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Theo Boughton, the 10-year-old newly appointed Tower Wizard at All Saints’ in Marlow, tells us about bellringing and invites you to have a go at a church near you
My duties include doing the register, waking my brother up for the Sunday morning service (he’s also a bellringer), and writing articles like this for Round & About and for The Ringing World.
Bellringing is an excellent social activity for all ages. I started learning when I was eight but I’d recommend starting at 10 as you’ll be shorter than everybody and some towers can’t provide large enough boxes to stand on (but Hambleden and Marlow do).
Usually you ring for services on a Sunday, practices that vary between all days but Sunday, and weddings.. but only if you’re good enough (and you get paid if you do, varying amounts!)
You can ring a Quarter Peal method (45 minutes), or a Peal (three hours of ringing). It’s the equivalent of going to the gym but much easier and much more social! You can also ring if you’re blind or use a wheelchair. The only problem is some towers have quite steep stairs, others have ground-floor ringing chambers (Lane End, for example). So if you want to get fit, earn a little cash, or are just interested, get in touch with your local tower’s Tower Captain. You never know, some day our paths may cross!
You can ring bells on practice nights at Cookham (once renovations finish), Wycombe/Bray (Monday), Marlow/Hughenden (Tuesday), Lane End (Thursday) & Hambleden (Friday). Visit odg.org.uk or type ODG EBSB into your search engine!
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