First posted: 16 October 2025

Monty and Steve's Excellent Adventure

If anyone needs convincing of the value of ANZAB ringing events, I offer our recent adventure as proof. In late September, my 13-year-old son, Monty, and I flew off for more than a week of bells, travel, and general exhaustion: first to the ANZAB Youth Event in Adelaide, then to the 2025 Sydney Ringing School.

Two ringers

When he left St Peter's Armidale, Monty had been learning for six months, and could ring Plain Hunt on Five, touches of Grandsire Doubles, and plain courses of Bob Doubles. A little over a week later, he'd acquired an entirely new repertoire: a quarter peal of Grandsire Doubles on a working bell, touches of Plain Bob Doubles and Minor, plain courses of Stedman Doubles and Grandsire Triples, and Plain Hunt on Seven.

And there was plenty more. He conducted extents of Grandsire Doubles, gave a theory lecture, learnt to ring one-handed, pulled off call changes on twelve, rang the 11th (just!) at St Francis Xavier, and practised ringing up and down in peal. Along the way, he also gained a wonderful new circle of friends.

For me, the trip had its own (slightly more modest) milestones. We explored new towers together, from grand city rings to creaky old frames, and I managed a few vaguely respectable touches of my own. Somewhere between departure and return, I also acquired a new identity: I stopped being "Steve" or "Stephen" and became known, simply, as "Monty's Dad." It’s a title I wear with pride.

Steve Wood
Armidale

latest first

2026

Using BellBoard - 11 September

Armidale Ringing Featured - 9 September

Handbell Practices - 5 September

A Peal with Footnotes - 3 September

Bridgetown Ringing Weekend - 1 September

An August Occasion - 24 August

Growing Your Social Media Presence - 18 August

A Grand Day Out - 17 August

St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide - Sound Remediation - 9 August

Teaching Started at Richmond - 8 August