Category: Training

Old Wolverton hosted the “Find Your Voice in the Tower” training session on Saturday 15th March 2025, a basic introduction to calling touches of Bob and Grandsire doubles.

The afternoon statred with refreshments and a warm welcome from the team at Old Wolverton followed by Ringing Master Ted Fawcett doing a basic introduction for the three students on why and how calls are made when ringing methods.

It was then into the Ringing room and each student in turn called a 60 of bob doubles supported by a wonderful band of helpers. Having done this successfully, they then had a go at calling a 120 of bob doubles which again went very well.

A break for more refreshments was then taken but there was no let up for the students as they were now coached on calling Grandsire doubles. 120s of Grandsire were then attempted by each of them and before we knew it it was time for downwards and the afternoon came to a close.

Each student came away much more confident in calling touches and encouraged to practice as much as possble in their home towers to explore the wonderful world of Bob calling.

It really does bring a whole new light on ringing methods.

Many thanks to Mick Nimmo and the team at Old Wolverton for suggesting the venue and providing the refreshments and also to all the ringers who supported the event.

Ted Fawcett

Three students and 10 helpers met at Old Wolverton on a beautiful sunny afternoon for an introduction to hunting the treble to a method and Bob doubles. After introductions over refreshments each student was given the opportunity to ring the treble to a plain course of bob doubles to assess how they could make the most of the session. This was followed by a short theory talk on why methods are rung, some terminology and the basic structure of Bob doubles. Then each student was given the opportunity to ring either the method from a number of different bells or hunting the treble to the method, each time surrounded by an enthusiastic band of helpers.
Each student made good progress and after an end of course debrief and an opportunity to ask questions they were able to take away with them not only some worksheets to help with a greater understanding of bob doubles but also an increased confidence to keep practicing the method back at their home towers.
Many thanks to Mick Nimmo and the team at Old Wolverton for provding the bells and the refreshments and also to all the helpers who came along. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.
Ted Fawcett
Ringing Master

On Saturday October 17^th the North Bucks Branch held their annual training day, learning about ringing doubles variations, an area that can often be overlooked at tower practices. Personally this was a new experience as I am used to ringing triples and major methods. It felt very different.

The training consisted of two sessions. The morning session was held at Downs Barn, followed by Woughton in the afternoon. There was a varied mix of ringers at both sessions. I found the sessions very enlightening and educational. It was the first time I had ever combined doubles methods with bobs and singles of another method. Nevertheless I started to quickly understand it as the more experienced ringers explained how and why this happens. To my surprise it worked. There was a deserved break in the middle of the day for lunch, as the morning ringing proved quite tiring both physically and mentally.

I would like to thank all of the helpers on the course as their instruction proved very helpful and it made me more interested in the many doubles methods and variations that exist, and keen to try some of them out on practice nights.

Lydia Bates

Simpson, Milton Keynes
St Thomas the Apostle
Saturday, 14 November 2015 (7–1–7)
1260 Doubles (11 M/V)
Antelope, Litchurch, St Jude, St Laurence, St Austell, St Stephen, St David, St Mary, St Crispin, St Cecilia, Laverstoke

1 Brian Baldwin
2 Gary Reading
3 Ann Birch
4 Martin Petchey
5 Simon J O Head (C)
6 Paul Crombleholme

Most m/v 2, 3, 4; for North Bucks Branch quarter-peal week by participants in a recent Branch course on Doubles Variations.

Course Material

The following course material is now available:

• Doubles variations – an overview
• Doubles variations table
• Twin Hunt variations
• National Saints

For a list of doubles variations why not try here?  You have been warned – it is long.

Terry Page