ANZAB 12 Bell Weekends

What are ANZAB 12 Bell Weekends?

Jim Woolford began organising 12 bell ringing weekends in 2016. Although they were well attended we decided to expand them a bit. Jim has handed the organising on to a committee to help work out where, in ANZAB territory, the next 12 bell weekend will be, and to also keep an eye out for people who might want to come to these weekends. We aim to have at least two of these weekends every year – but hopefully three will be practical.

The plan is to make these weekends open to more ringers in ANZAB territory. There is the opportunity for people to apply for grants towards travel costs for those who need them.

We expect that anyone attending would be able to ring Grandsire Cinques, however most of the ringing will be Stedman Cinques and Surprise Maximus. This is a big jump for some people, but if we can encourage more people to try out ringing on higher numbers then it will help bring up quality of ringing in ANZAB – not just for those who ring at these weekends but also for those who ring with these ringers.

Peter Harrison

St John's Cathedral, Brisbane

The future of ANZAB 12 bell weekends

As COVID-19 hit the world, the March 2020 12 bell weekend was called off at the last minute as ringing was suspended. Back then we had no idea how long this would go for, let alone a second wave hitting both parts of Australia and New Zealand which has meant that the 12 bell weekend that was planned for Wellington in October/November 2020 has also had be postponed.

We do plan to continue with the 12 bell weekends in 2021, subject to it being safe to do so. At the time of writing both the Brisbane and Wellington weekends have been postponed by 12 months. The exact date for Brisbane is still being worked out but we hope most of the Australian borders will be open by then, and possibly the "bubble" with New Zealand will also be in place. The Wellington weekend is now set for 29 October - 1 November, 2021.

If you are interested in joinng us, please email or call me on +61 (0) 414 331 769.

Peter Harrison
20 September 2020

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Brisbane, 27-29 March 2020 Cancelled

We have just been notified that public services at St John's Cathedral will cease from Monday 23rd. That means that after this Sunday, ringing will be suspended as well, and hence the 12-bell weekend cannot go ahead on 27-29 March.

19 March 2020

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Brisbane, 27-29 March 2020 Still On

St John's Cathedral, Brisbane

We have introduced a protocol for ringing at St John's that requires hand sanitiser or hand washing before touching a rope (including in between touches). This minimises the risk of spreading any viruses within the ringing room.

Planned attendees have confirmed their intention to attend, so the 12-bell weekend is still on.

If you are interested in joining us please email or call Peter Harrison on +61 (0) 414 331 769.

17 March 2020

St John's Cathedral, Brisbane

The next ANZAB 12 bell weekend will be in Brisbane from Friday, 27 to Sunday, 29 March 2020. There will some practices and possibly a QP or more during the weekend.

The plan is to make these 12 bell weekends open to more ringers in ANZAB. There is the opportunity for people to apply for grants towards travel costs for those who need them. We do expect that anyone attending would be able to ring Grandsire Cinques, however most of the ringing will be Stedman Cinques and Surprise Maximus. This is a big jump for some people, but if we can encourage more people to try out ringing on higher numbers then it will help bring up quality of ringing in ANZAB – not just for those who ring at these weekends but also for those who ring with these ringers.

Places are limited so if you are interested in coming then please email or call Peter Harrison on +61 (0) 414 331 769.

Peter Harrison

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Perth, 25–28 October 2019 - Report

I was delighted to be part of the recent 12-bell weekend. Thanks to all who participated, and particularly to the Perth ringers for hosting it.

I went because I expected to enjoy it, and to improve and extend my ringing (which I did). I also felt helpful filling in for some trying Plain Hunt on 11 for their very first time, and was delighted to meet several new ringers.

