This is the online version of Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, the authoritative source for current information about rings of bells since the first printed edition appeared in 1950. Unlike the printed book, however, here (and subject to a set of Conventions) we provide full-featured searching, links to mapping facilities to show the exact location of towers, satellite navigation data, and details of changes to entries as they occur. That scope has been even further extended by the addition of data for individual bells as a step towards a prototype National Bell Register (the 'pNBR').

The printed Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers is available to buy. Click here for more details.

17 Jun Are you the right person?
Our invitation (see item dated 31 May) to those who might be interested in joining the 'Dove team' has evoked a few expressions of interest. We are anxious to make sure that anyone who feels that they could contribute and follow the now well-established pattern know that they still have a opportunity (another 10 days or so) to explore that possibility with us.

31 May Times Move On
In presenting our report to the Central Council Meeting at Guildford this week, I felt it prudent to let it be known that I would probably not wish to remain a Dove Steward after another year in post. This, I suggested, gives the Exercise in general, and the CC in particular, an opportunity to examine just how things are handled at present and how to take them forwards as IT capabilities develop and users' needs and expectations of Dove evolve.

Accordingly, Tim Jackson, my colleague Dove Steward has agreed to devise and manage a programme for changing the way things are done, while in parallel I concentrate on keeping the present operation working in the way to which we are all accustomed. So although no-one should expect to see or hear about any dramatic change in the immediate future, do please appreciate and understand that new ways of working may well have to be introduced and, hopefully, without undue hiccup over the course of the next 12 months or so.

There will also be a need for some new blood within the team, and anyone who would like to find out more about what is involved is invited to send an email to Tim Jackson.

John Baldwin

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