The Bells of Exeter Cathedral

GTFU on the 11 and 12 and a lower on the back 10 before and after a quarter peal of Grandsire Cinques on this fine toned and characterful 12. A mixture of Taylor bells from 1902, 1915 and 1922, an Evans of Chepstow bell from 1729, and a range of founders from the 17th Century. They take some ringing due to their weight and the middle bells being a little quiet, but are well worth the effort!! :-)
This video stars fellow youtubers Laurabellringer and lunaticonthegrass111 (the latter of whom very kindly invited me into this quarter peal, thanks James!!!) :-D
Tenor 72-2-2 in Bflat
dove.cccbr.org....
/ laurabellringer
/ lunaticonthegrass111
The quarter peal band was as follows
Exeter, Devon
Cathedral
Sunday 9 September 2012 in 63 mins (72 cwt)
1320 Grandsire Cinques
Composed: J P Ramsbottom
1 Phil Ramsbottom
2 Jane C Webster
3 Sue Sawyer
4 Clive M Smith
5 James Kirkcaldy
6 Simon W Edwards
7 James P Ramsbottom (C)
8 Mervyn A Arscott
9 Michael R Spencer
10 Laura M Davies
11 Clifford Nicholls
12 Martin Smith
First on 12: 6
First on 12 as conductor

[@simonbellringer]

Many thanks for your kind comment, Steven. I'm glad you like my videos - I am in the process of uploading a 37cwt 6 now!! Laura likes anything, as long as it weighs over a ton, but then again I too have a fondness for the back end even if I'm nowhere near as competent yet, lol!! I look forward to hearing all 12 at St Mary's, I really do like them!!

[@simonbellringer]

Thank you Michael. It was a privelege to come and ring on this historic and characterful ring :-)

[@irenec2365]

There's just something I love about Exeter's Tenor and the Tenor where I ring in Sussex. I have never ring at the Cathedral here.

[@annesaunders1123]

Ire

[@LauraBellringer]

Really enjoyed ringing here!! Lovely lovely bells :)

[@simonbellringer]

They are nice bells indeed, it was a privilege to ring on them. Ringing is harder than most people think but easy once one has mastered the knack! It's all in the technique :-))

[@RingerJamie]

One thing I hate..... “all you have to do is pull a rope” I want to scream 😆

[@glockenkanale]

Yes, the way of ringing in Holland/ Germany is very easy, but you also need skills, I'm bellringer of the Utrecht catherdral, in beginning it was not easy, but i learned the skills and then it's easy! I like the way of change ringing. If i going visiting the UK, i will also visit a UK churchtower! ;-)))

[@simonbellringer]

Thanks!! Well worth a visit, they are bloody gorgeous bells and I enjoyed my quarter here :-) Will get my go on the tenor one day too!! ;-)

[@simonbellringer]

Thank you very much!! It is all practice and technique but the ringers here make it look easy!! When you visit the UK, do make sure you visit a UK belltower ande have a look for yourself. :-)

[@simonbellringer]

Aww, poor shoulder!!! It was a weekend but I only did the Sunday, which was this quarter here, and it was a great experience :-) Ah well, you'll know for next time.... :-)

[@BellringerBen]

Suppose to be ringing there with my Young Ringers group in 2022!! Treble is a bit shouty isnt it!!

[@simonbellringer]

Treble I suspect is by the door. Better to hear the treble than to not! Ringing there is definitely an experience - I do like these, a lot!

[@simonbellringer]

Its about technique, anything over about 20 tends to need a bit more of a firm hand but I can manage 50 easily enough when bonging behind, its about practicing on the bigger bells and getting your technique right - long firm pulls, get your arms right up at back to maximise backstroke pull, maybe bend your knees when pulling down at back to give a bit of extra pull. Itsjust practice!! :-)

[@adelarsen9776]

I would have liked to be there and hear the bells ring. :-)

[@johnr6168]

I recognised Laura straightaway. Oddly enough, I didn't realise my brother was ringing the treble until I watched it the second time!

[@ShalomMichael]

Very nice to see new generations taking this on. Would love to participate whenever I'm back in the sceptered isles. :-)

[@NiallMS1]

Well done Laura. You can turn it into a peal next time!! See if you're still standing after four and a half hours of ringing that thing!

[@ShalomMichael]

Great show gang. Beautiful sound indeed.

