I was excited and a little bit nervous when I found out that there was a Bellringing Walk. I couldn’t wait to meet new people and see new towers but I was nervous because I had no idea what the bells were like.

    We met early at Goostrey and left the cars in the car park. The tower Captain told us all to mind our heads on the way up the stairs but at least two people were not listening! There were 6 light bells in the tower and a large table (the blowers for the organ) in the middle of the ringing chamber making ringing a little difficult. I rang some call changes and plain hunt while the others rang lots of methods.

    After ringing we put on our walking boots which meant that we were a little late setting off to walk the two miles to Holmes Chapel. It was a nice walk over the fields with Becky Davies but a bit fast to catch up time. Other people travelled there by car.

    At Holmes Chapel there was an open window through which we could talk to mum and lots of pictures on the walls. One of the pictures had Bob Peers in it from many years ago (we got a bar of chocolate for spotting him). I rang my first touch of Bob Minor which was a little challenging. My sister rang plain hunt on a tower of wobbly boxes! There was lots of other ringing on these nice 6 bells.

    Afterwards we had a great lunch with our own large table at the nearby pub. During this the extra funds collected on the walk were given to Randle as a donation for the West Kirby restoration appeal.

    After lunch the fifteen walkers set off in the light rain for the four miles to Sandbach. A nice walk over the fields and lanes included a very wobbly footbridge and plenty of mud!

    Sandbach has eight bells with a large tower over an archway in front of the Church entrance. There are eight bells and I rang call changes here as did Sarah (with a little help from Dad as they were too heavy for her). Roger Jackson rang his first plain hunt on eight and his son, Sam rang his first touch of Bob Triples. Other ringing included the principle Duffield and Cambridge. Following ringing a group photograph was taken outside the Church.

    I then got a lift with my Mum to the next tower where we had an ice-cream and watched the swan on its nest in the river.

    Ten walkers walked the four and a half miles to Warmingham along the canal. They arrived late, sweaty and tired after the walk took longer than expected (Dad has promised to leave more time next year).

    There was a really small entrance to the stairs at Warmingham and even I had to crouch to get through. The ringing chamber had an old school bench were the old tower captain used to make the learners revise their methods! There was some good ringing from rounds up to spliced minor. This was my favourite tower because the bells were easy to ring and there was a box of sweets available for the ringers!

    Overall the day was really good but tiring. I learned a lot about new towers in South Cheshire and tried a new method. I also met new people and spent time talking to friends from other towers. There were lots of people at different stages of ringing. Some were also ringing at new towers for the first time. I would advise people to come next time, but you don’t have to walk there are also people who drive.

Amy Robson