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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Surely it's a big mistake to assume that h=
eavy=20
means difficult to ring? It's about familiarity and expectations.&nbs=
p;=20
When we did some training sessions at the Swan Tower at Perth in 2001, we w=
ere=20
able to help dispel the fear of ringing big bells - and the back bells are =
now=20
rung by males and females, young and old, who just treat it as=20
"normal".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Okay, I'm built like a tank and I&nbs=
p;like=20
lugging big bells around - and the harder they are, the better, as there's =
a=20
very real satisfaction at getting good ringing on difficult bells on any=20
number. But beyond that, it's the sound of heavy bells that inspires m=
e to=20
maintain a keen interest in ringing. I'd feel very differently about ringin=
g, I=20
think, if all our bells were of lesser weight and easy going.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But back to my starting point, there are p=
lenty of=20
heavy bells that go perfectly well and it's plain silly of ringers to be af=
raid=20
of them on the grounds of weight alone. Moreover, weight of bells shouldn't=
be a=20
deterrent to sustaining local bands. Regarding this as a cause strikes=
me=20
as a pretty thin excuse for the more complex phenomenon of the de=
cline=20
of ringing in some towers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>CP</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>