[r-t] Latest draft of Decisions changes for 2017

[Graham John]

On 17 April 2017 at 13:27, Ted Steele <teds.bells at tesco.net> wrote:

> Perhaps John should consider what the financially struggling church
> authorities would make of it if they discover that even ringers
> themselves don't consider real bells necessary for their perfomances.

Why does this change necessarily have anything to do with the church?
All it is doing is recognising a right to recognise private peal
performances, as is currently the case for at least 95% of handbell
peals, to towerbells. For example, a private ring (of real bells)
doesn't have to be audible outside and therefore cannot annoy the
neighbours; and a complete ring of dumb bells rung with simulated
sound of real bells, that sounds much nicer to the ringers than a
tinkly mini-ring is equally acceptable. Yes, this change is primarily
aimed at ringers who ring for sport, but if it helps keep ringing
fresh and inviting to today's youth, increasing the number and
competence of ringers as time goes on, then the church will benefit
when those skills are applied to public performance on church bells.

Graham