New Rickstones Academy, Conrad Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD
Thursday 9th April — Saturday 11th April 2026
Founded by Adrian Semken
Course Organiser: (essexcourse@eacr.org.uk)
Helpers Administrator: (coursehelpers@eacr.org.uk)
Towers Administrator: Cathy Ovenden
The host Association is The Essex Association of Change Ringers
Association Master: Nigel Taylor
Association Secretary: Vicki Chapman
Association Treasurer: Andrew Brewster
Booking information will be available here from 10:00am on 2nd January
Applications to join the Course should be made online if possible, using the button below. The link will accept applications from 2 January 2026. Payment is not required at the time of application. Successful students will be sent a link for on-line payment once applications have closed. Prompt payment will be required to avoid the place being re-allocated.
The closing date is early this year, so please ensure your applications are submitted before 6th February 2026. Please note: Applications are not dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis. Places will not be allocated until after the closing date of the 6th February 2026.
In exceptional circumstances, a paper application form can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Nigel Taylor, 10 Teignmouth Drive, Rayleigh SS6 9PF. Paper applications should be accompanied by a cheque made payable to “The Essex Association of Change Ringers”. Cheques from successful applicants will be cashed once places have been offered or returned/destroyed for unsuccessful applicants.
Applicants who will be under the age of 18 at the date of the Course must have their applicationform signed by their parent or guardian. Please ensure that you have read the Course’s Child Protection Policy.
If you are suffering from any medical condition which may affect you during the Course youshould indicate this on the application form. In particular, you should bear in mind that most of thepractical ringing will be upstairs.
Entry to the Friday evening social is also included. Those wishing to attend the social, who have not been a student or helper or participated in the Course in any way, are welcome to join the social for a nominal fee of £10.00 paid to the Course Organiser prior to the social. A buffet supper and free soft drinks are included.
Please notify the Course Organiser immediately if you find that you will be unable to attend the Course. If you withdraw from the Course after the application closing date but before 1 March 2026, your fee will be refunded less an administration charge of £5.
If you withdraw after 1 March 2026, your fee, less an administration charge of £5, will only be refunded if the place can be taken by an unsuccessful applicant.
Every effort will be made to run the Course but there may be circumstances beyond our control which mean that the Course may be cancelled without liability.
Applications will be acknowledged after the application closing date. Please do not contact the Organiser before the closing date for information on the progress of your application. Decisions cannot be taken until that time.
Applications are grouped according to first preference where possible. If groups cannot be filled, or are oversubscribed, the second choice group will then be used to attempt to allocate a space. However, a group which is under subscribed may have to be cancelled if the resources can be more efficiently used for another group.
The Rickstones Academy is situated 2 miles off the A12, Conrad Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD. National Grid Reference TL 8184616574. On arrival students should report to the Reception Point which will be clearly signed. There is a large car park at the School with access from Rickstones Road. The school (buildings and grounds) operates a complete non-smoking policy which includes e-cigarettes.
The Course is essentially non-residential; any applicants who require accommodation should make their own arrangements with their hosts as soon as they have been advised that they have been successful in gaining a place on the Course.
Students should bring a supply of lined or squared paper, any book containing the method(s) to be studied, and a piece of rope if splicing instruction is required. Sets of handbells may be useful although some sets will be available.
The Association Bookstall will be open periodically during the course; Central Council and several other publications will be available. Tutors will be only too pleased to give advice about books.
Helpers and attendees will be able to order Essex Course clothing during the event.
Tea and coffee etc. will be available at the school at set times in the morning and afternoon each day and a meal at the Course Social on the Friday evening. All refreshments are included in the fee.
Groups usually take lunch at a local pub close to either the morning or afternoon tower, as this allows useful discussion and advice to continue over the break. These days it is extremely rare for pubs to have any problem with young people being part of the group, and young people should, if possible, budget for a pub lunch each day. If, however, any group member intends to make their own arrangements for lunch, or to bring sandwiches, you must let your group tutor know when you arrive at the school so that they can take this into account in making their arrangements for the group.
Reasonably experienced ringers are required as “helpers” at the practical sessions. No course fees are charged for helpers and they are entitled to attend any of the lectures and other Course functions when they are not required elsewhere. Helpers should be able to ring touches inside reliably to the method groups to which they are assigned (groups E and above) or ring reliably in at least the next higher group for groups A – D.
Helpers should apply online using the button below.
In exceptional circumstances, helpers should contact the Helpers Administrator directly: email: coursehelpers@eacr.org.uk
It is essential that you read the details of the various practical Groups available as detailed below before you complete the Course Application Form.
It is equally essential that you do not over-estimate your ability. Please note that the first practical session is intended partly to ensure that ringers are in a suitable Group – a Group in which they can obtain maximum benefit from the Course without attempting too big a jump in their progress. Please assist us by providing a description of your ringing during the last three months (practices or courses attended and what you have rung).
The emphasis on competence in the notes on the Course is quite deliberate. If you are in a Group for which you are not yet ready you will, as a consequence, not make the progress intended and progress of others in that Group will be hindered. The Course Management reserves the right to ask you to change groups if it is felt appropriate. The aim is for all students to make significant progress and to enjoy their practical sessions.
The Course will be divided into Groups for practical sessions as below, one of which must be chosen on the Application Form. Please see details on separate sheet.
Apart from the main Group lectures there will be other lectures on a variety of subjects which may include some of the following:
Handbell ringing Rope Splicing Calling call changes
Achieving good striking Tune ringing on handbells Running a practice night
Recruitment and retention
Attendance at these is a matter of personal choice. Some sessions will be limited to a number of attendees; lists will be placed on the notice boards to enable you to sign up during the first coffee break.
An outline programme will be circulated electronically to all successful applicants.
This course is for those who wish to learn how to call and conduct simple touches or those who are already calling touches of bob doubles, Grandsire or Bob minor and wish to hone their skills. The course will be held on Wednesday 8th April, tower to be confirmed.
This course is especially designed for those who might have thought about a simulator but don’t know enough to make a decision whether to go ahead or not. The course will guide you through deciding whether a simulator will work for you in your tower, show you working examples of the hardware/software used and give some practical advice on how to use the software to assist your teaching of new and experience ringers as well as ways to hold practical sessions on silenced bells. The course will be held on Wednesday 8th April, tower to be confirmed.
This year we will be offering 3, 1-day courses for junior Essex ringers. Only young Essex ringers who are 18 or under on the 11th April 2026 will be eligible to apply. This course will be aiming to progress young ringers who can handle a bell unaided and are progressing to Foundation skills, up to and including ringing plain courses and touches of Plain Bob Doubles, Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. These will be held on the 9th, 10th and 11th of April. Applicants may apply for all three days but may only be allocated 1 day depending on demand. Students who specifically wish to attend all 3 days must choose from one of the other 3-day courses being offered. Tower to be confirmed.
This group is suitable for beginner ringers who are not yet confident in ringing a bell on their own. Ringers who have had a few lessons and are in the early stages will benefit from three days consolidated practice in securing bell-handling skills including raising and lowering a single bell. We will also accept applications from complete beginners. This course will also suit people taking their first steps in rounds (for example those at Level 1 if they are on the Learning the Ropes scheme).
This group is for students who can reliably handle a bell on their own but would like to work on their individual ringing skills, improve their bell control, listening and ropesight, for example those at level 2 of the Learning the Ropes scheme. This group will focus on developing listening, striking and bell handling. A range of individual and group exercises will be used to develop confidence in bell control including raising and lowering a single bell.
This group is for those who are ready to take their first steps in change ringing. You may also have mostly completed level 1 & level 2 of the Learning the Ropes scheme. The group will focus on developing the necessary skills required for change ringing including ropesight and good striking. Exercises will provide practice in plain hunting on different numbers of bells (up to 5).
A Group for those who really have ropesight and bell control and are ready to ring the treble to a wider range of methods and to minor methods without tenor cover. Applicants who cannot confidently ring the treble to Plain Bob Doubles must apply for the Introduction to hunting course.
A Group for those who are competent in ringing skills as outlined in the above groups and wishing to learn Plain Bob Doubles on an “inside” bell. Applicants who cannot confidently hunt on the treble to Plain Bob Doubles should not apply for this course.
A Group for those who are already competent in ringing skills as outlined in the above groups (up to E) who wish to learn Plain Bob Minor “inside”. You should be able to ring the treble reliably to touches of Bob Minor before applying for this group.
A group for those wishing to progress to ringing Grandsire Doubles. Applicants must be proficient in ringing the treble to Grandsire and be able to ring touches of Bob Doubles “inside” to get the full benefit from this option.
A group for those competent in ringing touches of plain bob doubles and minor, who want to develop their doubles / minor repertoire. Methods covered may include
Applicants will learn to ring the treble to a Treble Bob Hunt method and then progress to an “inside” bell. Tuition in both Kent and Oxford Treble Bob will be given, with the intention of moving on to splicing the two together for those making good progress. Applicants must already be able to ring touches of Plain Bob Minor on an inside bell competently.
Applicants will learn how to move onto ringing Plain Bob Major and wish to develop ropesight for ring on 8 bells. Applicants must be confident ringing Plain Bob Minor and Plain Bob Triples, both on the treble and inside to the method. It is suggested but not essential that applicants should be able to ring touches of Plain Bob Minor and Triples.
