About us

Cathy Booth is the host of Fun with Bells and can be contacted via funwithbellpodcast@gmail.com.

Whilst I’m a non-ringer, my husband, of 20 years, has rung bells since he was 10. This podcast represents my exploration of the world of bell ringing, which fascinates me. I intend to find out about why people ring bells, how they learn, the hurdles they overcome, the history of bell ringing, the future of bell ringing, product manufacture, technological innovations, supporting organisations, how to look after bells, recording bells, bell ringing across the world, to provide expert tips for new learners and much more.

Emily Roderick is our research and social media assistant.

Having grown up in a ringing family, I was taught to ring by my father at St Michael’s in Warwickshire alongside my middle sister whilst in secondary school. Staying part of the local band until it was my turn to go to university, ringing momentailry took a back seat until after graduating. Coming back to ringing slowly in London via All Saints in West Ham I’ve been combining my studies from art school with my love of ringing and I’m incredibly excited to be part of the Fun with Bells team.

Anne Tansley Thomas is the website content writer.

I first tried to learn to ring whilst in my teens in Suffolk but my interest in bells was quickly overtaken by my interest in boys. Ringing Remembers, enthusiastic ringers and the sound of the bells at St Peter Mancroft in Norwich recently drew my back in and now I am completely obsessed. Bell ringers are the loveliest of people and I’m enjoying the fun-filled practice nights in towers across Norwich and pub practice afterwards. Lucky to have such talented and generous teachers and the new Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre close by. Great to be involved in the Fun with Bells project and am especially benefitting from the ringing tips at the end of each episode!

John Gwynne provides our podcast editorial review.

I learnt to ring in Braunston Northants at the relatively late age of 34.  I was recruited into ringing by a friend who was a lapsed ringer who returned for a while before giving up again…  I wasn’t taught to handle terribly well, hence my interest in ART which aims to correct faults before they become ingrained.  Learning in my 30s was hard and took a lot of effort, so I really envy youngsters who start in or before their teens, and really admire those who start at greater ages than me.  The one thing my early ringing experience did give me though is what I call ‘the bug’ for an amazing hobby which is all engrossing and has the power to change lives – it did mine!

Emily Watts is our transcriptionist.

I found out about ringing in the summer of 2018 at the Danbury tower open day in Essex. Mum ended up talking to the ringers about the Ringing Remembers scheme, as she’d always wanted to learn, and before I knew it a week or so later I was heading up the tower for our first taster session.

Now in my 2nd Year at the University of Exeter, I have fully thrown myself into ringing which has so far included a few visits to Exeter Cathedral (second heaviest peal in the world), an epic ECG dinner weekend and learning how to transcribe podcast episodes!