Ben – Heddington, Calne Branch
Ben started on his ringing journey at Heddington on 26th July 2017, a few days after his 11th birthday. He picked up the handling basics very quickly passing Level 1 “Learning the Ropes” 0n 30th August. By July 2018 Ben had accomplished Level 2, was confidently able to call changes and was a valuable member of the local band on practise nights and for Sunday service ringing.
One of Ben’s aims was to ring for the centenary of the Armistice however he broke his wrist a couple of weeks before the event and his arm was in plaster. This did not deter Ben and he rang for the occasion, with help, with his arm in plaster.
The Heddington band is comprised of a number of recent learners and some existing ringers who were at the call change stage when Ben joined them. This has meant the band has had to learn together from the basics, with support from Calne Branch members and by the end of 2018 they were able to ring plain hunt to a reasonable standard without any outside help. During 2019 the band as a whole set out to ring Plain Bob Doubles which they achieved. Ben was a great contributor to this achievement as his enthusiasm is infectious. Ben also completed the Bronze “50 things” award during 2019.
Ben has become a regular attender at the Devizes Branch “young ringers” practises as well as attending some training mornings in the Calne Branch. This has enabled him to develop his own skills and bring back new ideas to support the rest of the band. When the Tower Captain at Heddington is absent Ben is always keen to run the practises which he does eagerly and with confidence.
By the end of 2019 Ben was able to ring plain courses of Reverse Canterbury and is working towards ringing a quarter peal on the treble to Plain Bob Doubles as well as learning what to do at calls when ringing inside. Unfortunately, Ben was not able to put himself forward to join the young ringers in the national competition at Liverpool in 2019 but is planning to join them at York this year.
Ben is full of energy and has shown great keenness to progress with his ringing, he is an excellent team member and has shown good skills in leadership which makes him an example to other ringers, both young and not so young.
