What has happened to the Master’s Musing you may ask? Or perhaps not!
April started on a sad note when I attended Leslie Weller’s funeral at West Grinstead. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Thanksgiving Service later in Chichester Cathedral but I understand that it was a suitably uplifting service reflecting Leslie’s life.
Due to problems with my shoulders and neck I was unable to do any ringing during most of April and May. I had a very full diary at the beginning of April but in addition to the neck problem I felt very unwell and had to cancel a trip to baby sit our grandchildren in Bracknell, helping out at “Easter Explorers” and some moonlighting. After Easter I did go to some of the practices and was able to “stand behind”. I feel that “standing behind” is a special art. When “standing behind” how many times do you see the learner make one mistake and then be told every bell after that? I know how frustrating and annoying this is for the learner. Another frustrating habit of some members of a band is to shout to the learner what they should be doing when someone else has been asked to stand behind. It is difficult enough when learning a new method to concentrate on the method and to have to listen to two voices telling them what to do is a step too far! There is a very useful paper which appeared in the Ringing World on 3 November 2000 page 1085 as part of the “The Learning Curve” series which was produced in booklet form. If you are interested and cannot find a copy let me know and I will forward the relevant page.
I heard that the Handbell Day was, once again, very successful. This has now become a regular date in the Association calendar. A new initiative from the TARTS (Training and Recruitment Team) is A SEMINAR/DISCUSSION MEETING for anyone who has responsibility for, or an interest in, organising ringing. This is to be held on FRIDAY 20TH JUNE 7pm to 9pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre. This promises to be an interesting evening and I will be pleased to hear how it went. I am unable to attend as our younger daughter, Miriam, is to be married the following day and I will be busy helping with last minute preparations as Mums do.
Alan and I joined the Eastern Division for its annual May Day bank holiday in the Exeter/Tiverton area. As I was unable to ring I took the opportunity on Saturday to walk along the canal bank from Sampford Peverell to Tiverton (about seven miles) on a lovely sunny day and then a leisurely bus ride back to the camp site. I joined the group for dinner and a very pleasant time ensued.
May has been a month of meetings. The first being a BRF meeting the evening prior to the Annual General Meeting.
I was very apprehensive prior to the AGM as it could have been difficult with the Vision and Revision of Rules. However, with a lot of praying beforehand God answered my prayers and the general tenor of the meeting was good. Now for the tidying up of the rules to be presented at an extra general meeting in the fairly near future.
The Monday following the AGM I attended Burgess Hill practice to present Colin Squires with his 50th Year Membership Certificate. I was made very welcome and had a most enjoyable evening. Thank you Burgess Hill ringers.
A Publicity committee was held at Steyning. I was very pleased to see one of our much younger ringers join the group. If any of your younger ringers have any interest in any of the work done behind the scenes please do encourage them to put themselves forward. After all they are the future of the Association and know better than most which way they want it to go.
I spent the Bank holiday Monday at the Central Council meeting. Alan was being proposed as an Additional Member so that he could continue his work on the Felstead Database. He was duly elected and is, again, back at his computer! I managed quite a lot of knitting – at the back of the meeting.
After we left the meeting we drove home to pick up the motor home to drive to Bracknell to spend the night and then rose early to drive to Pembroke to spend the rest of the week with Rachel and family. We had a lovely time with the children although we arrived home absolutely exhausted. The weather was reasonable and on the Saturday we were on our own and managed five miles of the Pembrokeshire Coastal path. The views were stunning and the sea the colour you find in holiday brochures.
Will finish now as I need to sort out my footwear for the wedding. Enjoy your ringing and I hope to get back to something like normal ringing Chiropractor willing!
Christine Baldock