Health & Safety

 

Meet Richard Rider, our new Health & Safety Officer

 

 

An Interview with Richard Rider,  12/3/24

St. Wennapa, Gwennap, Tower Captain 

 

 

Full Name, Current tower(s) you ring at, any current position(s) held. Where and when did you learn to ring, who taught you how to handle?

I learnt to ring at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire in 2016.  Tony Natt taught me how to handle a bell, and I soon was ringing the 12 cwt tenor at the back.

 

Where have you previously rung & have you held any positions of responsibility (e.g. Tower Captain/Steeple Keeper/Secretary)?

I was previously Vice-Captain at St. Weneppa, Gwennap.

 

What do you love about ringing?

I love the community aspect of ringing, as well as learning an understated British tradition.  I also feel privileged to ring in beautiful historical structures which are unique.

 

Please name some ringer(s) that have been an inspiration to you or have taught you something. Who were they & what was so inspirational?

Tony Natt was an inspiration as a skilled ringer and patient teacher.  I have also been enthused by Martin Spittle at St. Weneppa, with his knowledge and musicality.  Martin encourages us to listen to what’s going on.  And there are plenty of personalities whose company I have enjoyed.

 

Have you ever taught anyone to ring? If so, how many people and what did you learn whilst doing so?

I have yet to teach someone to ring as I am not qualified to.

 

Tell us something that other ringers won’t necessarily know about you…

I used to teach windsurfing at Stithians Lake when I was a teenager.  I was very keen, cycling up daily from Frogpool, Gwennap.

 

What were you currently learning to ring and what would you like to be able to learn next?

Dodging consistently well in Plain Bob is still a work in progress.  I’d like to call a Cornish sixty/sixty of thirds this year.

 

What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you whilst being involved in ringing?

I guess the funniest thing to have happen whilst ringing was the loud and nonchalant flatulence of a fellow ringer called Mick.  Mick was a former minister with a mischievous streak.  He was partially deaf and I could only thing that he thought that he was being unnoticed.  Or just very confident.

 

Are you a member of any non-territorial guilds or associations? If yes, please give details of when you joined, how & what convinced you to do so.

This is not something I have previously considered.

 

What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in ringing?

Perhaps my biggest achievement is learning to call changes and keep an eye on what’s going on whilst being an improver level Ringer myself.

 

What do you find difficult about ringing?

Learning the next thing with limited opportunity.  Especially when to opportunity presents itself late on a Thursday evening!

 

What can you do for the TDGR and what could it be doing for you?

I can support fellow Ringers with managing welfare, safety and health during their ringing activities.  I am a Civil Engineer, employed as an Asset Manager, and so can support the TDGR/towers with guidance on how to plan activities, reduce risk and promote good outcomes. This can be about any construction, ringing, maintenance or decommission happenings/queries.

 

Do you have any current or future ringing goals or aims? – please describe them, big or small.

I would dearly like to call Sixty on thirds, and/or a Cornish Sixty someday.

 

What is your favourite ring of bells of all time & why?

I really enjoyed ringing at St. Anthony in Meneage, south of the Helford during this year’s Western District’s Autumn Festival.  A tiny church with 8 bells in a unique setting.  Such festivals are a brilliant way to explore other towers and meet follow Ringers, and so come thoroughly recommended.

 

 

 

TDGR reporting an incident in a bell tower

 

Each year we become aware of incidents in the bell tower. Often these are anecdotal and rarely are they investigated or information about them passed on across the exercise so that we can avoid future incidents and learn from those incidents that have happened.

The Guild would appreciate your help in providing me with the information set out below as this will help to inform any advice or training plans. The aim would be to help make the exercise safer for everyone and spread good practice to all ringers in this diocese.

 

This form is also available to  download.

 

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TOWER name (I may contact the tower captain/secretary via the website) 

 

ABOUT the INCIDENT

 

Date Time

WHERE did the incident happen?

Was someone INJURED? Their age

What was the INJURY?

Please DESCRIBE what HAPPENED – what was the person doing? As much detail as possible please.

 

FOLLOWING the INCIDENT

 

If there was an injury, did the person need medical treatment?          Hospital?        GP?

Was the incident reported to the incumbent/a church warden?

Was this report verbal or written or both?

Do you know whether there is a recorded maintenance log book for the tower?

Please describe any action that has been taken to prevent a similar incident.

When were the bells and fittings last inspected?

 

Thank you for your help. Please copy or print it from the Health & Safety Officer’s page on the website and email it to:-  Richard Rider, Guild Health & Safety Officer. At above email address.

 

 

 

healthandsafety@tdgr.org.uk

May 24