BELLRINGING IN CHURCHES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27698, 30 June 1955, Page 2

BELLRINGING IN CHURCHES

ENGLISH WOMAN’S HOBBY When Miss Betty Dyer, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, leaves Christchurch on Monday on her return to England, she will take with her happy memories of New Zealand, and especially of the Christchurch Cathedral, where she has been a bellringer since September. “Bellringing became my hobby when the vicar of my oarish church of St. Margaret’s, King’s Lynn, asked for volunteers to ring the bells before two services each Sunday.” said Miss Dyer, in an interview yesterday. “My girl friend and I decided to try it out. with the result that we became intenselyinterested and would not miss our Tuesday evening practice for anything.” Miss Dyer is not musical, but feels that a sense of rhythm is an advantage. “There is more to it than meets the eye, and I soon discovered that it is an art and much depends on an ear for sound.” First, practices at ringing are done with the bells silenced to learn the technique of handling them. Then when the instructor is satisfied with the pupil’s progress he allows her to take part in the ringing. The Christchurch Cathedral’s bells are slightly heavier than those in Miss Dyer’s parish church at Norfolk. As far as Miss Dyer knows si e is only the second woman to take part in the ringing of the Cathedral bells. Blistered hands and stiff arm muscles she took in her stride during her apprenticeship in bellringing in Norfolk But these discomforts soon di appeared when she learned the correct way to hold the bells. “Bellringing is qiute popular among women in England, though fewer do it than men. In Hamilton, there are women ringers at St. Peters’ Cathedral since the new peal of bells has been installed.” said Miss Dyer. The Christchurch Cathedral Society of Bellringers elected Miss Dyer an honorary oveiseas member at its annual meeting recently. Miss Dyer is a school teacher. She was on the of a nursery school in Norwich, and later taught at a village school near King’s Lynn. While in Christchurch she has been on the staffs of the Riccarton and Mairehau schools. Miss Dyer, accompanied by her mother and younger sister, came to New Zealand to visit relatives. They have been much impressed with the scenic beauty of both islands, and will leave by air on Monday for England by way of Australia.