Questions About Ringing Injuries

     In this section we have the answers given by Aunt Sally about ringers' fears of being injured by ringing. Aunt Sally wishes to assure the reader that whilst there is the possibility of injury when doing any physical activity it is very rare for anyone to be seriously injured when ringing. In fact, she says, it is several weeks since last saw even so much as a broken leg.

Dear Aunt Sally,

    My arms hurt when I've been ringing for a while and the bell always feels heavy and sluggish. I know my style isn't what it should be. Do you have any suggestions?

Yours, Isabella Bucket.

Dear Isabella,

    You are probably gripping the rope and pulling it much too hard. This a common fault of people that do this. The result is that you have to work hard to stop the bell rising too far each time and this makes the bell difficult to ring. Try the following: Don't pull as hard. Hold the tail end and catch the sally a bit higher. That way you'll be able by your own weight to stop the bell rising.

Aunt Sally.

P.S. Sorry about your surname!

Dear Aunt Sally,

    I've heard that ringing causes certain medical conditions. Is this true?

Yours, Ida Lobotomy.

Dear Ida,

Yes it is. The main diseases are:
1) Tinnitus. The constant ringing noise heard in the ringing room when you are trying to talk but the sound of the bells interferes at high volume with your conversation with someone across the room.
2) Bell's Palsy. The facial paralysis caused by excessive concentration on the ringing. Try to relax to the extent that your face looks no more gruesome than anyone else's, or at least no worse than a bucket of kippers.
3) Sleeping Sickness. Often manifests itself whilst ringing Grandsire and is the tendency not to dodge if there is no bob called. The sufferer is blissfully unaware but the effects of the disease on conductors is profound.
4) Mumps. A speech disorder in which the conductor's calls become very indistinct. Some conductors develop the condition to the extent that it is terminal for most touches.
5) Shingles. Similar to mumps but more localised, only affecting certain calls.
6) Cancer. A generic term for any tumour which has a tendency to spread and to recur when removed. Examples are: the tendency to call call changes the wrong way round on a Sunday morning, the tendency always to miss a particular dodge or the tendency for old Bert to grab the tenor and never manage to hunt down as far as last place.

Aunt Sally.