Grockle is a mildly derogatory term used to describe tourists. You might call them sightseers/emmets (Cornwall only)/visitors/holidaymakers. Or you might call them "potential ringers". I have come to this conclusion because on Friday lunchtimes I welcome potential ringers, not mere tourists.
We run a simulator session at the Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre in Norwich on Fridays between 12-2pm. Do come along if you happen to find yourself in the city because the facilities are state of the art. You can ring a training bell through headphones to anything that you fancy – treble to plain bob? No problem. Call a quarter of Lessness? Knock yourself out. That Abel band is rather good and can ring anything, although they never appear to be enjoying themselves very much and are not available for a celebratory drink at the pub afterwards. I have volunteered to set up the laptops and help people navigate the technology, although please do not ask for ringing advice because I know very little. At the same time, visitors to the church are encouraged by the volunteer meeters and greeters to step up the spiral staircase and visit the exhibition on the history of ringing which lines the walls of the centre.
I have observed that grockles enter the room, have a quick glance at the display boards, stare at the peal boards and then return to the body of the church. 5 minutes max. Quite interesting, but not fascinating, absorbing or inspirational. However, if you make an effort to engage the visitors in conversation there is a very different outcome.
My opening gambit is "are you a ringer or just interested in the history of ringing?" If they answer "yes, I ring at x", then a rope is shoved in their hand, some headphones provided and they can get on with it. If, as most do, they say "no, I am not a ringer but I am interested in bell ringing/my granddad used to ring/I enjoy hearing the bells from my local church" then that is my cue. Here is someone interested in bell ringing. They have already demonstrated an interest in churches because not everyone pokes around ancient buildings on their holidays. They have already mounted the narrow and claustrophobic staircase so do not have mobility issues. They are interested in bell ringing. They are ripe for the plucking but they will not just drop into your lap like an overripe plum – they need some careful handling. Here is an opportunity to enthuse, captivate and draw them in. They will not benefit the local ringing scene because they are grockles, but they just might benefit the ringing community. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Conversations will develop. What do we do? Why do we do it? What do we get from it? Computer screens can be shared, a perfect band ringing a simple method can be enjoyed, they may giggle at your inability to maintain a steady green line, chiming is allowed. Children may get that wide-eyed look. Let them feel a bell. If I have an experienced ringer to hand I will ask them to help with backstrokes. If it is just me, we chime. Some smile in that special way that means the bait has been taken. They want more. Enthusiastic children will ask if they can try another bell – is it different? They do not want to leave. Interested adults will enquire about how you go about learning. Encyclopaedic knowledge about UK towers help here. One week a lady from New York was determined to go back and seek some proper bells. She thought they were all electronic and had no idea that people were responsible for some of the aural landscape that she enjoyed in her home city.
Increasingly, I am aware of so many opportunities to inform, entertain and attract. This week I enjoyed an amusing conversation with a lady of a similar age to myself on the Tracy Chevalier novel, A Single Thread. I assured her that the relationships between lady learners and older experienced gentleman teachers were not always as depicted in the book. I have never fallen into the arms of my teacher and rolled around naked in a nearby field although there is still time, if the weather holds.
You never know with grockles. One or two may pursue things further. One of those small girls that wobbled on a box may go on to be the ringing rock star of her generation. All you can do is sow the seed and hope that it is nurtured and watered by someone else.
My advice is to never miss an opportunity. For example, the Churches Trust Ride and Stride is coming up next month (10th September). Why not make sure that there are a few ringers in your churches on the day? Not just to unlock the building and stamp passes/offer refreshments, but also to invite visitors into your ringing chambers. Be enthusiastic. Let them chime. Let them marvel. They are already interested in wandering round old churches, they already value tradition else why would they be fundraising to support the Churches Trust? They must have a basic level of physical fitness to have made it on bike or foot to your door. So why not wave a tempting morsel under their noses? Ask them "Are you interested in bell ringing? No, you don't need to be musical/strong/young/a member of the congregation. You just need to be interested."
The bells will do the rest.
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