Front Cover: The Ringing Roadshow – the first public appearance of The Ringing Foundation
by A. Robin Heppenstall, Trustee

"What is the Ringing Foundation?" was a question asked by many of the visitors to our stand at Stoneleigh, and there are still many ringers today who have little knowledge of our existence or purpose.

Comment
Publishing the unthinkable
In the last six months there have been reported in the columns of The Ringing World the conviction of ringers in Dunedin and Kintbury on child abuse related issues and separate reporting of an allegation. Against these reports there have been several items of correspondence regretting the inclusion of such items. With forthcoming legislation on Child Protection affecting ringers it is perhaps timely to consider our attitudes to abuse issues and the extent to which publicising cases is justified.

Hallowing of the bells on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly by John Maybrey
A couple of weeks ago the bells for St Mary’s Church, Isles of Scilly made the journey without mishap from Bridport via Penzance across the sea on the Gry to the Islands FOC courtesy of the Steamship Company. Again free of charge the local haulage contractor transported the bells, the steel bell frame and all the other equipment from the quay up to the church.

Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults - New legislation affecting ringing
Prepared by Chris Mew on behalf of the Tower Stewardship Committee
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 affects both employers and voluntary groups engaged in activities with children and with services to vulnerable adults. An initial review of the likely effect on ringing was given in an article in The Ringing World, issue of 2nd May, p.493 and a further update given in issue of 12th September, p.962. The purpose of this article is to summarise those areas of ringing that will fall within the Act and the extent to which ringers aged 16 and over may have to be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). The provisions of the Act are due to come into force in a phased way starting from 12th October 2009 but with important further steps to take effect from July and November 2010.

M is for Mouseholing by Simon Linford

Letters
Is bell ringing making music? - Ann Fanin
Middlesex misapprehension - James White
Chediston - Chris Rogers & Patricia Hitchins
Wasbrough Hale & Co. - Neil Skelton
Over-protective? - Brian Harris
Loyalty – a two-way street - Joan Barton
Ringers of the world unite! - Arch Andrews
Proposed ringing outing for motorcyclists - Martin Hough

Obituaries
Jean Dale and Ron Moore

Bells and Music or – Are my bells any good?
"Listen to it!" How often have we heard conductors yelling this rather unhelpful exhortation to their bands? But Dr Bill Hibbert’s talk to 50 ringers squeezed into St Nicholas Church Hall in Great Bookham on 6th April put this age-old plea into a brand new context. He gave a fascinating insight into just what a complex musical instrument a peal of bells actually is, and how our understanding of the instrument has been increased by his recent doctoral research.

Thought for the week
Keeping alert
When was the last time you had to snap out of some daydream and suddenly focus on what is going on around you? How often are you ‘caught napping’? If we are honest, I suspect that the answer to the first question is ‘quite recently’ and the answer to the second is ‘more often than I care to admit’.

Web based petition to ‘stop bells’ in West London
Ringing at St Mary Abbots, Kensington has occasionally attracted noise related complaints from local residents since the band reformed in the 1970s. This has been managed through a good relationship with the church, constructive contact with the local EHO and where possible a direct relationship with the complainant.