Yes, there is quite a bit more to ringing than it first appears. It takes between 8-15 hours over a few sessions to learn how to handle the bell (safely and with the correct technique) all of which are differing weights and tones, our ring of 6 bells vary from just over 2cwt to just under 8cwt. With quite a bit of skill involved, with hand / eye coordination, and futher on in learning, timing, consentration and endurance. There are 2 main types of ringing, "change ringing and "method ringing" In change ringing the ringing master will call a serise of changes to lead to a recogined tune, for instance, the band start off in rounds 1,2,3,4,5,6 the master will call "3 after 1" taking the sequence to 1,3,2,4,5,6, then "5 after 2" will be called (1,3,2,5,4,6) and to take the band into a change called Queens the master will call "5 after 3" (1,3 5,2,4,6) all the odd numbered bells followed by the evens. And there are a small number of variations and sequences, and because the squences in change ringing are limited, "method ringing" is often done to give much greater variation, and can take years to master, in method ringing, each ringer memorises a sequence where by they follow a different bell each time the bell is pulled, on a ring of 6 bells there is a total of 720 sequnces to memorise. A quarter peal takes around 45 minutes and a full peal around 3 hours. Hope that helps explain the process a bit for you mate? Even though its a bit long winded, have tried to shorten it down a bit. After 23yrs as a ringer I really enjoy teaching any new starters we get. I would LOVE to ring at the Swan Bell tower over there in Perth ... one day hopefully 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
