[Bell Historians] Re: Stanton St John

[Alan Birney]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "Richard Offen" 
<richard.offen at ...> wrote:
>
>  
> > Is not a DAC Bells Advisor there to *advise the DAC*, should a 
Parish 
> wish 
> > to do work on the bells which requires a faculty?.  Or have I 
> > over-simplified?
> > 
> > It is up to the Parish, surely, to decide who should do the work.
> > 
> > John Cater
> >
> 
> Unless things have changed radically since I was a DAC advisor, 
the 
> role of an advisor is to give expert advice to the DAC in order 
that it 
> can consider each faculty application in a manner that will result 
in 
> an outcome that is in the best interests of the parish and the 
fabric 
> of its church.   It most definitely the role of the consultant to 
> advise the DAC if he/she considers the proposed work is what is 
> required and will be carried out competently and safely by the 
> contactor or volunteer group chosen by the parish.   
> 
> This surely is the whole point of having expert advisors.
> 
> For the obvious reasons of accountability and liability, advisors 
are, 
> in most cases, almost bound to recommend work is carried out by a 
> professional body, who have the requisite qualifications and 
indemnity 
> cover (one hopes!) for the work required.
> 
>


        I think the term "expert" is not quite right. I think most 
on here will know of or encountered DAC Advisors who are 
not "experts".
         it was my understanding that a DAC Advisor should give 
sensible, unbiased reccomendations about work that may be needed, 
and if a particular scheme gives value for money, etc.

        I can't quite see how we have "expert" Advisors, unless they 
have previousley had a long time in employment with a Churchbell 
hanging company or a long mechanical engineering experiance.

      If I use an example, someone who is a "proffesional" Gardner 
who rings bells and has no mechanical background- if they are 
appointed as a DAC Advisor, how can they be an expert?   They might 
replace the odd rope or broken stay and they might have some common 
sense, but does that make them an expert?

Alan