In these difficult and frustrating times are you missing ringing and your ringing friends?
Here are some ringing-related things you might like to do during lockdown:
For All Ringers:
Ring for the NHS
If you have any bells at home, you may like to ring them during the Clap for Carers at 8pm on Thursdays.
#ClapForCarers
Prepare for Ringing Returns
What will you do when we can ring again?
The CCCBR will help us with the Ringing Returns campaign.
#RingingReturns
Watch and Share this Video
Our Silent Bell Towers which also introduces #RingingReturns.
… and watch other Ringing Videos
from the CCCBR Playlists. The ‘Oddities & Wonders’ are amusing, and number 29 was filmed on a DDA Chesterfield District outing.
Keep visiting as more videos are added.
Listen to Fun with Bells
The Fun with Bells podcasts cover topics of interest to everyone including non-ringers.
Plus tips and advice for ringers with ‘ask the expert’.
The ‘Bell Ringing on your CV’ episode features an (ex-)Derbyshire young ringer.
Practise in RingingRoom
Many towers are now ‘meeting’ to ‘practise’ on-line using RingingRoom.com (whilst communicating with each other using free apps such as Discord).
The Help page tells you how to get started.
Do have a go – it is fun and certainly makes you listen and count!
Try apps on your Smartphone, Tablet or Computer
Free apps such as Methodology and BlueLine are great for looking up and learning methods on phones.
Simulator apps are ideal for practising alone, try Abel/Mabel/Mobel, Beltower or Virtual Belfry.
Join the Derbyshire Bellringers Facebook Group to keep connected
And, if you’re a young ringer (or the parent/carer/instructor of young ringers), the Derbyshire Young Ringers Facebook Group.
For ringers everywhere there is the Bellringers Facebook Group and other Facebook groups.
Read the Comic
‘The Ringing World’ is currently offering 25% off new subscriptions using code ‘RW2020’.
Enter the YouTube Competition
Have you taken any good videos of ringing? The CCCBR has launched a new competition of ringing videos.
Each month there is a different category. May’s is ‘Best striking on 6 bells or fewer’.
Further information and how to enter.
Share Bell Recordings
With the public: Thank you to everyone who contributed videos and recordings of their local bells for the public to hear at Easter via Bell Ringing Derbyshire.
Bell Ringing Derbyshire is our ‘shop window’ and can be viewed by anyone (no need for a Facebook account), so please share it with your friends and local communities.
For on-line services: Ask your local clergy if they’d like to use a recording/video of your tower’s bells for use in on-line services (with appropriate permissions and following safeguarding procedures).
Dig out your best Tower Photos
Photos of 4 Derbyshire churches will feature in a 2021 calendar celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Derby DA, Leicester DG and Nottingham & Southwell DG.
So if you have any fantastic photos of (ideally iconic) Derbyshire churches with bells, in any season, please contact Sue Hall.
The 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2021 will be advertised in due course.
Look out for your DDA Annual Report
The DDA 2019 annual reports will be posted to members. Visit the DDA News Page for details and for other latest news from your association.
Visit the CCCBR News Page to:
Find out about #RingingReturns.
Read the President’s Blogs.
Help to identify our ‘customers’ (see the C&M update).
… and more.
For Tower Captains, Ringing Masters, Tower Secretaries & Steeplekeepers:
Make a Porch Poster
Do you have a porch poster on display at your tower? Is it up-to-date?
A porch poster is the easiest way of promoting ringing at your tower. Download a porch poster from the DDA website and customise it with your tower information, ringing times and contact details.
Please display it where it can be seen when the church is locked. You might like to display one inside the church too (after lockdown).
Print Ringing Flyers
Download a flyer
from the DDA website, add your tower’s details and print a batch so they’re ready to leave in church for people to take and to hand out at events.
Get Your Tower On-Line
Does your tower have it’s own website or ringing page on the church website, and it is up-to-date?
If not, now may be a good time to get one set up, ask your church webmaster to help, or get it updated.
Tower Pages will soon be available on the DDA website (an ideal alternative to setting up a new website/page and for further coverage). The new Tower Page feature will be communicated soon.
Get Splicing!
If, like me, you took some worn or broken ropes home ages ago to mend when you ‘get around to it’, this is probably an ideal time to splice them!
Here are instructions for Short Splices and Long Splices (thanks to the WDCRA).
Replenish Resources and Records
Do you have an attendance register? – Essential for safeguarding, and may also help to trace Covid-19 infections.
Do you keep records for bell maintenance? Do you keep a log of regular checks? Do you have a warning sign? Find useful information and downloads on the CCCBR website.
Do you have enough learning resources such as ART booklets, One Per Learner books, progress charts and badges? Buy what you need online from the CCCBR Shop or ART Shop.