[@Orgelix]

Gorgeous! Good job! Well it looks so easy but i am sure it's very difficult... Should visit UK soon ;^))

[@Steven_Rowe]

Simon, I am a great fan of you channel and also Laura's channel ( loads of good bell videos so keep em coming) It appears to me that Laura prefers the blunt end of heavy bell peals ie Liverpool Tenor. Is she working up to turning Liverpool Tenor to a peal of Surprise Maximus LOL PS Haven't forgotten about a Video of St Marys Cathedral, just waiting for the opportunity to get a mid week quarter when we have enough. Should be ringing this Wednesday but my quess is we will ring the mid 8

[@simonbellringer]

Its good physical and mental exercise. It doesn't solely keep you fit and in shape but its a good start :-)

[@lindathrall5133]

That's quite a workout ringing those bells

[@LadyAmanita]

It's no wonder that Quasimodo of "Hunchback of Notre Dame" was described as incredibly strong!

[@simonbellringer]

Where did I misspell?! :-O OK I admit I omitted the 111 after your lunaticonthegrass on the video but aside from that..... Glad you enjoyed the vodeo and well done on your first as C on 12 :-) I love the way the Cathedral was practically empty, so I was able to get some nice photographs at the end with no pesky tourists in the way!! :-)

[@simonbellringer]

Yes, I'd have liked to, but never mind - it's not as if these bells lack any youtube feature time is it?! Fine bells, would love to come back for another qp some time :-)

[@ProfMoose]

It's a right bummer - rotator cuff injury that I did years ago and won't come right. Sometimes it's ok, others it isn't.

[@NiallMS1]

Well done Laura; you can turn the tenor in next time you ring there!

[@glockenkanale]

Wow, nice bells! It looks easy, but i know it's hard, i have tried one time to ring a bell up, but it was too hard for me. ;-) Should visit UK Soon. ;-))))

[@lunaticonthegrass111]

Oh, hello Uncle! I was just think, it's a shame you didn't record any of the quarter peal itself, Simon.

[@simonbellringer]

I too like the back end :-D But I also like the front end, ringing the little ones is as much a challenge in many respects as ringing the big ones :-)

[@ProfMoose]

I nearly offered to ring in this (email came round asking for a couple of volunteers) but decided my shoulder might not like it (long story). If I'd known there were so many youtubers in it I'd have taken the risk ;-)

[@AYDEN_OFROBLOX]

i what to ring but i can't due to some thing in life

[@bellminsterboy]

Also, very good in production wise, i used to have a crap computer but now I have a £1000 pound iMac on which iMove is very good.

[@CJCappella]

Begins at 0:33

[@Campanaronembrese]

These bells are like the bells of Gorlago, Italy

[@LauraBellringer]

I have been known to go around the front end ;)

[@ameliaviolet8691]

nice tenor

[@lunaticonthegrass111]

You spelt my name wrong! But otherwise a very nicely produced video, well done Simon!

[@bellminsterboy]

very good! I would have a better video of me on the Tenor here but my Grampa cant work out how to use my camera! Hopefully coming back in February!

[@bellminsterboy]

I, Like Laura also prefer the back end :-)

[@andrewbellringer404]

same here

[@Coreytheringer2345]

Why 2 tail ends on the tenor bell

[@simonbellringer]

Because it's big, so is sometimes rung with two people. One stands on the box and catches the sally as usual - the other, known as the "strapper", just helps with backstroke. Having the strap rope attached here also made it easier for two people to ring the bell up together. 🙂

[@Coreytheringer2345]

@@simonbellringer Oh ok thanks

[@patrickmeyer2802]

bendz ze kneez!

[@patrickmeyer2802]

has anyone ever missed that sally? ever?

[@RingerJamie]

Patrick Meyer hopefully not 😂

[@kyletheringer]

Patrick Meyer probably

[@Ifan-Francium-]

A man ringing in bare feet! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jasonburnet9181]

What recording device do you use?

[@Mr_SaltyChip]

What does GTFU stand for? And GtfD?

[@RingerJake]

It’s slang for bells that are difficult to ring up. It stand for “get the f*ckers up” and “get the f*ckers down”. Quite rude yes but funny!

[@chillinbro5423]

Umm ok then

[@erikmeidoorn1745]

Tenor Bell c1

[@simonbellringer]

Oh yes, the 10th is a big step down from the 12th here!! ;) Lol

[@silviaruhsen4666]

A lionheart

[@simonbellringer]

Real shame that :-( Ah well, at least it's OK some of the time, better than being OK none of the time!!! And you may be able to ring next time.... ;-)

[@simonbellringer]

Very poor show indeed!! I very much hope you recognised James fairly early on too? In all fairness Laura did take most the camera time to herself!

[@silviaruhsen4666]

No

[@silviaruhsen4666]

Because football had been first .....