious plan to grow and grow!There’s something for everyone in this engaging episode, whatever your interests. Church history, restoration projects, epic fundraising, setting up a band from scratch and the ups and downs of special guests and TV appearances all get a look in.Peter feels that ringing has rejuvenated him in later life, but I think this may be the other way about. Judging from the amazing success of this bell restoration and training centre, he has fully reciprocated by doing his bit to breathe new life into an old tower.For more information and photos see www.funwithbells.comThis podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to ringingteachers.org. Contact Cathy at

Terrified of Twitter, hesitant about hashtags, tentative about TikTok? This practical podcast sees host Cathy Booth take a closer look at social media and how ringers can make the most of it, whether it’s to recruit new ringers, keep the neighbours engaged or impress other towers with what you’re up to.And if it’s tips you’re after, this podcast delivers in spades, with great advice from those already up to exciting things on their social medial platforms. Listen and learn from Chrissie and Katelyn from Loughborough Bell Foundry, Sarah Bowyer from Worcester Cathedral, and Richard and Rebecca from Frittenden Bell Ringers.With so many platforms you might very well be wondering where to start? Well apparently photos of animals, and especially cats, are the perfect clickbait. Get your cute Stedman 'cat's ears' pics ready everyone, as now is the time to use them!For photos and more information see: www.funwithbells.comThis podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To f

What, if anything, is worth keeping from the COVID lockdown period? Well definitely the Wensleydale Clusters online ringing course! Host Cathy Booth hears from ART award winners David Scrutton and Jonathan Couchman, who tell the story behind their successful recruitment scheme, now in its third year.In just five hours of online learning and practice in Ringing Room, the course gets wannabe ringers up to the stage of understanding plain hunt and eager to be matched with a local tower captain so they can begin ringing for real in a nearby tower. The retention rate is impressive too!Lots of tips here for any ringing project - bring together talented people with towers in need, keep things friendly and informal, and don’t intimidate leaners by exposing them too early to the ‘scary ringers’…For more information and photos see www.funwithbells.comThis podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your

Is Phil Gay a typical ringer, an atypical ringer or just total legend? Show host Cathy finds out as she delves into a ringing life very well lived.From inventing a mobile belfry, developing the Keele Ringing Summer School, teaching his family to ring and hanging his own mini-ring in his garage to notching up 1000 peals, Phil has made a massive contribution to ringing both locally and nationally. And that’s without mentioning his years of service at the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.Yes, not every one of his innovations has been taken forward, but Phil still has plenty of ideas. In particular, we just can’t wait to see Phil’s quick erection model!For more information and photos go to www.funwithbells.com.This podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to ringingteachers.org.www.funwithbells.com

Struggling to strike in the right place? Anxious about unpredictable sallies? Getting no satisfaction from your ringing? You’ve come to the right podcast!Ace ringing teachers, Ruth Suggett, Judith Frye and Greg Russell, talk host Cathy Booth through the most common bell handling problems and, more importantly, how to solve them. From slow hand transfers, inadequate follow through and not catching the sally at the right time, it’s all here.Don’t worry though, with the help of a good teacher, early diagnosis and willingness to master the necessary skills, all can be put right. Above all else, aim to be one with your bell - it is not the enemy, but ego is!For more information and photos see: www.funwithbells.comThis podcast is sponsered by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to ringingteachers.org.www.funwithbells.com

In this second episode focusing on engaging the media, host Cathy Booth looks at two sides of one ‘Ring for the King’ interview by talking to broadcast journalist Tim O’Callaghan and Simon Linford, President of the CCCBR.Cathy learns that it’s hard to set the news agenda so if the media pick up on your story, you’ll need to act fast. And once a news outlet runs with your story, others may well follow so make the most of it!For the CCBR, the recent media blitz is part of a much wider strategy focused on the future of ringing and attracting ‘good’ bell ringers - that stick at it, enjoy it, and add value to their towers. So, ditch the cold, dirty ringing chambers, grumpy old men and unrealistic expectations and begin the adventure of a lifetime of discovery …For more information and photos see www.funwithbells.com.www.funwithbells.com

