Playing With Big Stuff This Week

[Maker]

If you fancy learning to ring

Is there more to it than just pulling a big rope?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Is there more to it than just pulling a big rope?

I suspect so, although I'm no campanologist. Like everything, it always looks easy when you watch someone who knows what they're doing at work.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Is there more to it than just pulling a big rope?

There is, ringing Rounds (1,2,3,4,5,6) gets boring very quickly so they devised the tortures known as Methods. Method ringing involves swapping the order of the bells each time, it gets very complex and there are thousands of methods to learn.
They've all got weird and wonderful names, one of the first methods you learn is Bob Doubles:

If I was ringing the 5th bell (above, right hand column) I would move down to the front, lead for 2 blows move towards the back Dodging from 4th place back to 3rd then up to the back where I would do 2 blows, back down to the front to do 2 blows, 2nd place for 2 blows, 1st place for 2 blows, out to the back for 2 blows, back to the front dodging from 3rd back to the 4th, 2 blows at the front, out to the back where I would sit for 4 blows before starting all over again.
You move your bell by either ringing faster or slower than the person you are changing places with, easier said then done when you are trying to change the pace of a 3/4 ton bell.
Just to confuse things they will call a Bob or a Single where you change your bell position with one of the other ringers so the pattern changes!!! If I was ringing the 5th and they called a Bob as I was going out to the back instead of doing the the blows in 2nd I'd go to 4th place, then back to the front.
It's a real work out for the mind as well as the body.

 

[Farside]

What happens if not enough people turn up, or are fit enough?
Ring-a-ding-blank-ding-dong-blank?

 

[brightspark]

What happens if not enough people turn up, or are fit enough?
Ring-a-ding-blank-ding-dong-blank?

they ring round or give em a bell

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

What happens if not enough people turn up, or are fit enough?
Ring-a-ding-blank-ding-dong-blank?

Or:

 

[pedrobedro]

they ring round or give em a bell

Or as they say 'pull the other one' comes into play.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Sounds [see what I've done there? ] like it'd be easier to learn The Knowledge.