So, you want to be a bell ringer...
Maybe you have been awoken on a Sunday morning by the ringing of nearby bells. Or the sound of a well-struck (or not) set of changes have floated to you across England's green and pleasant land. Or maybe you're just intruiged by the idea of a dozen people pulling ropes to swing heavy things that go 'bong'! No matter what the reason, MUGCR welcomes all, new and experienced alike.
Contrary to popular myth, bell ringers aren't all 6'5", and built like rugby players. In fact, bell ringers are some of the most diverse and varied people around! No matter what your height or strength, anyone can be a bell ringer. All it takes is a little determination, and plenty of practice.
Another popular myth is that bell ringers are all religious, and it is true that some are. However, there are plenty of bell ringers who aren't religious in any way. Equally, bell ringing is open to people of all faiths. One of the biggest appeals of bell ringing is the same as most other hobbies: the social side.
MUGCR is a very socially oriented guild, always thinking of more events to organise, ranging from bowling trips to ringing tours, and everything in between. The centrepiece of the social calendar is the Annual MUGCR Dinner, traditionally held on the second Saturday in March.
The highlight of the social calendar is the annual Northern Universities Association Weekend, a massive three-day event that routinely attracts over a hundred ringers from universities ranging from as far north as Durham and Newcastle, to the relatively southern universities of Birmingham and Warwick. Each year, the NUA Weekend is hosted by a different university, so there is always something new to experience.
If the Annual Dinner is a bit too formal, and the NUA is a bit too 'big', there are also organised trips to some of the beer festivals in the Greater Manchester area: the Manchester Rag Beer Fest at the University of Manchester, the Stockport Beer and Cider Festival at Edgely Park stadium, and the National Winter Ales Festival at New Century Hall.
It's not all about the beer: the guild regularly organises trips to the Curry Mile, as well as to other restaurants around Manchester, ranging from Mediterranean to Chinese. Also, there are organised trips to bowling alleys, cinemas, and similar locations.
Interested? Come and find us! We can't wait to meet you!