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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Augmentation, as mentioned, usually takes place
where there is a strong band. This could probably be shown by the number of
quarter peals rung there. I have a feeling, however, that with time, these fall
off. If I could have a list of augmentations I might be able to furnish a
before/after situation, say over a 5-year period either way. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>AAJB.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=andrew@jgHWjaggSrkAlNicqVgG3H10KUuNo3o5BRb3CaPvQ8QiVy3bJB5VHgy2JYwojqj6A-ia_wnLMRPPbAOePR1gzg.yahoo.invalid href="mailto:andrew@SH6ByfLCe1pMn9-3vLk7KB2ZjtcJIO9W3PI6eQMWmKKJ2y3ZnwlSc4pRUugoWEzyx7hQ1ZCTbaYX1SHM.yahoo.invalid">Andrew Wilby</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:14
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bell Historians] More
bells?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P><BR>I did a "desk-top" survey a while ago and it appeared that in fact a
<BR>very high proportion of 12's did have a 12 bell band of sorts. Having
<BR>done a quick refresher I supect it is around the 75% mark
currently.<BR><BR>My gut feeling, with no evidence, is that this is probably
better than <BR>the 10's 8's and 6's with most of the 12's having stronger
than the <BR>average bands ringing 10 and 8 quite a lot if they meet short for
12. If <BR>the other number did as well we should expect to see more ringers
in <BR>total than the 30,000 guild membership statistic and the 40,000 C of E
<BR>survey figure that we are given.<BR><BR>Every location tends to have
different circumstances and a significant <BR>number of 12 bell towers are in
cities where large groups tends to cover <BR>all.<BR><BR>Back in the 70's at
the start of the 12 bell contest there were only 5 <BR>places which had
indigenous 12 bell bands which you could consider local <BR>and
self-sustaining. Since then the number of 12 bell centres has grown
<BR>dramatically as indeed has the number of 12 bell towers over this
<BR>period, having just about doubled. The National 12 bell Contest can
<BR>claim credit for stimulating much of this growth and enthusiasm.<BR><BR>I
think also that there is a strong demonstrable correlation between
<BR>augmentation and an upsurge of ringing activity that creats a
<BR>sustainable ringing "hotspot" for years to come.<BR><BR>Hasn't there
always been a tradition of augmentation over the past 300 <BR>years, driven by
interest in change-ringing? I would guess that the <BR>amount of augmentation
in any period will relate to the social and <BR>economic standing of the
ringers and their ability to attract or <BR>generate funds.<BR><BR>I think we
should start to worry very seriously for ringing if <BR>restoration and
augmentation starts to dry up.<BR><BR>Andrew<BR><BR></P></DIV><!--End group email --></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>