The Essex Association of Change Ringers President: The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications to join the Course must be made on the application form only to Mary Bone before the closing date of 12^th February 2010. Each application must be accompanied by the deposit or full fee and a self addressed, stamped envelope for your reply. The balance of any outstanding fees is to be paid at Reception on the first day of the Course.

Applicants who will be under the age of 18 at the date of the Course must have their application form 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 you must advise your Group Tutor at the start of the Course. In particular you should bear in mind that the majority of practical ringing will be upstairs.

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COURSE FEES

The fees for Basic Tuition are £40.00. This includes all lectures, demonstrations, practical session tuition and tower donations. For paid up Junior Members of the Essex Association the Basic Tuition fee is £30.00. The minimum deposit is £20.00.

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SOCIAL

Also included is entry to the Friday evening social. Those wishing to attend the social who have not been a student, helper or participated in the course in any way are welcome to join the social for a nominal fee of £5.00 paid to the Course Organiser prior to the social. As well as a buffet supper and free soft and alcoholic drinks, the social has a variety of fun things to do and silly games to take part in, and is suitable for all ages.

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PLEASE TAKE NOTE

If you withdraw from the course after the application closing date and your place cannot be filled by an unsuccessful applicant it will not be possible to refund your payment.

Cheques must be made payable to "The Essex Association of Change Ringers".

Applications and all moneys received will be acknowledged after the application closing date and applicants must provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope (C5 size - 229 x 162mm) for this. 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.

In view of other ringing courses that take place at this time please do not apply for more than one course.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Honywood School is located within the Honeywood Estate on the northern side of Coggeshall, to the west of the Earls Colne Road (B1024) and south of Coggeshall bypass (A120). National Grid Reference TL853233, O.S. Landranger sheet number 168. 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 Honeywood Avenue.

Whilst the Course is essentially non-residential it may be possible to arrange for some "B&B" accommodation in the area. Any applicants who require accommodation should make their own arrangements with their hosts as soon as they have been advised they have been successful in gaining a place on the Course.

Students should bring a supply of lined or squared paper, any book containing themethod(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 some other publications will be available. Tutors will be only too pleased to give advice about books.

Tea and coffee, etc. will be available at the school at set times in the morning and afternoon each day. In addition a light tea is provided on the Thursday evening 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.

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HELPERS

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 D and above) or ring reliably in at least the next higher group for groups A, B and C.

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TUITION AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE

It is essential that you read the details of the various practical Groups available as detailed overleaf 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.

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 thatGroup will be hindered. The Course Management reserve 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.

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PRACTICAL RINGING SESSIONS

The Course will be divided into Groups for practical sessions as below, one of which must be chosen on the Application Form. Please indicate a second choice in the space provided, unless no other Group is at all suitable. Successful applicants will be placed in their first choice Group if at all possible, but some flexibility in placement will allow the maximum number of students to benefit from the Course.

GROUP A

A Group for those who can ring Rounds competently and who are ready to take their first steps in call changes and then, possibly, in change ringing on 3 or 4 bells. If you are in any way doubtful about joining Group B, then join Group A; you will still find something to learn and will have the opportunity to fill in steps in your ringing education you may have missed or not appreciated.

GROUP B

A Group for those wishing to plain hunt on 5. The opportunity to practice on different rings of bells and in different orders both on the treble and "inside" will be provided. The Group will emphasise foundation skills for change ringing and will be learning ropesight and considering striking as an essential preliminary to ringing the treble. Practice may be given at ringing the treble to Bastow, Minimus and Doubles, to "Stedman Quick Sixes" and to Plain Bob Minimus as appropriate, before progressing to ringing the treble to Plain Bob Doubles.

GROUP C

A Group for those who really have ropesight and bell control and are ready to ring the treble to Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. It is intended to progress to ringing the treble to touches in both these methods.

GROUP D

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.

GROUP E

A Group for those who are competent in ringing skills as outlined in the above groups and wishing to learn Plain Bob Minor "inside".

GROUP F

Grandsire: Starting with Doubles and progressing to Triples with calls. 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.

GROUP G

Treble Bob Minor: Applicants must be able to ring touches of Plain Bob Minor competently. Tuition in ringing the treble to a Treble Bob Hunt method will be given, with the intention of moving on to ringing "inside" for those making good progress.

GROUP H

Stedman: Starting with Doubles, progressing to Triples with calls and theory on extension to Caters and Cinques. You should be proficient in ringing up to Group F to get full benefit from this option.

GROUP I

Cambridge Surprise Minor: To get the full benefit from this group applicants must be able to ring 2 or 3 methods other than Plain Bob Minor e.g. Double Court, St Clements, Kent TB, and be able to 'treble bob' proficiently.

GROUP J

Double Norwich Court Bob Major: Applicants must be able to ring "inside" to Plain Bob Major and a number of minor methods such as Single Oxford, Double Court or Double Oxford.

GROUP K

Teaching Bell Handling & Ringing: This group is for those involved or interested in teaching the foundation stages of ringing, from basic bell handling to first steps in change ringing. A number of tower management topics will additionally be included.

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LECTURE OPTIONS

Apart from the main Group lectures there will be other lectures on a variety of subjects which may include some of the following:

• Change ringing on handbells
• Rope splicing
• Bell maintenance
• Insight to place notation
• Raising and lowering a single bell
• Raising and lowering in peal
• Calling call changes
• Calling simple touches
• Achieving good striking (A progressive series of talks)
• Conducting and coursing orders
• Understanding basics such as the "blue line"
• Method extension - how to turn minor into maximus
• Young Persons Seminar
• etc. etc.

Attendance at these is a matter of personal choice. Some sessions may require a limited number of attendees and lists will be placed on the notice boards to sign up. If you are interested in these groups, please sign up early.

A "Bell Handling Clinic" will be held on Thursday afternoon and those identified by their Tutors as potentially benefiting from this should attend the session.

A detailed programme will be forwarded to all successful applicants.

Closing Date for Applications: 12th February 2010.

Downloadable documents:

• Application form (PDF; 59kB)
• Course brochure (PDF; 150kB)
• Child protection policy (PDF; 33kB)

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