Owen Borlase

Owen was born in 1985 and began ringing church bells aged 9. He was taught at St Dominic, his home tower by his father and Robin Woods. He quickly became confident in rising, falling and Call Change ringing and experienced different styles in various towers as he went around the area with his father.

Owen’s interest continued into method ringing at Pillaton under the guidance of Richard & Maire Warwick. His Dad then set him the challenge of learning to call Call Changes without a script. Once proficient another ringer gave him a book called “Call Change 120’s for six bell towers”, so he had to learn one for a special occasion.

Over the last 17 years Owen has been studying Call Change composition and how to produce the true extent on five. He has now produced lots of compositions for the extent on five and reasonable lengths on higher numbers. This culminated in 2010 co-writing a book called “Ringing Down ‘Ere” with John Purdey.

Owen also wrote a letter to the RW asking why this style of ringing, Call Change Peals, should not be recognised. The answer was “there is no real reason why they shouldn’t”, so now they are recorded. As already discussed learning method ringing has helped him to compose ‘true’ Call Change Peals.

Owen in action on East Redford tenor

This entry was written in March 2019