Another year is drawing to a close and, as ever, gives an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months. During the year, we lost several notable members of the Association including Rev’d David Cawley (a highly regarded authority on the history of Kent bells), Davd Manger (twice Association Chairman and a Vice-President of the Association, Mary Andrews (the first woman Vice-President of the Association and long-standing Lewisham District Secretary).
On a more positive note, looking at attendances at meetings in my own District, I am seeing an increase in members attending these events. However, I do know that this is not necessarily the case for every District for every event and I want to thank each District Committee for their hard work and dedication in trying to encourage members to participate in events and trying to plan events that are really tailored to the needs of different individuals. I wonder if there might be any interest in a group of representatives from each District getting together in 2025 to discuss and share what works in their District and perhaps get new ideas from others? Let me know if you think that this might be a valuable exercise.
I was absolutely delighted to hear that our ART M1 course is oversubscribed and I know that Sue Bassett, our Training Officer, is trying hard to organise another M1 course in the first half of 2025 for those who were not able to get on the original course. I know that there are some very experienced ringing teachers who are reluctant to take the course partly because there is an element of paperwork that needs to be completed in order to become and Accredited Teacher. However, we are living in a more litigious age where individuals are more likely to seek legal advice in the event of an accident.
Who is to say that a ringer who has been teaching individuals for many, many years is a competent teacher? Who has judged that they are able to train new ringers to ring a bell safely? Believe me when I say I have visited some towers in the country where I have been extremely concerned about the way in which a local band handles their bells and it is usually down to the ability of the teacher. With an ART Accreditation, a ringing teacher is able to show that they have demonstrated to an ART Assessor that they are a safe and competent teacher. This link gives more information about ART Accreditation and Membership: https://bellringing.org/about-teaching/after-the-course/accreditation-membership/
I mentioned the Ringing 2030 project in the November Words from the Chair and that I have been in discussions with the Central Council about a possible project that we could trial with their support as an exemplar for other Guilds and Associations as the project begins to be launched on a wider scale.
The main issue that Ringing 2030 is trying to address is that of numbers. Looking at the figures, of the estimated 30000 ringers who are currently active, around 60% of these are aged over 60. Ringers are not very good at promoting themselves widely, most of those in this over-60s group would have come into ringing through church attendance and perhaps transferring from the choir to the tower. We all know that the demographics show that the active number of churchgoers is declining and also getting older so new ways need to be found in which to attract people, especially younger people into ringing.
There is some great work going on around the country as well as here in Kent. We are lucky to have the Kent Young Ringers so that it is possible for our younger members to meet with those of a similar age as well as supporting their own tower. However, we do need to look at other ways in which ringing could be brought into the community. The project idea that I am working on with the Central Council is to hold an open tower in a populous are of Kent. There will be ringing videos to watch, demonstration ringing but, most importantly, an opportunity for the public to have a go. This will lead into an intensive ringing course at one tower for those who sign up with a view to getting the trainees able to ring safely. They can then be introduced to towers local to them and there will be further support offered whilst they find their feet in ringing.
It is a big project and will need a great deal of support from members of the Association to make it a success. As I firm up arrangements, I will keep you all posted and hopefully we will benefit from this on both a short term basis and, if successful, can implement it elsewhere within the KCACR.
It only remains for me to wish you all a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year and to thank you for your continued efforts in keeping the bells of Kent ringing.
Neil Jones
KCACR Chairman
For those who are curious, I took the photo of St Peter and Paul, Ash-by-Wrotham, in January.