On Sat, 15 Oct 2016 04:16:34 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

I just signed the petition "Allow the York Minster bell ringers to
ring!" and wonder if you could add your name too.

The more support we can get the better chance we have of succeeding. You
can read more and sign the petition he

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petition...ingers-to-ring

Thank you!

I've thought about this a lot and have decided not to sign. It's a
bit like taking a Union stand - one out all out, or at least, not to
cross the picket lines. If some, selected, ringing is permitted when
and with whom the Dean permits then bell ringers throughout have lost.
The existing band, who thus far seem to have behaved impeccably and
certainly more reasonably so than the "christian" head in the church,
perhaps should now call it a day and withdraw any further offers of
help until the matter is fully resolved.

Other bands should support the York ringers and similarly refuse to
help, whether it be for the couple getting married, Remembrance
Sunday, funerals, important occasions or the training of a new band.

Just to be clear you cannot get a dozen people, let's say a dozen fit
and reasonably intelligent and coordinated people from this newsgroup,
who've never rung bells before, and get them to safely, let alone
competently, ring York bells.

A tower near me had a fall-out amongst the ringers and rather than
leave the bells silent the choir decided they'd learn. Full help is
being given and after 3yrs, even on easy bells, they are still not at
the stage where they can ring more than the very basic patterns. It's
a bit like little Johnny coming home with his recorder or violin and 3
yrs later has just progressed beyond scales but not quite to Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star. It's not easy - if you think it is go and find
your local tower and pop in on a practice night. A plus is that many
bellringers take to a pint afterwards.


--
AnthonyL