The weekend included sessions focussing on "easier methods", "cinques" and "maximus". Different Ringing Masters used different styles, each with their advantages. The opportunity to "catch hold" and "have a go" is fantastic. However, taking a band aiming for Stedman Cinques or Cambridge Maximus and having us ring Plain Hunt was illuminating. I was reminded that it is not just the longer, more complicated blue line, or the more difficult rope sight that makes 12 bell ringing a challenge. Even when ringing Plain Hunt I (and others) found it hard to maintain the precision required within a 12 bell rhythm.

The unexpected pleasure of the weekend was seeing the ANZAC bell, and watching and hearing its resonant chime at midday. The ANZAC bell made the 29-0-14 tenor of the ring of sixteen appear tiny.

Follow this link to quarter-peals rung during the weekend.

Deryn Griffiths

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Perth, 25–28 October 2019 - Update

There has been an enthusiastic response to the next twelve-bell weekend in Perth on 25-28 October. All those who have said they are attending should have received an email with the proposed timetable and some more information.

There is still room for more participants, of course, and there will be two sessions of 'less-advanced' ringing to accommodate local ringers, giving them a chance to ring with a more experienced band.

Anybody who plans to come but has not received this information, or who has decided to come at short notice, should contact me at this

The proposed timetable, updated on 14 Octoberr 2019, may be downloaded here.

There were not enough takers for a peal attempt, but there will be four opportunities for quarter-peals, including one at St George's Cathedral. Richard Offen, the WA ANZAB Ringing Master, and Jos Sloan, Tower Captain at the Cathedral, will co-ordinate the bands and methods for these quarter-peals. This will be done in the week before the twelve-bell weekend.

On Monday 28 October the 'country' trip will go ahead, giving opportunities to ring at St Hilda’s School, Mandurah, Bunbury and Rockingham. Three quarter-peals are possible this day, with details to be finalised nearer the time. Transport will be in private cars, by courtesy of local ringers.

Queries regarding attendance, accommodation, meals, etc. can be directed to me by email.

It looks like being a great weekend for ringing and fellowship!

Tower Captain, The Bell Tower, Perth

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Perth, 25–27 October 2019

The next ANZAB 12 bell weekend will be in Perth from Friday, 25th to Sunday, 27th October 2019. There will some practices and possibly a QP, and we're still investigating the option of a peal attempt during the weekend. There is also a chance to go to the country towers on the Monday if there is sufficient interest. The finer details are still to be confirmed, but anyone who registers will be kept informed. Given we'll be at The Bell Tower, there is an option for ringing on 16.

Places are limited so if you are interested in coming then please email or call Peter Harrison on +61 (0) 414 331 769. There is also a web page about these weekends at https://www.anzab.org.au/12BellWeekends/

Peter Harrison

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Adelaide, 22-24 March 2019

The next ANZAB 12 bell weekend will be in Adelaide from Friday 22 – Sunday 24 March. There will some practices and possibly a QP, and we’re still investigating the option of a peal attempt during the weekend. The finer details are still being worked out, but anyone who registers will be kept informed. The following 12 bell weekend might be in Perth in September, but this is to be confirmed.

As I mentioned before the last 12 bell weekend, the plan is to make this open to more ringers from ANZAB. There is the opportunity for people to apply for grants towards travel costs for those who need them. We do expect that anyone attending would be able to ring Grandsire Cinques, however most of the ringing will be Stedman Cinques and Surprise Maximus. This is a big jump for some people, but if we can encourage more people to try out ringing on higher numbers then it will help bring up quality of ringing in ANZAB – not just for those who ring at these weekends but also for those who ring with these ringers.

Peter Harrison

12 Bell Weekend - Sydney, September-October 2018

The next weekend will be at the end of September/beginning of October 2018 in Sydney, from Friday, 28 September – Monday, 1 October. There will some practices and possibly a QP, before a peal attempt on the Monday. The finer details are still to be confirmed, but anyone who registers will be kept informed. The following weekend might be in Adelaide in early 2019, but this is also to be confirmed.

Places are limited, so if you are interested in coming then please contact me as follows:

Contact: Peter Harrison at (phone: +61 (0) 414 331 769)

Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers