Ringing to raise awareness

dingdong887180022

Dec 2

Sometimes we ring for a specific reason. Sometimes we want to draw attention to something and our bells are quite a loud resource. Last month we were invited by our churches and bishops to ring on the eve of COP 27 to warn people that climate change is affecting our planet in many negative ways and that we need to sit up and think about the way that we use the earth's resources. I do not think that many towers joined in. Some thought it too much a political statement, which I disagree with. The damage to the environment from climate change should not be a political issue, although some pressure groups have tried to make it so. It affects us all and will do so for generations and we need to put politics aside and work together to find a solution. We rang at Reedham and used the opportunity of clattering around at an unexpected time to warn the village of why we were doing so via local social media. It generated some interest.

At the end of "Movember" the Mancroft band in Norwich rang for a different reason – to alert young men to the fact that testicular cancer can strike even teenagers. If it is caught early then a good outcome can be expected. If it is ignored, either because of ignorance or embarrassment, then the outcome may not be so positive. Raising awareness is important and a couple of them did that by doing something a bit different. They rang in fancy dress – one handling the Mancroft tenor whilst wearing a ladies bathing suit. From the photos, it was not a pretty sight and I am surprised the other 11 managed to stay in any sort of order with that sort of distraction in their peripheral vision.

And in case anyone is interested, the bathing belle did not remove his socks. That is how a casual viewer will know that he is not an actual lady. That and a generous quantity of body hair.

In Leicestershire, a band rang a peal of Movember Surprise Minor to raise awareness of mens' health. 5 of the band cultivated moustaches for the occasion. Luckily, they all appeared to be gentlemen.

https://uk.movember.com/

Comment