Progressing Ringers

Before Covid affected us all to a higher or lesser degree the Leicester DG used to have the “Progressive Ringers” meeting once a month at various towers within the guild area. Attendances fluctuated but those who came appeared to benefit from the opportunity to practise various methods and do so with a strong band.

Let us move on to the post Covid period and, with “Progressive Ringers” consigned to history, the ringing master at St Mary de Castro, Leicester, Lewis Benfield, suggested that a Leicester School of Ringing should be started. His idea was that two Saturday mornings each month should be devoted to providing the opportunity for the less experienced ringers to practise whatever they were learning with a strong band.

Don’t be confused by the name, so called because it was decided to use the bells at St Mary de Castro and they are in Leicester. I would like to stress that everyone is welcome to attend the sessions both as a “student” and a “helper”. In fact we have welcomed ringers from all the Districts within the Guild and hope this will continue.

On the second Saturday of each month we start the session at 10.00am and continue through to midday. We concentrate on Rounds, Call Changes, Plain Hunt, Plain Bob and Grandsire. St Mary de Castro has ten easy going bells and we make ample use of the front six up to all ten bells.

The fourth Saturday of each month also begins at 10.00am until midday and concentrates on Plain Bob, Grandsire, Stedman to Surprise. We also try to accommodate other requests.

Due to recent reordering of the church there are excellent refreshment and toilet facilities which are available to all.

As with the pre Covid “Progressive Ringers” attendances tend to fluctuate but we are pleased to see regular attendees at the sessions. As much as we welcome the less experienced we couldn’t manage without the more experienced ringers who enthusiastically support this venture each month.

Our intention is quite simple and that is to provide the opportunity for any ringer to improve and reach his/her potential. We do see improvement and recently gave one of our regulars the opportunity to ring his first quarter peal ‘inside’; Plain Bob Doubles.

Teaching is the lifeblood of what we do so I urge you to come and join us; student or helper, it matters not, just come along.

We do publicise our sessions by way of the Guild Facebook page, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Lewis Benfield on 07427 202060.

(Editor’s note: A message sent via the form on the St Mary’s page of the Guild webpages will also reach Lewis: https://leicesterdg.org.uk/towers/Leicester_St-Mary-de-Castro/)

Garry Mason

10 Bell practice

One of the successes of 2023 has been the twice a month Saturday evening 10 bell practice that Lewis Benfield is running at St Mary De Castro.  Starting at 7pm and going on for an hour and a half or so it is aimed at ringers who want to improve their Caters and Royal ringing.  We are lucky enough to be supported by some very experienced ringers, which has helped the rest of us progress! 

We ring anything from Grandsire Caters and Little Bob Royal up to Surprise Royal and we are gradually working our way through the ‘standard’ Surprise Royal methods.  There is an email list which is used to check there will be enough ringers coming to make it worthwhile having a practice – if you would like to go on this list please let me know – I’m contactable via
robertpwatson99@outlook.com .

Robert Watson