Alison Collins

Alison learned to ring 40 years ago at Grappenhall in Cheshire, on an 11 cwt ring of eight bells. Grappenhall ringers were well known at that time for ringing relatively fast and to a high standard of striking. She left Cheshire to head to Polyversity in Newcastle Upon Tyne and found the church in Jesmond to be both architecturally eye catching with a detached tower and the ringers friendly. The 18 cwt ring of eight bells were rung appreciably slower and Alison found Grappenhall bells way too fast when on home visits. A sandwich year with British Rail in Birmingham gave her the chance to join yet another band, at Great Barr and to ring at surrounding towers.

Alison returned to Grappenhall permanently after an offer of employment drew her back home. She is an active member of the band, which includes her daughter Rebecca. They are now ringing on a fine ring of 10 bells which were cast by Taylor and installed in 2019. Grappenhall continues to strive for ringing excellence and ringers feature regularly in branch and guild competitions on 6, 8 & 10 bells. Alison has finally mastered counting backwards from 10 and may eventually ring a ¼ peal of surprise Royal on an inside Bell, once she has overcome the challenge of recovering from a fractured elbow.

This entry was written in January 2023.