The new scout ‘Bell Ringers’ activities badge was launched at the Royal Cornwall Show on Friday 10th June by Rt Revd Chris Goldsmith, Bishop of St Germans.

In a major initiative to involve the 2,200 plus cubs and scouts in Cornwall with our rural churches Bishop Chris St Germans (the Right Reverend Christopher Goldsmith) with Annie Holland President of the Truro Guild of Ringers and the Cornwall Scout leaders presented the new scout ‘Bell Ringers’ activities badge at the Churches Together tent at the Royal Cornwall Show.

Bishop Chris presents the badges

With the help of bell ringers from Lerryn School, St Neot, St Dominick, St Winnow, St Kew, Bodmin and St Mary Bradoc thefirst 17 cubs and scouts from St Mabyn, Pelynt, and Lostwithiel groups have now qualified for their badges, with others well on their way.

The new badge can be achieved in four ways. The hand bell and hand chime route is available locally to each scout group, as are the tower bells. Those choosing the mini ring or dumbbell route currently have to travel to St Mary Bradoc where those facilities and support are always available.

The cubs and scouts from St Mabyn took this opportunity and travelled right across Cornwall to do so, and their local towers have agreed to take them on to ringing tower bells. They were introduced to call changes on hand chimes, interspersed with tunes such as Hedwig and Star Wars and learned on the mini ring.  The older cubs also learned to ring the full-sized dumbbell with the simulator using either Abel or Beltower virtual ringers projected on a screen, and others learned on tower bells at Bradoc and St Kew. The Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers now hope to broaden this badge to the Guiding movement.

Rob Pearce, Education Officer at the Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers said:

“In designing the badge criteria, we have been very conscious of the need for it to be accessible to all cubs and scouts and that it needs to be inclusive of those who take it and those who teach on it. We are looking for a 6-week commitment from the pupil, and giving them a taster of bell ringing which we hope will lead them into our exercise.”

 

The badge is available to all levels in the scout movement across Cornwall. For more information contact the Robert Pearce, Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers Education Officer on 01503 220522 or education@tdgr.org.uk

Learning to ring on the full-sized dumbbell

Learning to ring the mini ring with cubs from St Mabyn and Pelynt scout groups in Bradoc church

Ringing with hand chimes and teaching on tower bells in the background