Many people associate hobbies with activities such as horse riding, gardening, swimming or golf. However, others find enjoyment in ‘unusual’ activities which, sometimes, go unheard of.
It takes a particular type of person to step away from what is familiar and what could be deemed as the norm, perhaps someone with a bit more ambition or someone who has seen and done it all before and wanting to aim higher.
Is it time that we step out of our comfort zones and quit being so boring?
Someone who identifies as that go getter is Cathy Bickers, 53, a teaching assistant from Thorpe-Le-Soken, Essex who has first-hand experience with one particular unusual hobby.
The sound of church bells ringing is deeply rooted in British culture, dating back to the 17th Century. It is safe to say that almost everyone would recognise the chimes.
In the early years the sound of the bells were introduced by the wide spreading of Christianity by monks and later by the Abbeys who rang the bells every three hours to call the monks to pray. This remained a tradition to mark national events whether it be a celebration or mourning.
For many, the classic sound of ringing church bells represents a typical example of English class and quality. Church bells are certainly one of the loudest musical instruments that can be heard many miles away. Take Big Ben for example.
But has anyone ever wondered, who is behind the musical scenes?
Bickers said she took an interest as “it was something I’d never done or even thought about and it was a shame I hadn’t made use of our fantastic church”.
Due to this particular activity being uncommon, many assume it is something that is a niche industry to get involved with or perhaps requires previous experience. Bickers, being a prime example, has been living in the village for over fifteen years but only been a ringer for two. The teaching assistant told me she wished she “had got involved much sooner”.
Bickers bit the bullet and got in touch with the organisers of the bell ringing group through her local village magazine. She explained: “Two retired doctors, residents of Thorpe, who have attended church for over 40 years run the weekly sessions together. Thorpe, as an old village has been ringing bells for a very long time – it’s an age-old tradition”.
St. Michael's Church of England, Thorpe-Le-Soken.
After attending a few sessions Bickers found out that the activity of bell ringing isn’t as simplistic as one would think. It encompasses a large amount of rhythm, concentration, health and safety, technique and methodology. “You have got to be able to listen, observe what is going on, and also who is doing what,” she says. “It is a lot to focus on!”
Bickers explained that there are six bells in total at St. Michaels and “because the tower can move slightly when ringing the bells, you must sit with your feet firmly on the floor and there mustn’t be any jewellery or scarfs worn in case it gets caught, and most importantly, you must never let go of your rope!”
Without prior knowledge, some people are quick to turn their noses at others taking part in unusual activities, similar to bell ringing. “It really is good fun once you get the basics mastered” Bickers explains.
It is important to note that, like any skill or hobby, there are various opportunities for broadening the specific skills, meeting new people and travelling around when expanding your knowledge.
For Bickers this was something she took great advantage of. “I went on a three-day bell ringing course in Coggeshawl. We were put into groups according to our ability and we travelled to three different bell towers in the Essex and Suffolk area.
“I’m a bit of a chatterbox so I always enjoy meeting new people so for me it was very enjoyable. This was an opportunity I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for going along every Monday to St. Michaels.”
It can be daunting for anyone who is thinking of starting a new hobby or joining a new group, something everyone has and will experienced in their life. Could it be that for those with the less conventional hobbies there is more apprehension?
With anything, there are always people that seem to find problems and complain about something and nothing. Bickers explained that the bell ringers of Thorpe-Le-Soken are always met with a few complaints every Monday evening.
“We often find complaints on the Thorpe-Le-Soken community Facebook page after our Monday session.” One example being: “Those b****y bells! Who is on those bells again?”
Luckily, this doesn’t seem to bother the bell ringers in Thorpe as they continue their practice sessions each Monday.
Speaking to someone who’s a ‘social butterfly’ sparked the thought of -should we all take a leaf out of Bickers’ book and plunge into something we have always wanted to do?
Emily Bickers