Growing up we all had those varied interests, sports and hobbies. But as life gets busier, you go to university and then to work. These once loved past times start to fall by the wayside of life, either through dwindling interest, or you just have Big Bang life changes!!
So I grew up, just outside of Liverpool in the tiny village of Aughton. Where my mum got me into change ringing just after the millennium*. If you can remember it ... it's a vivid memory for me now *The Millennium, remember that, the world was going to end due to the Y2K bug and we built a big tent by the Thames.
So I started learning to ring when I 12-13, and despite various surgery related set backs, see my other Hey to come. I was a keen ringer for several years. I started off "learning the ropes", just how to ring the bell, but then progressed to rounds and then onto method ringing. Learning methods such as bob doubles, bob minor and eventually was able to ring Kent Treble Bob! I’m sure some ringers will find this impressive, others will probably dismiss it as a trivial, but everyone else will be impressed I’m sure. But it was great fun, requiring practise and study.
But when I started university, the hustle and bustle of meeting new people, settling in to a new home and being dropped in the deep end of academic independent life I just lost touch. I still rang when I went home, but during term time with assignments due and constant traipsing between lectures I just didn’t :(. There was also the cosmic life shift from someone who’d been at home for his whole life, and suddenly had a big freedom and responsibility. But I’m going off topic… While I passed I had some changes if university and more, ringing still didn’t get back in my life til 2013 and I was a postgraduate! I was just ringing at my old home tower and I met somebody in my local student band, so I got back into weekly practise. I was ringing every week at our Friday night practise, and carrying on to a couple of other towers as I could. I would ring the odd quarter peal but then life got busy, I moved job and band but kept up the ringing a little. But then I moved AGAIN and didn't find a new tower. But I recently decided, post-(post)-COVID, I'm going to get out there, be social and explore my hobby some more. I set myself the goal, of being back ringing for the Central Council AGM in September (2022) ... Although I'd stopped ringing, I was still part of the Central Council of Bell Ringers). I was quite nervous about popping down. I had never rung here before, I didn't know the local band (ringers) and what they ring... Ohh and I didn't know if I would be ok handling a bell, it's a skill it self.
So I've returned back to ringing, and somehow found myself ringing Stedman Triples, Gransire Triples and Touches of Bob Major, and just learned little bob. I've also been able to help out my local band helping them to progress their ringing too. So it's easy for a "lapsed ringer" to return, and even have a lot to offer.
You can find more information on Church Bell ringing through the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers at https://cccbr.org.uk/
If you’re also a “lapsed ringer” or have been, I’d love to hear your thoughts… drop me a message martyn@hey.com ... or even if you'd just like to learn to ring :)
Martyn | Software Developer & Agile Evangelist from Manchester (UK) 🚂Often found riding (ticket checking) on steam trains ... 🐈Chilling with my cats 🏃🏻♂️or Running over hills and through mud He | Him 🏳️🌈 📝Find me at: https://martynbristow.co.uk and my blog at https://blog.martynbristow.co.uk
