dingdong887180022 posted: " I did not dare build too high a pedestal. I value my bells. I have been gratified by the responses to my post about pedestals. I had held back from sharing my thoughts because I feared that some method ringers, whom I respect hugely, might have been o" The Accidental Ringer
I did not dare build too high a pedestal. I value my bells.
I have been gratified by the responses to my post about pedestals. I had held back from sharing my thoughts because I feared that some method ringers, whom I respect hugely, might have been offended by the suggestion that they were perceived to be in some way "above" us mere pond life. Of course most of them don't intend to give that impression, it just appears that way. Perhaps we allow them to be thus elevated because it suits us to have something to look up to. Human beings are complicated animals. If they are irritated, they have kept their counsel and not complained. Of course some people will disagree with my comments, which is all to the good because I want people to think, discuss, debate and tussle with the issue. That is how organisations improve - when they dare to reflect on themselves and shine the light of scrutiny on some things that are not always discussed openly for fear of offending.
It has encouraged me to think about handbell ringers because I am aware that some non-handbell ringers have been rather impressed by the recent successes of the Clanging Belles. Do tower ringers put handbell ringers on a pedestal because success with little bells is not automatic? Some try them and sadly do not unlock their power to charm. Or they observe some very good ringers do impressive things in hand and perhaps think " oh – too difficult for me. I won't even try because I am not in that league."
I had no such prejudice to overcome because I started out during lockdown and knew diddly squat about handbells. I did not know who the "good ringers" are or how very good they actually are. I was not intimidated. All I knew was that towers were closed and I wanted to go on learning about bell ringing and hanging out with ringing friends, even if only virtually or in deserted barns. I had no tower reputation to protect. If I turned out to be total rubbish and never got beyond a plain course of plain bob, no-one would think any the worse of me because I can't even ring plain bob in the tower. I can scarcely plain hunt. In this sense I was lucky. I could immerse myself in handbell ringing without fear of failure. I have observed that others are more wary. They seem to want to try, but not with an audience of their peers.
If people are tempted to put someone who can ring handbells competently on a pedestal then that is really frustrating. Pedestals are bad news. They are barriers to others trying and I want to topple all pedestals because I want everyone to have a try. It does not matter if you do not aspire to ring peals on handbells or 41 spliced or whatever. It does not matter that some of the best tower bell ringers in the country happen to also be phenomenally talented handbell ringers. It does not matter if you always baggsie the tenors because they tend to march in straight lines. What matters is that you enjoy ringing bells and weaving patterns of sound with like-minded people. The size of the bell is immaterial.
Just like I believe it does not matter if all you want to do is cover for doubles or triples, or you prefer to ignore methods completely and instead follow someone else's instruction as to when to change your place in a row. Bell ringing does not need to hobble itself with a hierarchy. Just get out there and ring the things – commitment, stimulation, mutual support, worship and friendship should be the goals, not pedestals.
Furthermore, you never know. It might turn out that you have a natural affinity for the little beauties and, much to everyone's surprise, can manage far more than plain bob (and please don't say "bob" because I won't know who to follow and everyone will scowl at me).
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