The Education Committee seeks to promote the recruitment and training of bell ringers and to extend the appreciation of bell ringing among the public.We started the year with a Listening Workshop at Eckington. This had over 20 people attending and was well received. The day ended with a fun striking competition with everyone becoming a judge as well as competitor. Two After Plain Bob Workshops were organised at Brailsford in April & June. Fred Pearson took the lead in these mixing ringing and theory. They proved popular and we aim to hold some more during 2016. A Heavy Bell Workshop was held in June at Derby Cathedral where our participants learnt that there is a lot more to ringing heavy bells than brute force. October saw the Rope Splicing Workshop at Darley Dale another sell-out event lead by Alec Humphrey. Members of the committee continue to help organise the monthly Young Ringers meetings which are becoming increasingly popular. Our Youth Team entered the Ringing World National Youth Contest held in Oxford and were just pipped into 2nd place by last year’s winners, Bedford. Support is also given to events at which the DDA Wombel is requested. The Wombel went to 15 events during 2015 including a week at the International Scout & Guide Camp in Chatsworth Park, where it operated alongside the Lichfield Mobile Belfry. This venture was led by Andrew Hall helped by other ringers from DDA and friends. All members of the Education Committee are involved in training local to their area as well as answering specific requests for help. We are completing a Tower survey to see if there is any particular help needed. One idea which has been popular is for targeted visits, usually a maximum of four, to help a tower move on with a particular step they are struggling to attain. Please do get in touch if you would like support of this sort at your tower. Gill Hughes - Education Committee Secretary Our Wombel The Wombel is available to members of the DDA to use at suitable events such as church fetes, carnivals, village shows or anywhere you think it could be used to recruit ringers or promote bell ringing. Members of the Education Committee are available to help with the erection of the Wombel and setting it up. It comes complete with a computer, speakers and headphones. An extension lead and circuit breaker are also available. It can be operated outside but not in the rain, there is a cover with it in case of rain. It stands just under 3.6 metres high and needs a ceiling height of 4 metres for erection. It needs a space of approx. 6metres x 4 metres for assembly. When erected the base size is 1.9metres x 1.2metres. The Wombel is a very professional looking piece of equipment. It is easy to ring and easy for ringers to give members of the public a go on, much easier than the Lichfield Mobile Belfry. This last summer we took it to the International Scout & Guide Camp at Chatsworth, some of the more interested and promising scouts went to ring at Baslow and were able to ring on the tower bells. It really is an easy transition from Wombel to Tower bell. Anyone wishing to borrow the Wombel will need to arrange transport for it, usually from Belper or its previous location. The base can be carried in a van but more usually is carried on the roof of car, there are a set of cross bars available to fit any car with side bars. Two people can lift it onto roof but 2 more are needed to get it upright after assembly. If you are unable to find a suitable vehicle for transport we are sometimes able to help. If you are interested in borrowing the Wombel for an event, or would like more information about it, you should contact Gill Hughes. Pictures of the Wombel can be seen on the DDA web site. |
Annual Report > 2015 Annual Report >