Julia was in action last weekend as one of the judges at the National Twelve-Bell Striking Contest final.
Where are you based?
Currently, Penrith in Cumbria
When and where did you learn to ring handbells?
My mother Gail Cater, taught me the basic PB6 positions on Hereford/Central Council courses when I was a child, and I rang my first handbell quarter with her and John Colliss when I was 10.
Who has influenced your handbell ringing?
Quite a few people over the years. I didn't really do much until I went to University in Birmingham and Fran Dodds ran Sunday evening handbell sessions in her flat which introduced a number of us to basic surprise. I notice in my peal records that I was in David Pipe's first of surprise royal in hand for example! Then a post-university move to London involved me in the Imperial College ringing with Roger Bailey. I rang some Stedman with Phillip Saddleton and at the scary venue of Brandon Parva to ring Stedman Cinques with Bill Jackson where I felt extraordinarily out of my depth. That was the place that I was made to ring the tenors on size 18 bells. My left bicep felt like it was going to explode. I've experienced wanting to cry in the last hour of a peal on a tenor before - but never on handbells! I didn't do a lot of ringing then until the children were a little older and I found myself in striking distance of Glasgow. Simon and Tina do an extraordinary job of always having a project for developing someone or a band. It's never about just churning out a peal; there's always a developmental purpose. I really benefitted from this and they helped me move "inside" a little. The 5 o'clock club during lockdown helped with that too. I am currently enjoying getting involved in the excellent quality peals organised by Jennie Town in Northallerton on a Friday evening.
Blue lines, place notation or structure?
Mostly structure, watching the treble and listening to the music. I'm hopeless if the treble is wrong. I do think about the place notation for surprise minor - which is slightly odd as I don't use it in any other ringing.
Trebles or tenors?
Much prefer ringing the tenors. Trebles are incredibly stressful especially because I know how much I rely on them.
Quarters or peals?
Always peals. Quarters are fine for consolidating a method, but you don't reach the point of mental fatigue where you need to reach a deeper level of concentration and understanding of the method. Plus I would like to reach 1000 peals before I'm too old, so am keen to ring them when I can.
What is the most unusual place in which you have rung handbells?
Outdoors in a random hotel car park in Verona in order for Roger Bailey to tick Italy: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=30795.
What is your favourite handbell-ringing anecdote?
Ringing with Peter Randall. I love him and he's one of the most gifted conductors out there - obviously. But it is always amusing to see how different people cope with his instructions; is he telling you a place notation, a place bell, a place within the row, a bell to ring over?? Is he even talking to you? I found the key is to not get stressed and just say "I don't understand you" - and he will try again and add an extra word or two.
Any further comments about handbell ringing in general?
I do not consider myself a handbell ringer; I'm a ringer who sometimes rings handbells. But I absolutely love it. It is where I feel the greatest challenge and personal development in my life right now. I also love the importance of the teamwork - which is arguably more important than on tower bells. When James Perrins was staying with me for a few months and we rang regularly, the rate at which we (me, James and Nick Tithecott) progressed was amazing as we learned about each other's approach and foibles. And the regularity of the practice meant we came on leaps and bounds. Bands who ring together so frequently such that they just sit down and gel together in something, must be a real treat.
Next time: Cecilia Pipe