I was lucky as a young ringer to have encouragement to learn to call touches, go on a conducting course, call some quarters and even a peal. I had good female role models in the area, and supportive teachers. I once tried to call plain bob from the third, I hadn’t done enough preparation and I just didn’t have the knowledge to be able to manage it.

When I got to university, there were many accomplished conductors, they didn’t need me to call touches of plain bob minor. There were many more exciting methods to ring and more enjoyment to be gained from improving my striking. But a long time passed before I called something again.

More recently, I have started calling things again, including a couple of quarter peals. Partly through doing more ringing with less experienced ringers, so there were more touches of plain bob to be called. Women’s quarters and peal attempts have been good opportunities to have a go, and to learn the composition and track it even if I wasn’t calling. I’m looking forward to trying to call a peal when such things are possible again.