The Introduction to Bell Ringing course is a teaching initiative run by the Cathedral Guild of Bell Ringers, devised by Bernard Taylor and run in conjunction with the Cathedral authorities.  It is aimed at providing, primarily, a source of new recruits to ring the Cathedral bells.  The students sign up for a course which coincides with the school term and the introductory course aims to have students ringing rounds on the Cathedral bells at the end of the course. 

Teaching involves using tied bells and a dumb bell attached to a computer with "Abel" simulator.  This is set up in the clock room and students learn bell handling and listening skills with the simulator, interspersed with sessions on tied bells.

Following on from the success of the first course using David Bagley's simulator the Cathedral Guild has installed the first stage of the "Clockroom Teaching Centre".  This prototype pair of dumb bells, designed by Jim Wheeler and Chris Phillips is a useful addition to the teaching assets of the Guild.  The rope "slider" with spring loaded reset has proved itself most useful and can be reset in under 2 minutes.