Welcome to the website for the Young Ringers of the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers

 Bell ringing is a team activity that stimulates the brain and helps keep you fit ... it also makes a glorious sound! 

This website is primarily intended for young ringers in the area of the Ely Diocese. For general information about church bell ringing in the diocese, see the main website for the Ely Diocesan Association, and also the individual websites for the four districts.
Ely DA Cambridge Ely Huntingdon Wisbech
A welcome letter and invitation to join the Ely DA Young Ringers is here.
  https://sites.google.com/site/elydabells/home/about-bell-ringingFor an introduction to bell ringing, and how to learn to ring, click the bell.

Dates for Young Ringers

All welcome to District meetings: 1st Saturday - Ely, 2nd Saturday - Cambridge, 3rd Saturday Huntingdon, 4th Saturday - Wisbech. See District websites for details, and a calendar of all Ely DA events is here.


Young ringers practices 2017

Catriona Shearer writes:

Happy New Year! It's only 2 weeks until the first Young Ringers practice of 2017!

Our next four practices will all be at Histon from 3-4pm on the following Sunday afternoons:
29th January
26th February
19th March
23rd April

If you haven't been to a Young Ringers' practice before, why not make it your new year's resolution to try it out this year? We ring lots of rounds and call changes as well as some method ringing - everyone is welcome!

If you have other ringing goals for 2017, let me know and we'll see if we can help you achieve them. Please put the practice dates in your diaries and let me know if you can come on the 29th January.

See you soon!

Catriona ( catriona.shearer_at_teachfirst.org.uk )   


Ringing World National Youth Contest 2016

Congratulations to the Fen Tigers (Ely DA Young Ringers) who were placed joint second in the Call Changes Category of the Ringing World National Youth Contest in London on Saturday 2nd July. They rang in the heat at St James, Garlickhythe, and were awarded an A grade; in the final at St Olave, Hart Street, they were awarded an A- which placed them joint second, together with Three Spires (Lichfield and Walsall). The winners of the Call Changes Category were Young @ Herts Hot Buns, and the winners of the Method Ringing category, and of the Whitechapel Trophy, were Bedfordshire Young Ringers.
The band was:
Treble Alfie Pipe
2nd John Hinton
3rd Toby Johnson
4th Rachel Frost (C) 
5th Daniel Stevens
6th Ben Edwards
7th Henry Pipe
Tenor Jason Burnett

Full results on the RWNYC website http://rwnyc.ringingworld.co.uk. 


Young Ringers Outing with the ODG Young Ringers - Thursday 31st March


The young ringers at Trumpington
On Thursday 31st March, a group of 15 young ringers from the Oxford Diocesan Guild (8 from Abingdon, 2 from Wargrave, and 1 each from Harwell, Bloxham, East Hagbourne, Amersham and Newbury) joined with 12 younger members of the Ely Diocesan Association to visit some of the most renowned towers in Cambridge.

After an early start followed by a long journey, we were more than happy to kick-start the ringing at St. Mary & St. Michael’s tower in Trumpington. While it was slightly cramped up in the ringing chamber, the lovely-sounding ring of eight more than made up for it. It was in this tower, after the general ringing, that some of us attempted a quarter-peal of Plain Bob Triples, composed and conducted by David Thomas. After a few tricky patches and worried looks, the band, consisting of four ODG ringers and four EDA ringers completed the ¼ successfully in 43 minutes. 

Whilst some were busy up in the ringing chamber, the other young ringers were making their way to the next 6-bell tower (St. Edwards). On the way, a few teams completed a travelling quiz, for the chance to win prizes later on.


Ringing on the mini-ring bell
The tower of Great St. Mary came next; as a ring of 12, this was the highlight for many. Although it was sometimes a struggle to hold the bells up enough, they sounded great when struck properly. Next, there was a quick visit to St Bene’t; this ring was challenging due to the long draughts and stretchy ropes.

We then popped into Christ’s College for some well-earned refreshments and a go on a mini-ring bell. Our penultimate tower was Our Lady’s; this ring was considerably heavy (a 31cwt eight), with many boys scrambling for a go on the tenor. Finally, we headed over to St. Andrews, another 8, for our last ring of the day!

