Firsts Fortnight – for “Firsts” read “Progress for ringers (and ringing)”..wow, what a tremendous response! Thank you all very much and we hope you all enjoyed it; it would seem to be the case. 🙂
A superb mix, from – first time on the end of a rope to new Surprise Major method and Maximus ringing, for example. There were handbells, fun challenges, peals, calling and conducting, simulators, theory lessons and homework, entering a striking contest, running a practice, ringing on higher numbers, ringing in new places, quarter peals. Tower captains certainly did their bit; they were really coming into their own, looking at new and exciting ways to inspire us ringers and enjoying the rewards and the great sense of achievement alongside their ringers, I’m sure!
What a marvellous way to share our ringing; involving ringers of all ages and at all experience levels, right across The Guild and beyond …amazing! Excitement levels were very high – there was a real buzz in the towers and it was evident on our Guild’s Social Media, too. Our Guild’s Communications team reported:
- we are interesting many of those in the Twittersphere with our ‘Firsts Fortnight’ initiative. They are liking and sharing our tweets about the fun we are having, the positive learning and the natural networking that’s going on i.e. people moving around the Guild and not being afraid to get to know each other, and they are asking themselves if they could do the same things.
- the people ‘liking and sharing’ our Firsts Fortnight initiative have been from all over the country, from Durham Ringers, Chigwell Ringing Centre, Castle Bromwich Bells, University Ringing, Fulham Ringers, Eastbourne Ringers, Kenysham Bells, Tied Bells in Norwich, Hereford District to Dengie Bells in the Essex peninsula.
So, why a “Firsts” anything? I strongly believe that maintaining ringers’ interest often results in retaining ringers in our towers and I love the concept of “Challenge, motivation, believe and achieve”! Many of us love to explore what’s over the horizon and I’m convinced that’s the case in ringing. Sometimes we need gentle persuasion and encouragement from our peers and mentors to take the next step, to supply the tools (including some extra confidence maybe?)…fortunately it’s there for the taking!
Many ringers report that they love nothing better than to help a less-experienced ringer to move on a step or two – yes, it’s very rewarding indeed – and we might reflect, with some affection, on the folk that have helped us reach our own ringing level, especially when a new ringer says
“I feel guilty at how much time you spend teaching me!” But, hey, we’re a team after all, we’ve all been there – at the very start – and are very grateful for our own teachers’ and mentors’ invested time in us.
So, new ringers, teachers, experienced ringers – all were involved with our ‘W & P Firsts Fortnight’ – a great opportunity to provide some short-term focus for us all. Much progress was made and a great time was had by all -just how it should be!
All of this surely bodes well for the future? So, what next……?
Kieran Downer, (Isle of Wight) is pleased to report from Brading
