Available courses

50 Virtual Ringing Things

The place to explore the world of virtual ringing and the many different activities that hook fellow bell ringers into this addictive hobby.

The challenges cover simulator software, online ringing, handbells and the enigmatically named tail ends. When you’ve ticked off a challenge yourself, you can share your experience on the 50 Things Facebook group.

The scheme is targeted at those who are new to ringing in the virtual world, however, just like the original 50 Ringing Things, there will probably be competitions between experienced virtual ringers to see who will be the first to get their Gold certificate.

For you collectors out there (and there are one or two in bell ringing!) you will receive your 50 Ringing Things certificates when you’ve ticked off the right number of challenges. Remember, only challenges completed after registering on the scheme count!

Minor Stepping Stones

This is a progressive learning scheme to take you from Plain Bob to spliced Surprise Minor by learning over 40 methods. It is targeted at those who are learning methods in the virtual world, however it is just as applicable to learning on tower bells. It introduces concepts such as:

If that sounds a bit scary, it is designed to develop your method ringing in small steps and a certificates are awarded when you’ve completed each level. You will have earned them!


Understanding Call Changes

Gives you a good all round knowledge of everything to do with call changes, from understanding what they are, to ringing and calling them.

First steps in calling bobs

Learn how to call bobs effectively and in the right place, and how to construct touches using all the calling options for Plain Bob Doubles.

Suitable for those who are competent at ringing touches of Plain Bob Doubles.

Composing practice night touches

An introduction to the concepts and techniques involved in putting together short practice-night touches of spliced, from Plain and Little Bob Minor, through Spliced Surprise Minor, and finishing with examples of splicing the Core 7 Surprise Major.

This course assumes that you have experience of calling simple touches of Plain Bob> and that you have knowledge of a few Surprise Minor methods,ideally including London.

Introduction to basic belfry checks and routine maintenance

Explains how to safely undertake basic belfry checks and maintenance, including how to safely work in the tower, undertake a risk assessment, check your belfry for any obvious issues and perform basic maintenance tasks such as replacing a stay.

Before undertaking any work in the tower, it's important to have completed a risk assessment which has been approved by your PCC.

Ropework, knots and splices for bellringers

Learn how to check and care for the ropes in your tower, and prevent and fix common problems.

Includes:

  • Rope care and maintenance
  • How and where ropes fail
  • How to diagnose and fix them before they fail
  • Splicing ropes to repair them
  • Which splice to use in each situation