The Public Relations Committee helps promote the work of the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers and local ringers with their PR and recruitment campaigns. The Committee consists of an elected Public Relations Officer, a representative of each Districts, and other members co-opted for their ideas and expertise in Public Relations.

In this part of the website, you can find out general information and advice to improve the public profile of bell ringing in your community for recruitment or otherwise, how to hire our displays boards, and how to obtain posters and publications that you may find useful.  If you think we have missed some things out, do let the profficer [at] surreybellringers [dot] org [dot] uk (subject: Enquiry from Surrey Association Website) (PR Officer) know.

'All About Bells' Leaflets

We have recently created a new leaflet called 'All About Bells'.  This leaflet (A4, double-sided, folded into 3) is a basic introduction to bells, bell ringers and the Surrey Association.  It is intended for use in tower open days, and to keep in information stands in churches foyers.  Copies will also be kept with the display boards to hand out to visitors.

If you would like extra copies of the leaflet, you can either download a pdf version from this website, or send an email to the profficer [at] surreybllringers [dot] org [dot] uk (PR Officer), requesting for copies to be posted to your tower.

All About Bells (pdf version 3 Mb)

We will keep our older style leaflet on the website and they can be downloaded here:

Guide to Church Bell Ringing leaflet for the Northern District (pdf version 225kb)

Guide to Church Bell Ringing leaflet for the Southern District (pdf version 225kb)

Borrowing Display Boards

We have two sets of display boards which members can borrow for their own promotional events. The three panel display is 180 cm long and 90 cm high, plus an extra 25 cm for the central header board. The ideal position for the boards is on a long table.  We have also created some display material to go with the boards which includes photographs, diagrams and text relevant to bells and bell ringing in Surrey. This material has been designed to appeal to all age groups and hopefully prompt questions and interest from the public.  However, you can also personalise the displays with your own material about your ringers and the bells.  

To borrow the boards, please contact clementi [at] btinternet [dot] com (Frances Clementi).

Making the most of your display board material

Display boards showing church bells and ringing is a great visual aid.  If your church has a set of display boards that you can use, make use of it. Otherwise, good displays can also be done quite effectively by getting a large piece of card (A1 or A0 in size), a hanger and mounting your own material.  Remember that the Surrey Association has boards which can be borrowed and which come with display material.  

When creating your own display material, try make it visually attractive with photographs of your ringers, the bells, bell ringing and notable peal boards. Text should be kept to a minimum and of large font size (16pt or larger). Don’t forget to mention details of practice nights and regular service ringing, your contact details, recent and historical notable events e.g. installation, re-hangs, special peals, Ring In 2000 and tower outings.

Keep a pile of A4 folded handouts about bell ringing alongside the display boards to give out to people. Don’t forget to include the contact details of the tower captain / tower correspondent on these handouts. There are two excellent handouts that you can use: the Surrey Association’s Guide to Church Bell Ringing can be downloaded in pdf format or ordered from the profficer [at] surreybellringers [dot] org [dot] uk (PR Officer).  A colourful leaflet produced by the Central Council can be also be downloaded from their website (click here) or free copies are available by post (leaflets [at] cccbr [dot] org [dot] uk (click here)). Other visual aids that often help to spark interest include a model bell, hand bells, a rope and sally, especially for decorative effect around your display stand.

Recruitment Poster

A new colourful recruitment poster has been prepared by the Central Council Public Relations Committee. The poster is designed to attract new recruits and there is space to add your own local contact information. It is available in A3 or A4 size and can be downloaded from the Central Council’s website as a pdf or Word document.

If you don’t have a facility to print your own posters, copies can be obtained from the Central Council.

General Tips for Recruiting New Ringers 

1. Giving a Talk

Most talks are either a 2 minute slot at the beginning or end of church services, or part of special events such as a tower open day. For the 2 minute slot during a church service, it is important to be succinct and to the point. 

The advice on giving talks for both situations is the same: prepare in advance, write a few clear notes as an aide memoir on cards, practice beforehand to ensure that what you want to say can be said within the given time frame, speak slowly and clearly, keep eye contact with different members of the audience, use facial expressions and your hands and try to be light hearted. Avoid repeating yourself, too many “ers”, jargons and acronyms.  

Don't think that this is a just job just for the tower captain!  Chose a member of the band who doesn't mind public speaking and, if it helps, have the rest of your band stand alongside you. 

Those giving a lecture can use visual aids such as powerpoint presentations, a model bell, a rope and sally, and/or boards with display material. If you intend to do a powerpoint presentation, try to avoid presenting a plain bulleted list on each slide. This is sure to send your audience to sleep! Instead, try to illustrate each slide with a photograph or drawing. State in a few words the purpose of the slide at the top of the page and reinforce your message with a few words next to your illustration. Keep the font size large so that those sitting at the back can easily read the words. This method of presentation may take more time to prepare, but it will be much more interesting for your audience. Finally, don’t make your lecture too long but leave plenty of time for questions and may be conclude with a demonstration of hand bell ringing. Ideal lecture lengths are typically 10 minutes (20 minutes maximum).

If you would like to learn more about how to give a talk on bell ringing, why not consult Steve Coleman's The Bell Ringers Early Companion, chapter 18 for more useful tips and topic ideas (click here).

2. Bell Ringing Demonstration

An ideal conclusion to a talk is to give a demonstration of bell ringing. If there is limited space in the ringing room, consider using a video camera link to the hall or church room to show the ringers demonstrating the hand stroke and back stroke. You could also use the video link to show the bell swinging. If you are interested in such a facility and need help borrowing the equipment, contact the profficer [at] surreybellringers [dot] org [dot] uk (PR Officer).

Before inviting visitors into the ringing room, consider all the safety issues and make sure there are plenty of experienced ringers on hand to answer questions and to ensure no one injures themselves. You may need to put up clear warning signs, as advised by the church wardens. Be especially careful of children who may be inclined to wander about and be tempted to touch the sally.

And finally, part of good PR when safely demonstrating bell ringing is showing off a clean and tidy ringing room! Don’t forget to dust away a few cob webs and tidy things away.

3. Inviting People to Have-A-Go

Why not invite any who are interested to have-a-go. It goes without saying that the novice only has a go with back strokes and is helped by an ringer who has experience in teaching beginners.

4. Where to Advertise for New Recruits

This is not an exhaustive list but some suggestions of where to start:

• Appeal directly from the church congregation, 
• Write an article in the parish magazine, 
• Advertise in the porches notice boards, 
• Adverts can also be placed in your local library, the WI, local shops and if possible the local school and /or local adult education centres,
• Get a journalist to write an article in the local newspaper.