Having decided I really needed to move on from a variety of Doubles Methods and Plain Bob Minor I found I had an opportunity to ring Stedman in one of the towers I visited. Trying to teach myself and sometimes with a ringing friend but only ringing once a week – badly – I thought it was going to take me as long as it did for Bob Doubles a few years ago when I was in the same position. Our Training Officer suggested that I might benefit from a residential Ringing Course and found one for me to apply for – and it was also in our local area – well not too far away!
I was really not sure at all what to expect but as I know that all bellringers are a friendly bunch I should be OK. As it transpired it was all it lived up to be and more…
Registering for the course was straightforward though there are always more applicants than places so you might not get on first time. Directions to the school were easy to follow and I arrived in plenty of time. Once at the school the registration was also straightforward. The accommodation is in the School Boarding houses so you might find you have a room with more than one bed and it might be a bunk bed but you won’t find others in the room unless you requested it! Nowadays they also have an ensuite shower and toilet. It was suggested to bring an extra pillow which I did and was grateful for but the bed itself was really quite comfortable or maybe I was so exhausted by the end of the day I’d have found anything comfortable! There were plenty of plug sockets – I suppose these days school children have as many devices as we do!
I had taken a small kettle, mug and glass. We had been told that there was a shared kitchen on each floor but I hadn’t realised it would be supplied with tea/coffee/milk. Also a fridge if you had taken anything to store.
Having arrived on Thursday lunchtime, I collected my information pack and I had time to have a quick read of it, unpack and collect myself before heading off down a fairly steep hill to where the main events were happening. It started off with tea and enormous chocolate or plain cookies and these continued to be produced at every mid-morning or mid-afternoon break. After a ‘Welcome and Introduction’ we set off, clutching our ‘Helping You Get Around’ Guide to meet up with our particular Group. This year there were 12 groups ranging from Bell Experience to Surprise Major. Each group had a Tutor, 5 students and 7 experienced helpers. After introductions, then more tea and biscuits we then had a tutorial on our specialist subject. This was followed by supper which always included soup, a hearty meal and a desert. Following this we departed for our first practical session. We shared driving and when possible the helpers did the driving so the students could either practice or panic! The towers we visited were all within about half an hour drive from Bradfield. There was only ever one student ringing at a time at this stage and this evening was for the Tutor to establish our level of ringing. On our return we could meet up and enjoy a hot drink or something a bit stronger but I’m afraid I just crashed out.
Friday morning started with breakfast between 7:30 and 8:30 and like supper there was plenty of it – either cooked or continental with various hot or cold drinks and a chance to sit and meet different ringers and hear how they were getting on.
Friday and Saturday followed a similar pattern with 2 practical sessions mid-day and some sort of pub lunch or picnic in between. Either side of the practical sessions were some optional sessions which you could choose yourself. I went to a Listening session, Blue Line Dancing, Rope Control when Raising and Playing with Numbers. Some of these sessions were for my progression and some for me to take back to share with our band. One of these was the Blue Line Dancing. You can see how it starts off from the photo but I found it a really good way to demonstrate a method – we did Bob Doubles – as each time we walked round and noticed Treble in lead I would point out to the lady I was dodging with to look out as the next dodge would also be with me…plus all the other little pointers about Course and After bells. A great laugh was had with a new bunch of ringers.
There was always something in the evenings either Pub Quiz, Striking competition, informal Get-togethers and a Church Service (Saturday evening). By Friday we were beginning to get to know our Group and the tutor was understanding what each student was capable of and what they needed to concentrate on. After the Thursday practical we went back to breaking down Stedman by ringing some Wrong Plain Hunting and Cloisters which really helped me concentrate on the different parts of the method.
Sunday was a more relaxed start to the day unless you had booked a special 1-1 session followed by a final Group Tutorial explaining a progression route from your chosen topic. This was followed by a traditional Sunday Lunch then off for the final practical session. Today we all managed to ring a touch of Stedman individually and then the finale was a Plain Course with all students in together. I need to say something here about the great Stedman group or ‘Pearls’ as we were known! By this time our Helpers had been ringing much more than the students – 5 sessions of one and a half hours and a final hot session of 2 hours. They looked completely exhausted and all the students are hugely grateful to their support and stamina. Our Tutor, Simon Edwards had taken a bunch of novices who mainly had little knowledge of Stedman through the theory and practical of a Plain course then on to a Touch. He stood by us every step of the way and picked up on our individual training needs, guiding us through our difficulties and though he too looked tired by Sunday afternoon he must have felt elated in his success of getting us all through so successfully. Thank you Simon.
Following this was a return to Bradfield for a final tea and biscuits. As I was part way home at this last tower I decided to forego more biccies, said my final thanks and farewell and continued home from here.
I started the course with trepidation having never spent so long as 4 consecutive days ringing but the days just flew by and I wish now I could do it again so I can have time to soak in my enjoyment. All thanks to Simon for his excellent tuition and our 7 helpers who just kept going. One of the problems following a course like this is that you then might not get the opportunity to ring it again or if so then not very much. I DO hope to get the opportunity to ring in a tower I have now started visiting but it might not be every week. However I also put on regular Monthly methods sessions for our band and some of our neighbours so I have included Stedman in the ringing. I was very chuffed today to ring a touch of Stedman and got to the end in the right place….SUCCESS….or beginners luck – let’s hope not and that it will soon remain firmly planted in my brain.
Thank you Vicki Rowse and the team for putting on such a well run course and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is feeling they have reached a plateau and just need a bit of a concentrated spurt.
Debbie Phipps
Lytchett Matravers
East Dorset Branch of the Salisbury Guild