Overall, it was an incredible day out and even the weather was kind to us. Many thanks go to the Cambridge ringers and to the organisers, Alan Winter, Barbara le Gallez, Catriona Shearer and Susan Read who made this day possible. (Click the photos to see a larger version).
Sophie Martin (Age 12)

Ely DA Young Ringers Organisers

Barbara Le Gallez    Catriona Shearer  
     
blegallez_at_yahoo.co.uk
Tel (01223) 860283
 
catriona.shearer_at_
teachfirst.org.uk		  

London outing, Saturday 6th February 2016

   Ely Young Ringers had a good day on Saturday 6th Feb, a ringing outing to London jointly with the Yorkshire Young Ringers (they call themselves The Tykes).

We travelled by train and rang at four famous towers, St Dunstan in the West (10), St James Garlickhythe (8), St Magnus the Martyr (12) and St Olave's Hart Street (8, home of the London University Guild), with lunch at one of the College Youths Pubs, Ye Olde Watling. Plenty of rounds and call changes were rung plus plain methods and some Stedman and Cambridge.

Thanks to the Pipes for providing the link to the Tykes, and to David Hull who made the arrangements and kept order on the day.

Millcroft Campanile - First quarter congratulations

   As a splendid conclusion to a year of progress in plain hunting and simple methods, four young ringers rang their first quarter peal at Millcroft Campanile on Wednesday 30th December 2015.

The method was Plain Bob Doubles. Felix Osborne rang the treble, Catherine Morley rang the second, Henry Morley rang the first cover bell, Steven Dowle and Ringing Master Helen Barker together rang the second cover bell. The other ropes were taken by regular adult helpers of the group: Janet Garnett, Andrew Morley and Alan Winter (who called the quarter).

The quarter was completed in 35 minutes, with good, steady ringing throughout. This was particularly impressive as none of the young ringers had previously rung for longer than 5 minutes at a time. Congratulations to all, and hoping that this is the first of many. 

The notice of the quarter as posted on Bellboard is on the left, click the image for a larger version.

RWNYC - Congratulations to the Ely DA Young Ringers

Barbara Le Gallez writes:
Congratulations to the Ely DA Young Ringers for doing so well at the Ringing World National Youth Contest (RWNYC). Ringing call changes, they achieved a B grade and were placed equal 4th, two grades up from last year's grade of C+, when they were equal 7th. Full results are here.

The chief judge, David Pipe, described the bells at St Thomas' Church, Oxford, as "easy to ring, but hard to ring well". His comment on our piece was: "A steady piece of ringing. Very good treble and tenor. The band were well placed. The judges were slightly frustrated when listening to this band, who they felt could have rung better than they did. There was a very good piece of ringing trying to get out, but it didn't quite shine." Peal speed 3h14 (one of the slower ones).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-truZK4ylygA/VaK92QByowI/AAAAAAAACU0/YK_bSxifnQY/s1600/RWNYC_band_072015_lo.jpg
   The band, in ringing order, was:
Henry Pipe,
John Hinton,
Dorothy Brooke,
Alfie Pipe.
Benjamin Edwards
Rachel Frost (C)
Billy Brooke
Adam Safford
Jason Burnet (reserve and row counter)

The photo shows the band and supporters
(click on the photo to see a larger version)

Thank you to the parents and other supporters who came to cheer us on. Thank you also to our team coach Alan Winter and also to David Pipe for his helpful comments during our practices.

The next RWNYC will be on the first Saturday in July, 2nd July, in London, and we hope to ring a method then. The young ringers themselves will be starting to arrange method ringing practices shortly - I will keep you informed of dates and times. Anyone hoping to be in the band next year, please keep the late afternoon / early evening of the Sunday before, Sun 26 June, free for a final practice.
 

In the churchyard, waiting to ring
   

The band, with reserve, in ringing order

Ringing at Rampton

Rope splicing


New Year, 2015

Outside Millcroft Campanile

Inside Millcroft Campanile

Handbells at Landbeach

St Mary Magdalene, Hilton 
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