Opportunity to excel

We were delighted that one of our members, James Moynihan, secured a place on the Advanced Ringing Academy, an intensive course for young ringers held in Birmingham during August. There are only twenty places for young ringers from across the whole country and demand for them is high.

The course is run by the Ancient Society of College Youths, one of the two premier ringing societies worldwide, and one of the oldest, established in 1637. It is supported by some of the most accomplished ringers in the country, and aims to give promising young ringers experience that they would not otherwise have.

James began ringing three years ago and progressed rapidly, having rung over 25 peals and over 100 quarter peals. He is now one of our most capable ringers, and makes a valuable contribution to ringing at All Saints. He is also an active member of the band at Arborfield (where he first learned to ring) and rings regularly in the surrounding area. He was elected Deputy Ringing Master of the Sonning Deanery Ringers. He (together with Becki Shuttleworth, a Sonning ringer who regularly rings at All Saints) have both been learning to teach ringing at All Saints, and both recently received their accreditation from ART (Association of Ringing Teachers).

At All Saints we have a strong band, and we can help ringers to progress more than they would be able to in many towers, but we have our limits, and we only have eight bells, so we cannot offer the most advanced ringing, including ten or twelve bell ringing.

Fortunately the ringing community has a strong tradition of ringers ringing at different towers, both to develop themselves and to help the bands with whom they ring. James was already doing this in London and other areas before he got the opportunity to join the Advanced Ringing Academy.

The Academy is intense, with three two hour sessions at different towers each day, mostly ringing on twelve, with some ten and eight. During the week James rang several quarter peals including his first of Surprise Maximus (12 bells) ringing a fairly advanced method (Bristol).

John Harrison (September 2025)