Mid-Devon Tower Talk - Feb 2026

January 6 Bell Advanced practice Bishopsteinton

This was another very enjoyable and well supported practice. A good range of methods was rung. Plenty of Cambridge, London and Norwich Surprise but also including the less common Rodney's Victory Treble Bob. This was a "Tongue in Cheek" suggestion at the AGM following our chairman's success with a quarter peal of Norwich Surprise. It turned out to be a popular choice and has since been rung at his home tower of Stokeinteignhead. Several of the ringers present spend many hours teaching new ringers so these practices give them a chance to progress their own ringing which is often not possible in their own towers.

6 bell practice Dartington

It is some years since the branch visited this ground floor ring. The bells are quite heavy but nevertheless we managed them fairly well. This was particularly the case with our less experienced ringers. The bells just need to be pulled quite hard! Lots of plain hunting and Plain Bob Doubles were rung. Cambridge Surprise was the most advanced ringing as the tenor ringers voted that a very "dodgy" method like Norwich was a step too far. We also rang Little Bob. Many thanks to Dartington ringers for their warm welcome.
Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/nF13QrpSMSpxVGno7 

8 Bell advanced practice Kingskerswell

Following the success of the Friday 6 bell practices it was decided to try an experimental 8 bell practice. Kingskerswell proved to be an ideal location for this and the tower was soon packed with enthusiastic ringers. Cambridge Surprise Major was a popular method and several full courses and one half course were rung. Yorkshire was also successfully brought round along with 2x 3 leads of Bristol. Plain Bob Major was also rung. For Triples several touches of Stedman, but probably the most significant was two touches of Grandsire ably called by Don Roberts. All in all a most enjoyable and useful practice, Until... On the way out of the tower your scribe put a foot wrong producing a severe stabbing pain in the right knee. Katie immediately called 999 and paramedics were called. In the meantime I managed to shuffle up the stairs to allow everyone else to leave.
Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/6bFp41ZyKZJyvazA6