The band’s purpose
We ring the bells for the village, to call people to service and hopefully, give joy to everyone who hears them.
We ring for special joyous occasions, Coronations, weddings, baptisms etc. Of course, we also ring for sad events such as funerals. When Queen Elizabeth II passed away, we tolled the “Tenor” bell, the heaviest bell in the tower, every evening for a week.
We get together every Wednesday evening to practice and hopefully improve, and we ring for service each Sunday.
The people involved
Anyone can get involved in bell ringing. The youngest ringer in Tysoe is 14 and the oldest, well, that would be rude to say! Needless to say, people ring from about the age of 11, and some people are ringing in their 90s.
The band is lead by our Tower Captain, David Rake, and others take responsibility for learner development and steeple-keeping. We have a very strong band at Tysoe with 12 members, including one who lives in Germany!
After a gap of several years, ringing restarted in Tysoe in about 1999, with a new band recruited and trained to ‘ring in’ the New Millennium.
Of the original ringers recruited back in 1999, Muriel Paxton and Jenny Tongue still ring with the band today.
Why we ring and what we do
As well as ringing together, we enjoy socialising together. We have a summer BBQ, a Christmas party, and ringing outings. Last year, this involved us all travelling to Yorkshire for the weekend to visit and ring with the previous Tower Captain, David Bell.
We rang at 5 towers whilst we were there, including David’s new home tower of Sharow and joy of joy Ripon Cathedral. Every member of the band got to ring at a Cathedral, which for many was a first.
We’ve also enjoyed a trip to St Paul’s Cathedral, which was amazing – we watched elite ringers ringing but weren’t allowed to touch the ropes!
The joys and benefits of Bell Ringing
Being a member of the bell-ringing community is being part of a very special club. There are benefits that it brings to you from a physical and mental perspective. Once you have mastered how to handle the bell, you then have to learn how to move the bell into different places within the row. This can be a great memory test, as you have to remember where in a particular piece you are and what you need to do next. There are no music stands for us.
The other wonderful thing about bell ringing is that wherever you go, you can contact the local tower and ask to ring with them. Band members have rung in Cornwall, Dorset, Wales, East Sussex, and Belgium whilst on holiday. If you attend their practice night, you will, more than likely, end up in the pub with them all. You are welcomed wherever you go.
History of the Tysoe bells
The earliest 4 bells were installed in 1719 by Richard Sanders from Bromsgrove. Another bell followed in 1750. This time cast by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester. The final bell is dated 1782. This was cast by Matthew Bagley III of Chacombe. The bells weigh from 4cwt to 12cwt.
There are 10 peals registered as taking place in Tysoe. The earliest being 20th June 1925 and the latest the 19th October 2019, which was rung to mark the 300th anniversary of the casting and installation of the bells in the tower.
In 2017, a peal was rung to mark the centenary of Tysoe Women’s Institute, it being the oldest WI in Warwickshire. David Rake and David Bell both took part in the performance.
Ringing a Peal is a major achievement. It takes approximately 3 hours, and the ringing must be perfect. No mistakes!
Tysoe Bell Ringers
Should you be interested to know more or would like to consider learning to ring please contact Jane Millward on 07850567794.
