When I started to learn to ring handbells it was during lockdown. Initially, I had no guidance other than what I could find on-line and an app to practise with. My tentative introduction predated Simon Gay and Tina Stoecklin's invaluable Change-ringing on handbells, Vol.1 Basic techniques by some months A google search produced a 1974 article by Mr Frank King - Ringing Elementary Minor Methods on Handbells . In it he advised that one could learn to ring plain bob minor in 25 minutes – even a non-ringer, and this included a basic grasp of place notation. In this context, I counted myself a "non-ringer" because although I could more or less handle a tower bell, I certainly could not ring PB6 in the tower and place notation was still a mystery. All that "someone makes seconds forcing others to dodge…" was way outside my pay grade and it took me a long time to understand how the method works. In my ignorance, I believed Mr King's time scale and, although not surprised, was disappointed when it took considerably longer to conquer plain bob. I wonder how many others have given up after a few hours hard work because they conclude that clearly handbell ringing is far too difficult for the likes of them?
After some initial struggling, I joined with a couple of established local handbell ringers on-line and they taught me to plain hunt. In the summer of 2020, as restrictions were temporarily lifted, we formed a lady handbell group, The Clanging Belles, and began to learn to ring as a band. It took a deal longer than 25 minutes before we could ring plain bob minor together, but we were eventually successful and still ring together, as well as with others both in the real and the virtual world. Over the past few years, I have endeavoured to teach others the basics of change ringing on handbells, but they all seem to give up when it gets past coursing the trebles or tenors. It appears that the input required is off-putting in relation to the perceived reward, which is a shame. Perhaps I would have felt the same, except my foray came at a time when there were very little distractions – no towers open, no family gatherings, no social groups allowed to meet, no yoga classes or choirs permitted. There was not that much to do, so afternoons spent in a garden experimenting was a treat rather than a demand on precious time. We had time to waste and it kept me sane and positive at a time when sanity and positivity were in short supply. For that reason I will always be grateful.
But how long does it take to learn to ring plain bob on handbells?
We took some bright, teenaged ringers, both of whom can already plain hunt on tower bells, maximum grown up support and gave it a try. Would 25 minutes be sufficient? 30 minutes? 60 minutes? 90 minutes?
Nearly a dozen NDA members turned up one afternoon this week to introduce handbells to whichever junior ringers fancied the challenge. Only 2 did, which was disappointing because that represented by far the majority of regular Norfolk handbell ringers, and we might have had a marvelous mass practice in the time instead. We have only ever had one marvelous mass practice since I started to ring – an outdoor celebration in June 2021, when 20 people were allowed to meet outside as long as no hugging was involved. Probably the sharing of tea and sausage rolls was illegal but no one ever understood the rules completely.
How far did the juniors get?
We introduced them to Plain Hunt on 8 because the turning around at the back and front is always the bit that trips newbies up. We had experienced ringers to spare, so why not use them? There was even the luxury of an additional teacher standing behind a learner to tap a left/right shoulder and whisper in an ear. Since we were in a big church, we could find space apart from each other. Although others with better hearing could hear the faint tinkle of the "competing" band, I could not. After 90 uninterrupted minutes of concentration, we reconvened to see how far each junior had got. One was able to course the trebles and tenors, and one managed 3 leads of plain bob from the tenors. They both worked very hard, were bright and enthusiastic, but still required some prompts and an experienced band who made allowances and coped with the inevitable hesitations and errors. Place notation was not discussed.
Mr King must have taught some exceptional ringers if he managed to help them to PB6 in 25 minutes. Either that or we are particularly slow in Norfolk compared to those brainy Cambridge types.
One additional benefit was that the many visitors to the church that afternoon, including lots of young families, seemed to really enjoy the entertainment, stopped to listen, admire and take photos. Perhaps, if we shy handbell ringers came out from behind closed doors more often and demonstrated what fun it can be - not ringing a serious public peal , but just playing about, chatting, laughing and generally sharing our enthusiasm, more people would think - "Oh that looks interesting. May I please have a try?" The trouble is, I do not think we will manage to re-assemble the handbell devotees of the NDA for another few years - they tend to be busy ringing.
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