When I learned to ring as a teenager in Buckinghamshire, I was one of the better ringers at my home tower and was greatly encouraged to call touches and help

I learned to ring in 1980 when I was in my early 20’s. The Band here was a strong Sunday Service Band ringing Grandsire, Plain Bob and Stedman with good

Why is it that there is an even gender balance among ringers in the early stages of ringing, but the gender distribution changes at more “advanced levels”?

I got

I think of myself as a “started too late in life (when I was in my 60s) ringer”, rather than as a “female” ringer.  Gender does not come into it

Perhaps I have been extremely fortunate, but I have  experienced very little opposition from anyone as I have progressed in ringing. I was
taught when I was still at school

Before I had children, I reached a high point in my ringing career. Then I had children and I didn’t ring so much. Between childcare and work, I didn’t particularly

I feel that I have been very fortunate in the support that I have received from a significant number of ringers of all standards over the
years when it comes

It was a dark and stormy night, as the story goes. This was my second year living in this city, and I had become enchanted by the music of church

I want to acknowledge the many ringers (male and female) who have encouraged me to develop my skills as a (female) ringer, conductor,
ringing master, teacher etc. The particular ones

I was taught to ring by a woman in a fairly well balanced tower. The male tower captain encouraged others to conduct, I was able to ring every bell in

In 1999 I moved to a new city, not knowing a soul, for work after college. I didn’t ring for 6 months but missed it so much I joined a

I'd like to reflect on my time at a particular tower. I loved my time there and was made very welcome by the band. I arrived capable of Cambridge Major

I was taught to ring in my thirties at a local village church. After a few years, I started calling changes, touches and QPs, mostly out of necessity. Together with

I learned to ring more than 30 years ago when I was an undergraduate at Kalamazoo College, Michigan.  My first peal was a handbell peal, and I was the last