This year the Ringing World have brought back their Method of the Month Series. If you are looking to ring something a bit different from your usual repertoire, why not give them a try!

If you are lucky enough to have a strong band to ring with, you can try a new method each month. Or if you would like to take two months to work on a method, every other month, shown shaded on the list, are less tricky methods.

We’ve been working our way through the Surprise Major methods at Loughborough, though Mark and I only just achieved our quarter peal of Deva, January’s method, last month!

The Surprise Major methods for the next three months are:

Ashtead: A double method, reflected below the treble and above the treble. Similar to Uxbridge with 4 pull dodges at the back (and front)
Glasgow: One of Horton’s Four Surprise Major (which I always thought as the two difficult ones from the Standard 8, plus two even more difficult ones!)
Norwich: Although a common Minor method, not usually rung at other stages.

As you can see, it is not just for Surprise Major ringers either. The Plain Minor methods are an excellent way of bridging the gap between plain bob and Cambridge, and many of these methods are well known enough, or similar to well known methods, that there is a good chance that if you asked for them at a district meeting, there would be enough experienced ringers to ring them with you.

Or why not ask your tower captain if your band could give it a try? If you have enough ringers for Plain Bob Minor, looking at some of the simpler plain minor methods (shaded in the table above) could be something you could all learn together.

The Minor methods for the next three months are:

Buxton: This method is the same as St Clements, but with a slight variation on the front work.
Stepney: This one is a bit more tricky, and more suitable for bands that are competent in ringing other plain minor methods. The structure of it is very similar to St Clements again, but the blue line is quite different, and there are some interesting 3rds on the way in, and point leads.
College Bob: Another one similar to St Clements, but without the 3-4 and 5-6 dodges at the lead ends.

Rebecca Banner