Now BOS is available to listen again, with text and photo on the BBCi website there may be new requirements. Watch this space for more information soon…

1. Do not send recordings of poor quality ringing.

2. Give them at least 3 minutes, without too many introductory rounds (unless it is called changes) else they may not actually reach the beginning of the method! Actual play time is governed by pressures of the adjacent programmes but rarely exceeds 2 minutes and is sometimes as short as 20 changes!

3. Do not send poor quality recordings (only good clear sound, no hiss, no background lawn mowers, no rope noise, minimal birdsong, etc etc.). Minidisc or CD is seriously preferred to tape cassette.

4. Select your best effort, do not send a complicated mixture and expect them to sort out for you. This is surely how a number of the howlers arise because the BBC staff are not ringers and do not understand all our technical jargon.

5. I think there is scope for some variety, for special occasions e.g. half-muffled, rise or fall, even italian style tunes, wedding queens and firing, …. ?

6. Remember if they are not your bells it is only common courtesy to as the tower captain or incumbent if they are willing, and inform them when the bells are to be broadcast.

6. Send on minidisc or CD, very clearly labelled and preferably only one sample on each.

7. On accompanying paper say what is being rung. Give details of church, dedication, number, weight and note of bells, plus any very brief interesting historical or other information for the Producer to select from.

8. Give your name, address, phone, email if you want to be notified when your recording is scheduled.

9. Send sae if you require recording to be returned.

10. Send to the Radio Production Assistant of Religious Programmes:

Mrs. Maggie Davidson,
Room 5046,
BBC New Broadcasting House,
PO Box 27
Oxford Road,
Manchester
M60 1SJ