This episode is jam packed with practical tips as host Cathy Booth, with the help of three engaging guests, explores how to get positive bell ringing stories into the media.First off, ringers Matthew Butler and Kate Flavell talk Cathy through their experiences of making the news - either after being contacted by local radio, TV and the press, or trying to hit the headlines themselves.Cathy then gets a very different perspective from interviewing journalist Andrew Napier, who very helpfully explains how things work from the other side.So if your Facebook post goes viral, or you have a great news story to share, this podcast provides the perfect preparation for your interview, photograph or press release. If you do get the call, just go for it - see it as yet another opportunity to bust that myth that ringing involves monks being yanked up in the air!For more information and photos see www.funwithbells.comAt the end of this episode, Cathy briefly interviews Matt Jerome of the YCRA at the recent ART conference.w

Ever wondered what it’s like to learn how to ring church bells? Podcast host Cathy Booth catches up with both learners in Winchester and teachers at the Association of Ringing Teacher’s conference to find out.It’s clear that all the beginner ringers love the challenge of learning, especially enjoying the feeling of being focused and in the present. However, ringing isn’t quite as easy as it looks. It’s just as well that there are plenty of patient teachers there to help. So listen to your teacher, take small steps and keep going - and if you go through a rough patch, just remember how much progress you have already made.The good news is that the one thing that everyone agrees on is that the most important thing about ringing is to have fun. That, and don’t forget to breathe!For more information and photos - see www.funwithbells.com.At the end of this episode, Cathy briefly interviews Matt Jerome of the YCRA at the recent ART conference.www.funwithbells.com

This thought-provoking episode sees host Cathy Booth catch up with Emily Roderick, who after volunteering to support the podcast now finds herself featuring in it!One of the age-old questions that ringers rarely agree on is ‘what exactly is ringing?’ - is it a sport, is it music, or is it art? Ringer and artist Emily is currently exploring ringing from the perspective of performance art, with an Arts Council England grant to boot. What follows is a fascinating discussion into the creative process and where imagination can lead to.So, if you are a ringer interested in performance, or an artist interested in ringing, now’s your chance to get involved. Get in touch with Emily, and who knows what might happen next ...For photos and information go to : https://funwithbells.com/?p=1918www.funwithbells.com

Are your bells too loud, or too quiet? Could some simple tips help your hard-of-hearing ringers to cope better in the tower? This podcast sees host Cathy Booth and guests explore the fascinating world of sound.First, Alison and Chris share their experiences of ringing whilst using hearing aids, and come up with some terrific tips to make like easier both in the tower and in the pub afterwards.Then Cathy quizzes her husband Roger on sound levels in towers. Turns out that it’s not just the decibel volume that matters, but reverberation and structural sound count too. Nobody wants a bad case of ‘clapper knock’!Whether you want to soak up the sound with wall-to-wall carpet, or crank up the volume by leaving all the doors open, this podcast is perfect for you.Fore more information, including Mike Banks' slides see https://funwithbells.com/?p=1892www.funwithbells.com

No, we’re not talking about tyrannical tower captains, caustic conductors or belligerent tenor ringers here, but the wide and wonderful variety of wildlife that ringers and steeple keepers share their bell towers with. David Bagley fascinates host Cathy Booth with descriptions and anecdotes of both welcome and unwelcome species, and advises on how to either encourage them or get rid of them. No, it’s not just bats in the belfry, as insects, mammals and birds all seem to enjoy the atmosphere and make themselves at home. As well as some fascinating facts, this podcast offers some great excuses for losing a quarter - just blame the distraction caused by that cheeky mouse, plague of ladybirds or rare sighting of an assassin beetle!www.funwithbells.com

This second sojourn into ringing in redundant churches sees show host Cathy Booth discovering two more exciting projects where ringers have joined forces with the Churches Conservation Trust.When someone suggests you take the keys and check on the bells in a redundant church, big things can happen. Such an invitation proved inspiring to Andy Cope and his partner who have transformed All Souls in Bolton into a community ringing centre with a winning recruitment strategy.Meanwhile, the vision for a national centre of ringing in Northampton is coming together beautifully, as Simon Linford updates on progress. Close your eyes and imagine the perfect place - nice ring of eight next door, set of training bells, state of the art simulator, a ringing library and a real ale pub. Yes, you heard that correctly, a pub! Is it too early to book an outing? www.funwithbells.com