M1: 12 October 2019 - Paul, Cornwall

In October, twelve ‘students’ met at Paul church for an Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) course on Teaching Bell Handling.

The aim was to learn how to teach completely new ringers, from discussing safety in the tower to bring able to ring independently. Some of us had taught many, many learners, some of us hadn’t yet taught anyone. Paul church, with tower captain John Swan, along with Gemma and Mick Hudnott, hosted the training and all found this venue excellent - pub next door, kitchen, loo, well-behaved bells - what more could you want?

Tieing Paul bells was an education for me in itself. Mick got 6, variously sized, used inner tubes from The Cycle Centre, Penzance. Asking why they didn’t want to know what he wanted them for they just said ‘What you do in the privacy of your own home…etc etc’.

The course tutor, Pip Penney, was brilliant – taking Zaireus gradually through theory of teaching as relevant to bellringing along with lots of exercises that broke down the learning into relatively simple steps.

My daughter, Zaidee, became my training guinea-pig. We try to fit in ‘more intensive’ sessions before anything is forgotten and to maintain enthusiasm, going to Madron and Penzance learner sessions as well as St Buryan. I’m trying to work on her bad habits as they develop, and yes, I do have my own! I thank those experienced ringers around me who put me straight, so that I can put her straight, particularly Carolyn, Claire and Mary.

The other course attendees were also enthusiastic about the training, and we are planning our next ART course, Module 2F – teaching striking, listening, rhythm, ropesight and improved bell control. Anyone interested in joining this course, let me know. You don’t need to have done the Module 1 course.

Miranda Penhaligon

Teaching Bell Handling

Practical advice for teachers, right from the first lesson.

» Find out more about Module 1