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<DIV><SPAN class=093200812-16102009><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I was interested to
read Mark Regan's letter (and associated graph) in todays RW. This may have
been discussed before but has anyone done a similar analysis in other counties
or nationally? It would also be interesting to know who Mark compiled his
numbers; the obvious starting point in the NBR but the further back we go the
more likely that the bells will have been recast potentially giving falsely low
numbers for the early years of change-ringing. This could make the graph look
even worse with a more apparent drop in casting. Of course there also also
obvious confounders such as economic and population changes over time such as
the surge of church building in the Victorian era.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=093200812-16102009><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=093200812-16102009><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Andrew</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>