There was recently a random conversation on a social media ringing site about ferrets – how to store them and whether to put jam or cream on them first. Part of what many miss about ringing is the bizarre nature of the conversations. Ringers often do a good line in gentle meandering down lines of lateral thought. Perhaps it is because we are expected to stick so rigidly to a proscribed line when ringing (no improvisation permitted) that released from that tyranny we relax and verbally wander once we get to the pub afterwards.
So this conversation branched into scone preparation (as if this has anything to do with ferrets), which of course lands us in the west country of England. Whether you put jam or cream on your scone first marks you out as a native of Cornwall or Devon as clearly as if you have Tiverton stamped on your forehead, which inevitably leads to An Idea.
The ringingroom is fun and earlier this week an assembled group of enthusiasts met for the express purpose of ringing on 12 – some of us because we missed it, and some of us because we don’t habitually ring on 12 and thought it would be fun to have a try. Those that are not 12 bell ringers (in my case not 8 nor 10 bell ringers either) shared the duties on the treble and tenor (would you like me to plain hunt or treble bob? was the question asked as each method was suggested) . The more experienced ringers were not allowed to be lazy and were expected to ring inside because our need to top and tail was the greatest. It was exhilarating and we did actually make a reasonable fist at some methods.
Now with all this talk of jam and cream, why not a Devon call change ringingroom extravaganza, both for those that can and to instruct those that can’t? We could all experience the thrill of that call change ringing speciality 60 on thirds, rattling along at a good pace. Perhaps some of us could learn to call it ourselves, so that when we return to our towers we have another string to our bows. I am sure the fledgling Reedham band will be delighted to sample something other than rounds to queens and back.
This is an appeal to any Proper Call Change Ringers (PCCRs) who might be reading today’s offering – could rapid-fire, cartwheeling call changes be made to work on a virtual platform and are you up to giving it a try? There is a bunch of enthusiastic ringers out here, spread across many continents, who would be sure to turn up and benefit from your wisdom. If all else fails, we can offer a good line in conversation.
As for the jam/cream debate – personally I spread butter first and then favour the Devon way.
The Accidental Ringer 
I’m confused. Last night I got an email with a post whet your said about how one method was St Clements with a different frontwork and how methods were related to one another. I realised this before I could plain hunt- not because it was explained to me or I was a genius ringer (far from it), but because it read Wilson’s Change Ringing, which explains how methods work, their relationship to reach other, went you need bobs and how they work and other fascinated stuff. I borrowed it from the library but it is still available. It should be read by all aspiring ringers as it explains how change ringing actually works and why we do what we do. Get a copy!
LikeLike