dated 29 September 2007…
If you’d still like to be hang gliding at 60, try bell ringing
FURTHER TO the recent comments on "inversion therapy" for back pain as featured in this column, a reader suggests the ancient art of campanology might be similarly beneficial. Here the rhythmic action of pulling on the bell rope not only stretches the spine, thus taking pressure off any trapped nerves, but strengthens the back muscles at the same time. "I have suffered on and off with back pain for many years," she writes. "But since taking up tower bell ringing two years ago I have had no recurrence". Further similar reports would be much appreciated.
…and the following week (7 October 2007)
MANY READERS attest to the therapeutic benefits of bell ringing as described in this column last week, including a fireman from Wendover who sustained severe injuries to his pelvis and lower spine in an accident at work. Despite many operations and much physiotherapy he remained incapacitated. Within a few months of taking up bell ringing his spine has straightened and his pelvis was so improved he could return to work.
But that is not all, for a rhythmical tugging on the rope strengthens the forearms, relieving the symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury, and intense concentration keeps cognitive decline at bay. Together these benefits for bell ringers explain why many can carry on into their eighties and nineties.
"You are also part of an amazing network that covers much of the English-¬speaking world," writes Susan Bradshaw from Somerset. "Wherever you go you will be warmly welcomed into a group of friends." Those so inclined can apparently take it up at any age. The only drawback is that it can be addictive.
CHRISTMAS Shoppers are being encouraged to use festive bells to deter pick-pockets.
Merseyside Polcie will be giving shoppers in Birkenhead small bells to attach to handbags, purses, mobile phones and other high value portable items.
Police hope that a ringing bell will clearly alert a person that a potential thief is attempting to steal from them while they are busy Christmas shopping.
Item from Bromborough and Bebington News of Wednesday 22nd November.
West Kirby
ringers and friends (pictured below) after service ringing on 12th June before setting off on the
Wirral Bikeathon in aid of Leukemia research. There were 10 (and a half!)
ringers and friends from left to right - Reece Jones (in trailer!), Eric
Jones, John Siddall, Greg Buckridge, Elaine Siddall, David King-Hele, Tom
Ward, Mark (?), Randle Tinkler, Tony Power
and out of the shot Marks Dad!! Janet Jones was to have been a participant but was unfortunately unwell at the time.
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Further evidence of the more prominent roles of Wirral ringers in the Guild are those of Report Secretary, Dave Hocker and Webmaster, Peter Humphreys. It must be many years, if ever, that Wirral has provided such a level of support to the Guild.
| Pictured here is Judith Bailey, ringer at Wallasey St Nicholas and daughter of Tower Correspondent Hazel Bailey at the tower. In case there is any doubt the picture to the right confirms that this was taken following her recent marriage! | 
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Saturday 14 February: 10:30p.m. Radio 3
Between the Ears
Funeral Of A Bell-Ringer: An audio portrait of the bell-ringing life and legacy of bell-ringer Bernard Mann interspersed with an account of the casting of a new bell.
Ex Wirral ringers took 3 of the top 5 places in leading peal ringers for the Ancient Society of College Youths during 2002. Ex-Port Sunlight ringer Vicky Halliwell led the field with 46 peals, closely followed by former Woodchurch and Bebington ringer Andrew Graham, with 44 peals. Mark Humphreys, who learned to ring at Port Sunlight, was 5th with 33 peals.
See ASCY website for more details. Click on '2002' under Analysis then 'Ringers'.
| Visiting his son, Mark, in London this week-end, Peter Humphreys found time to ring at Eltham, the home tower of former West Kirby ringer Jane Harries (pictured left). Jane is shown on the right with Mark after the morning's ringing. Timing of the visit was arranged to enable the Humphreys to attend the informal ASCY Dinner. For pictures visit the ASCY website and click on 'What's New'. | 
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Baptism of Reece Eric Hamer Jones at St Bridget's, West Kirby.
  
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From the March 8 edition of the Daily Post... Proud dad springs graduation surprise WHEN Randle Tinkler was invited to be a guest at his daughter's graduation ceremony at Chester Cathedral, the proud father decided to go one better. | The aptly-named Mr Tinkler, a campanologist, sprang a surprise on 24-year-old Alison by ringing the cathedral bells himself. Alison, who graduated in nursing from Chester College, said: "Dad only told me his plans as we pulled up outside the cathedral. Until then I just thought he was there to accompany me. "It is lovely to think he had been planning it so long to surprise me. It made the day even more special." Her father, who lives in West Kirby, Wirral, was assisted in the task by a group of Wirral-based campanologists. Mr Tinkler said: "I thought it would be the ideal way to celebrate Alison's achievement and show her how proud I was of her." |
(I had been advised of all this a week ago but had been asked to keep this confidential so as not to anticipate a press release. However, the project co-ordinator has now communicated this information on the ringers chat list so it is now in the public domain. It has since appeared in The Ringing World issue number 4787 of January 24, 2003. Peter Humphreys).
 | James Bench-Capon of West Kirby and Captain of the Clare College, Cambridge team on University Challenge this evening, found his team finishing up second in this second round match. The picture (left) shows James introducing himself at the beginning of the programme. He answered a number of questions successfully, including one to which the answer was 'Quasimodo', but to no avail. The only too frequent response of the team to the bonus questions - "we don't know" - led to a rebuke from the questionmaster, Jeremy Paxman! |
Broken leg? Pull the other one
Bellringers carried on playing [sic] for a wedding unaware that a colleague sat in agony in the belfry after breaking his leg when he became caught in a bellrope.
Cyril Nicholls, 58, was eventually taken from the tower at St Mary the Virgin in Plympton, Devon, by firemen and paramedics. His wife Mary, a fellow ringer, said: "We thought he had just winded himself."
If any Wirral or Mid branch ringers are interested the Chester Branch have a trip to Cains Brewery in Liverpool on Wednesday 9th October.
We have a coach from Chester leaving at 5.30 pm and the visit starts at 6.30pm.
The cost is £12.00 including coach travel, but if anybody wants to go under their own steam then the cost will be £3.75. This includes 2 pints and a light buffet. Anyone interested can contact me
Brian Heys.
"Some time ago, former Wirral ringer Ruth Blackwell asked me to compose some four-course touches of Stedman Cinques. Asking for this particular length did make me a little suspicious, and rightly so....
I sent on to her a wide variety of touches; some conventional and simple, some less so and some quite complex, producing a wide variety of musical qualities. You can imagine how really pleased I was to hear that some of these have found their way into the back of Michael Trimm's diary for use at St. Paul's Cathedral!"