The peal of Bob Major at Leatherhead on Saturday shows that the Pandemic caused no more than a temporary interruption of progress, in one tower at least.  Jemima Bleackley and Lizzie Watts scored their first peal in three hours and five minutes.  Richard Burton (of the Cathedral and West Clandon) called his own challenging composition of 5040 changes on these demanding 19 cwt bells.  The music was interesting with many roll-ups on the back and off the front, and with Queens and Tittums (and many other clever features) too.  Jemima and Lizzie tackled the myriad of Bobs and Singles with aplomb.

They had both learned to ring following a recruitment drive in 2015 which involved the combined forces of Leatherhead and Epsom ringers.  Team work has been key to the subsequent success of the training concept.  Detailed course notes were provided throughout with break points for those who might not feel up to a long-term commitment, but in fact a good, solid group was formed and the ringers have proved both competitive and supportive of one another.  This means that we can expect some more first pealers before long.   All beginners take part in quarter peals as part of the learning process when they were ready (including calling QPs of Grandsire and Bob Doubles) and of course, lots of ringing on eight and ten bells as well. Ann Steed elicited the support of a fair number of District ringers without whose dedication and extraordinary commitment such progress could not have happened. Even they were sometimes quite surprised at the innovation of learners being set homework, having whiteboard sessions in the tower, and being given ringing challenges that had experienced ringers scratching their heads too.  This made practices fun to attend and not to be missed – even for those with the demands of exam revision and raising young families. Of course, with ten bells to ring the story at Leatherhead does not end there…