EDUCATION COMMITTEE

2014 proved to be another successful year for the Education Committee, starting on 22nd February at Upper Clatford with Plain Hunt and Hunting to Doubles Methods - very much the building blocks of method ringing - followed by the popular Stedman Triples at Bishop’s Waltham on 5th April. Both courses were over-subscribed. The Introduction to Method Ringing on Handbells scheduled for 15th April was unfortunately cancelled when Winchester Education Centre was closed for refurbishment and no alternative venue was immediately available. An evening of Basic Raising and Lowering at Bishopstoke on 20th June was a huge success, highlighting the need for this early training, and was followed up at Lockerley on 11th October by the ever popular Raising and Lowering in Peal, and Leading Up and Down. The year finished at Hawkley with two courses, Grandsire Doubles and Belfry Maintenance, running concurrently, both over-subscribed; a very successful combination, particularly as one course is “non-ringing”. It is very encouraging to the Education Committee to hear that students, having completed a training day, have been able to further their expertise in their own or other local towers.

Our 2015 programme starts in earnest on Friday 27th February at Bishopstoke with an evening on St. Clement’s Minor. If our evening sessions prove successful, the Committee will look at the possibility of offering more subjects. The year continues on 21st March at St. Mary Bourne with Plain Hunt and Hunting to Doubles Methods - always popular. We are delighted to say the refurbished Winchester Education Centre - now renamed the Winchester Learning Centre - is open again, enabling us to offer an evening on Tuesday 31st March (Holy Week) on handbells, but this time aimed at those who have never, or hardly ever, rung handbells, and maybe extending to Plain Hunt. On 25th April there will be a Basic Raising and Lowering afternoon at Bishopstoke, aimed at those who have never learnt this technique, or who need more practice and confidence. The Autumn programme will start earlier than usual on Saturday 5th September when, subject to confirmation, we hope to offer Ringing on Higher Numbers. We continue on 10th October with Surprise Minor at Milford-on-Sea, and will conclude on 14th November at Lockerley with Listening Skills, which is a day combining fun with learning as students have the opportunity to try a variety of skills, ranging from handbells, ringing on a simulator, and how to judge a striking contest.

Over the year, we aim to provide tuition at all levels - something for everyone. Course details are published well in advance through District Secretaries and Ringing Masters, and, where possible, direct to towers, as well as under the Education heading on the Guild website. Places are filled on a “first come first served” basis and it is a great help if students apply as early as possible; leaving it to the closing date sadly may result in disappointment.

ITTS, whilst not run by the Education Committee itself, comes under the general Education Committee “umbrella”. One Module 1 Day was offered in 2014 and it is hoped to offer more such days in 2015, thus endeavouring to ensure a high level of teaching throughout the Guild in the future.

Financially the Education Committee is in a very stable position, though a constant watch is kept to ensure funds are used to best advantage and that fees are kept to a minimum. 2014 saw the introduction of our on-line booking system, giving applicants the opportunity to use either this method or the more traditional cheque and post system.

The Education Committee cannot operate without the dedicated and invaluable help of tutors and helpers at all levels to whom we are extremely grateful, and to the goodwill of towers who allow us to use their bells. Thank you all very much!

Christine Knights-Whittome