[Cambridge-youths] Fwd: Report from the bells working party + agenda

[Joanne Johnson]

Hello Everyone
I am not going to write an epic - just to say that I didn't send an
email in support of keeping the GSM bells, as Jenny suggests below.
Actually I'm in favour of getting new ones if we can find a solution
that will be better than what we have now. But I really don't want that
to include a flat 6th (see my previous email). I like the character of
the GSM bells and wouldn't want to see them replaced with something
identical to 12s all over the country (I think Alan W said this too).
However I cannot vote, so I guess my opinion is not important
anyway....
Have a nice weekend!
Jo

>>> Jennie Butler <jeb72@cam.ac.uk> 11/05/2007 10:56 >>>
Dear all,

My thanks go to the working party for the accessible and comprehensive

report on the bells- I've now had a chance to have a good look though,
and 
have followed the email response so far with great interest. I should 
probably be revising at the moment, but instead am hoping to add
something 
useful to the discussion, as a part-time Cambridge resident and student

representative and also someone who has picked up a good deal of
outside 
opinion over that past few months!

Anyway, first a couple of facts.....

1. The Guild hosted the Southern Universities Striking competition in 
October 2006, with students from London, Oxford, Bristol and elsewhere

coming to ring at GSM. Following general ringing on Friday evening, the

feedback in the pub was not complementary, with comments such as
'rough' 
and 'hard work' being the most repeatable on offer. It was interesting
to 
watch an experienced back bell ringer, who has turned in a number of
tenors 
bigger than GSM, sweat buckets on a short touch on the 11. This was not
due 
to bad style.

2. Although I'm extremely proud to be a Cambridge Youth, I am
embarrassed 
by how the wider ringing community (quite rightly) regards our bells.
On 
several occasions during the last 18 months, Phil and I have left the
pub 
in London following a morning peal in order to return to Cambridge for
a 
GSM peal attempt. We are generally mocked and pitied for this (due to
the 
bells), by a group of people who love ringing and are usually very keen

about peals. In the past I've made a half hearted attempt to defend the

bells, but find it hard to be convincing. Many of these people have
rung 
peals at GSM, or are members of the Guild and even the Youths, and have
no 
desire to return as they feel that the effort put in is not in
proportion 
to their reward.

Secondly, I'm keen to add a couple of points about learners.

1. Great St Mary's truly is a fantastic place to learn in terms of 
opportunity. It is VERY rare to have the chance to ring surprise
maximus 
twice/three times a week surrounded by a band who are likely to stay in
the 
right place. People learning in Gloucester would dream of this, as I
did 
when I came up. Perhaps we are all so used to this in Cambridge now
that 
recognition the exceptional nature of these circumstances has been
lost. 
Clearly, there have been several success stories, as Rosie points out,
but 
we should remember that people tend to go to other practises too, and
that 
all child learners I've ever seen have at GSM 1 or 2 parents ringing at
the 
tower. This significantly increases the chances of success before you 
start.

2. My point with respect to the bells is that, yes, it's possible to
learn, 
but it could be so much easier. I find myself comparing GSM to
Tewkesbury 
Abbey close to where my parents live. People learning there do not have
a 
chance of learning Bristol, there are simply not enough surprise
ringers 
around to support this, but the physical aspect is so much easier,
which 
makes it a lot, lot more fun. I've attended and helped at 'young
ringer' 
days there (all on the simulator, and with a large number of young
ringers 
present), and remember comfortably ringing the tenor aged 11/12 ish (no

reflection on my skill, anyone could do it). I can't imagine anything
like 
this happening at GSM given the state of the bells.

It's clear from the email response so far that there is a considerable

amount of affection for, and attachment to the current bells, which is
a 
tribute to the success of the society. Rosie's comment 'As someone who
has 
actually learnt to ring on the bells, I'm very attached to them',
clearly 
demonstrates this. However, with no disrespect intended, every
supportive 
email so far comes from someone who has been at Great St Mary's since 
before I was born, or at least for their whole lifetime (JSJ excepted).

