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Getting Started. |
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At first you will be asked to come along to a normal practice and meet all your fellow ringers. All new ringers need to practice on their own with an instructor, for about 6 - 8 weeks. During this time you will learn how to handle the bell rope. This is normally done on a bell with it’s clapper tied so it won’t make a noise, and annoy the neighbours. |
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It is like learning a music instrument, it takes time, and patience. Sometimes you will go home and feeling that you haven’t achieved very much, while other times you’ll go home feeling great, as you’ve mastered another step and you can go on to the next. These are the days that make it all worth while. |
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Sally or |
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Hand Stroke |
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Tail end or |
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Backstroke |
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There are two parts a bell rope you will need to know about: |
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The Fluffy part is called the Sally or Handstroke, and the end of the rope is called the Tail end, or Backstroke. |
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If the Sally is pulled the bell will rotate 360 and ring once, and if the backstroke is pulled the bell will swing back 360 and ring once. |
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This only happens when the bell is in it’s ‘Up’ position. NEVER PULL ON A BELL ROPE, UNLESS YOU ARE A FULLY TRAINED RINGER. |
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IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. The bells are very heavy and swing very fast and can easily lift up a person. |
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The diagram to the right shows a bell in it’s down position. All it’s weight is hanging down, and so when the rope is pulled, the bell will swing slowly side to side. |
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This is the safest position to leave a bell in. If the rope is pulled nothing much happens, however the Sally is in the same position as when the bell is ‘up’, and if the Sally is pulled while in it’s up position, it can be most dangerous. |
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The diagram to the right is of a bell stood at handstroke. The direction of the arrow indicates the direction of the gravitational pull on the bell, but is being stopped by the red slider and black stay. |
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By pulling the rope the bell will swing 360 and the rope will change direction, and will end up at backstroke |
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Learning to Ring |
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The diagram to the right now shows the bell stood at backstroke. The bell is wanting to go in the opposite direction, but the slider has moved towards the right and is stopping the bell with the stay again. |
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The bell keeps being rung backwards and forwards. Every time it swings a full circle it |
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will ring. |
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NEVER TOUCH A BELL ROPE UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN TOLD TO BY AN EXPERIENCE RINGER |