Intensive Training - a trainee bell-ringer’s experience
It was with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that I attended the intensive course for learners at St Mary's Church in Caldicot. I had only been ringing at Magor for six weeks and was keen to learn more and improve my technique but, nevertheless, I was slightly concerned as to what I had let myself in for. I was met by a lovely bunch of pro ringers, headed up by Pip Penney who was the instructor running the course - a bubbly, enthusiastic lady who made the whole experience great fun. Pip took everything back to basics and over the four days that I spent under her tuition, I noticed a great improvement, especially on my hand transfers.
All the trainees on the course felt that we had received a good grounding in the basics: hand transfer from sally to tail, ringing the bell up, ringing the bell down, standing the bell, creating loops, (all assisted and then unassisted), tying the ropes and some theory.
The fact that there was 1-1 guidance from the other tutors there meant that we received honest, constructive feedback on our techniques throughout the whole course from different individuals who could pinpoint the various small, but critical, things we needed to work on.
I would highly recommend the intensive course to everyone who is starting out in bell ringing, or is even a bit further on. It was informative, practical, friendly and excellent fun.
Julie O'Leary