Naturally, this long term connection leads to a degree of emotional 
attachment with the current bells, and I some cases it seems that what
are 
clearly faults with individual bells have come to be viewed as quirks,

idiosyncrasies adding to the charm and character of the ring. This is 
foreign to me, and I feel that it's important to say so. Gathering
outside 
opinion about the bells would obviously help to build up an objective 
picture, although I feel that some sources are likely to be more biased

than others. It is fair to suggest that past Guild members returning to
GSM 
are likely to be nostalgic, and someone who rings the 5 say, is not
going 
to realise how tricky the back bells are.

The Youths does have a long and prestigious past, but what makes the 
society such a success is the surely the people, not the bells
themselves. 
I fully acknowledge all qualms about the large expense and possible
lack of 
improvement if the scheme goes ahead. However, without such a change,
the 
Youths will never have more than what has, at best, been described as a

mediocre ring, which will continue to inhibit the standard of ringing
that 
can be achieved. For example, the Guild rang a Dinner Day peal at
Ipswich 
18 months ago, which included a number of people currently learning at

Great St Mary's, and was of a higher standard than peals I've rung at
GSM. 
The argument about whether the bells lower the standard of ringing at
Great 
St Mary's could go on endlessly, but regardless, the prospect of
eternity 
with a ring which has at best been described as average is gloomy.

I gather from the report that the 800th anniversary of the University
will 
provide a fantastic opportunity for financial support, so don't see why
the 
money is an issue particularly.

I leave Cambridge in 6 weeks, but care wholehearted about what happens
at 
GSM, which reflects how much I have enjoyed and benefited from ringing

there as a student. I firmly believe that new bells will be of huge
benefit 
to both the Youths and Guild.

I hope that future Guild members can enjoy the same positive experience
at 
GSM as I have.

I'll shut up and do some work now.

Thanks,

Jennie

>susan binns wrote:
>> Dear All,
>> Herewith the bells report - please try to attend the EGM on 14th @ 
>> 8.00 p.m.
>> If not, please ensure any queries you have are addressed beforehand

>> and reported to the meeting in your absence.
>> The working party would welcome any questions at any time.
>>  
>> Agenda: 1. Bells
>>              2. Health and Safety update/information
>>  
>> Best wishes,
>> Sue
>>
>As someone who has actually learnt to ring on the bells, I'm very 
>attached to them.  I have been ringing at GSM since I was 9 and I do
not 
>feel that they have hindered my progress, rather that they have forced

>me to work on my technique, which can only be a positive thing.  The
go 
>of the bells has never put me off from coming to ring at GSM though
the 
>same cannot be said for other rings of bells.  I personally find OLEM
a 
>very intimidating ring of bells - largely due to the immensely long 
>draft and do think twice before I ring there.  GSM bells are not even

>remotely as bad or intimidating as this - and I can be a real wuss
about 
>bells.
>
>I have heard the bells struck very well on many occasions which would

>suggest that the problems can be reduced by good handling.  I don't 
>think that a new ring of lighter bells would vastly improve the
quality 
>of ringing at GSM.  The working party's report has suggested that
other 
>improvements other than replacing the bells will reduce some of the 
>problems.  Nothing has seriously suggested that a new ring of bells 
>would be the best solution - the tower would still sway for example, 
>unless other issues were addressed.  I think that it would be a gross

>amount of money to fritter away on an unnecessary ring of bells and 
>would strip GSM of a substantial part of its history.
>
>People seem to think that the bells put off learners.  Many learners
at 
>GSM have given up over the years, many of them young ringers.  Has 
>anyone ever actually asked them why they decided to leave, rather than

>assuming that they found the bells too difficult to handle?  Other 
>things can be done to encourage learners and young ringers to stay at

>the tower so that there will still be a strong society in 50-100 years

>time.  It doesn't necessarily involve putting in a new ring of 12.
>
>BW
>Rosie
>
>
>
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