All Saints Wokingham Bellringers are very proud to present the first two youngsters from St Crispin’s School with their Level 1 Learning the Ropes Scheme, of the Association of Ringing Teachers, on 11th May 2026. Rev. Hannah Higginson enabled the church -school connection for the bellringers so we could create our own dialogue and plan how we could attract youngsters in Year 7 into bellringing.
Glen and Thomas joined the bellringers to learn how to ring. They chose ‘bellringing’ from the school enrichment programme after school activities in November 2025. The activity is on a Monday evening for 1 hour during term time and both Glen and Thomas have attended most weeks. After the Easter and bank holiday breaks we were able to concentrate on the skills to achieve the level 1 standard which enables the learner to ring a bell independently and progress onto learning to ring with others.
The Learning the Ropes scheme was developed by Pip Penny, a physiotherapist, 14 years ago and the Association of Ringing teachers, ART has increased the number of accredited teachers nationally. Pip Penny has just been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday honours for her work with youth and to bellringing. Two of our own teenagers achieved their Module 1 teaching certificate through ART last year.
Learning the Ropes scheme breaks down a huge learning pathway into small manageable steps to achieve and includes many interesting exercises to challenge physical control and mental agility. There are 5 levels, certificates and badges to collect so Glen and Thomas are at the stage where the fun really begins.
Glen has already attended the Berks & Bucks Young ringers practice which occurs once a month and both boys have attended our tower outing on the 13th June to East Ilsley, Shaw, Kintbury and Hungerford as their first rings in new towers and of course the pub for lunch. Each tower challenges all ringers as the bells ‘feel’ different and the expertise is to be able to control and ring them as a band. Most years we end the day with a BBQ held at one of our homes where the families are welcomed in.
We congratulate Glen and Thomas on their achievement as they have shown true commitment learning to bellring which we hope will give them many years of enjoyment, friendship and fun. Jane and Nigel Mellor are both accredited Association of Ringing Teachers and are having great fun teaching the boys.
If you know any young person who would like to come along and have a go and learn to ring please let us know.
Contact Steve Smith (Tower Foreman) on 07805 579920 or srs24pa@gmail.com
Or Jane Mellor (Secretary) on 07770 482614 or jane@mellorfamily.com
Jane Mellor (June 2026)
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