The Crowthorne Ringing Course

About the Course

Our Aim

The aim of the Course is to provide high quality ringing training in an atmosphere of friendship, encouragement and fun. All the tutors are experienced and expert instructors, and all the helpers – many of whom are equally experienced and expert – are committed to providing the highest quality support. Tutors and helpers fully understand the stresses and problems of each stage of the learning process.

In addition, you will find enormous support and companionship from mixing with so many other ringers with similar hopes, enthusiasm and problems to yours.

The Groups

As a student you will be a member of a Group of five for your specialist method(s). The choices available are on the Groups page, but there will be considerable flexibility within each Group depending on individual experience and aspirations. For example, some students in the Bob Doubles Group may be just starting a plain course, while others may be starting to ring bobs, and others may be even more experienced. All will be equally well accommodated. We well understand that in the several months between now and August, you may have progressed much more – or much less – than you expect.

What we can certainly say is that the practical sessions will not just be opportunities for repeated practice. In addition to the repeated practice, you will also receive masterclass tuition in all sorts of handling; ropesight and memory techniques that will help you perform all your ringing with greater ease and to a higher standard.

Optional Sessions

But coming on the Crowthorne Course is not just about learning methods. It is also about gaining all sorts of ringing knowledge and skills. So in addition to the Group work, there will be a range of optional sessions. Students and helpers alike take part in these according to their choice. Some are seminar and discussion sessions, and others are practical. We hope you will attend a number of these – and most students do – but you certainly don't have to. You will probably find it a good idea to decide fairly early on in the weekend which ones you intend to go to – and we would like you to sign up for them so the tutors have an idea of numbers – but you can change your mind at any time if you want to. The tutor will be as happy to run the session for one person as for twenty. Indeed, many sessions are organised in the knowledge that they are rather specialised. If you want more information about any of the sessions to help you make your choices, please ask at any time.

Handling Masterclasses

One of the special features of the previous courses was the Handling Masterclasses, which were especially popular and have received enthusiastic acclaim by everyone attending. With the change of venue we are assessing ways of keeping this unique option available and are researching the availability of suitable towers.

Listening & Striking Study Practicals

The listening and striking practicals will use the Course Dumb-Bell attached to a ringing simulator, and will be available throughout all the Optional Session periods and at other times as well. The bell will be situated in its own room where a very experienced tutor will give you gentle and friendly assistance on a one-to-one basis with your listening and striking skills. You can either book an individual session or, if you prefer, you can join with one or more other students for a longer session. Many students have found their listening skills have been improved significantly by one of these sessions, and if you wish to sign up for one, please do so when you arrive.

Handbells

The two handbell sessions are hands-on practicals. They are intended for those who have done little or no method ringing on handbells before, and they will give you the opportunity to ring two handbells – one in each hand – to plain hunt and Bob Minor with two experienced handbell ringers. Please do not sign up for more than one session, although it may be possible to arrange further practice.

The two advanced handbell sessions are for those who can already ring a pair of handbells to Bob Minor and who would like to move on to Bob Major, Kent Minor and beyond.

Rope Splicing

The rope splicing sessions are both hands-on practicals, and at the end of each you will be able to perform the appropriate splice unaided. Rope will be provided, but if you can bring one or more of your own ropes for splicing, that will be better still. Equally, even if you are not attending yourself, you are most welcome to bring a rope needing splicing, and the group will splice it for you.

The Service for All

On the Saturday evening there will be a service-for-all. It will include some readings and prayers read by Course members, and some hymns. But it will also include other things. There will be handbell ringing and some solo or group musical pieces of an appropriate nature. If you play an instrument, please let us know on your application form – or if you are feeling modest about your abilities, please give Mike W a ring.

Get-togethers

From around 9:00pm onwards, on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, there will be relaxed, unstructured – and entirely optional – winding-down sessions where you can chat in small or large groups. In addition, those who wish to socialise after 11:00pm, with or without a drink in their hand, can do so in the Late Lounge which is sound-proofed from all bedrooms. But please supply your own alcoholic drinks.

Sunday Service Ringing

All Course members who do not feel in need of a lie-in or an optional tutorial are welcome to participate in the Service ringing between 8:30 and 11:00 on the Sunday morning. Lists of towers will be put up on the notice board together with the appropriate number of spaces available. To help you decide which tower you will feel comfortable in visiting, we will also put a note of the level of method ringing you can expect there. If you are in doubt, please speak to Mike T or Mike W. Everyone will be welcome somewhere.

Alternatively, you are welcome to attend any of the optional Sunday morning sessions, 9:45-10:45 and 11:15-12:15, or to request a Special Tutorial between 8:30 and 9:45.

Special Tutorials

If there's something you'd like to know about but have never dared ask, or you want to consolidate something you're already working on, see Mike T or Mike W at any time – or sign up on the sheet – and they will arrange for you to have a tutorial with one of the tutors. Equally, two or more of you can ask for a tutorial together. Indeed, if you wish, you can phone up in advance to arrange one. Please don't feel reluctant to take up this offer; tutors enjoy one-to-one tutorials just as much as larger ones. A list of Special Tutorials will be posted on the Notice Board on Saturday afternoon and you will be most welcome to attend any of them.

A Ringing Experience

On the Friday evening, Groups will join together for a Ringing Experience. The ringing at these will be fun and relaxing – and not based on your specialist method – but the towers will be specially chosen to provide you with an interesting experience.

Friday and Saturday Practicals

In the middle of the day on Friday and Saturday, each Group will have two practical sessions, one immediately before lunch and one immediately after. These will be some distance from Bradfield so you will need to make your own arrangements for lunch. Most Groups go into a pub together but that's up to you.

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This page last updated Wednesday 30 January 2008 by .
Created 17 April 2003. Content © The Crowthorne Ringing Course 2003-2008.

The Crowthorne Ringing Course 2008