Name of Applicant:

Francis Gilruth

Date of birth:

08/09/2008

Email address:

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Home tower:

St Matthew's, Chapel Allerton

County:

West Yorkshire

Consent given:

Parent/Guardian name:

Jane Watson

Parent/Guardian email address:

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Application:

I am a 17-year-old bellringer based primarily at Chapel Allerton and Leeds Minster, and I have served as Tower Captain at Chapel Allerton for just over a year. During this time, I have led the rebuilding of a band that was significantly depleted following Covid, having previously been capable of ringing Surprise Minor. Through sustained effort, careful teaching, and a focus on engagement, we have progressed from ringing mainly Plain Bob and Grandsire to establishing a consistent band now capable of Cambridge and Norwich Surprise Minor, with clear ambitions to extend our repertoire further.
Alongside technical development, I have prioritised strengthening the band’s social cohesion and long-term sustainability. I have organised regular social events/outings and actively encouraged participation in the Leeds Branch of our association, helping to reconnect our ringers with the wider community and improve both retention and enthusiasm.
Over the past year, we successfully rang six quarter peals at Chapel Allerton, with particularly notable progress among newer ringers. These included a range of significant firsts: first quarter peals, first away from cover, first of Minor, first inside, and first as conductor. I have taken an active role in enabling these achievements, through supporting conductors and keeping people right during performances, ensuring we are able to score.
I conduct the majority of touches on practice nights, while maintaining an inclusive approach that encourages others to develop their conducting and to attempt new methods. I regularly compose and call varied touches - often off-the-cuff - to challenge the band in an engaging and constructive way. Beyond my home tower, I have also taken on a leadership role within the Yorkshire Tykes, where I conduct touches, support less experienced ringers, and occasionally oversee ringing sessions, alongside contributing to preparation for the Ringing World National Youth Contest, which we have won consecutively.
My own ringing reflects a similar commitment to development and contribution. Over the past year, I rang 39 quarter peals, calling 18 of them, many of which I organised across Yorkshire with a focus on enabling others to achieve personal milestones. I also rang eight peals, ranging from Bob Minor to Bristol Maximus, both to extend my own ability and to support the progression of others.
To further my skills, I regularly attend practices at Leeds Minster, where I ring on higher numbers and work on advanced methods. My 12-bell ringing has developed significantly (up to methods in the Cyclic 6), and I have rung seven 12-bell peals to date. As a member of the SRCY, I have benefited from opportunities to ring challenging methods and learn from experienced ringers at a national level.
This development has led to my selection for the Leeds 12-bell team, and I have competed in the National 12-Bell for two consecutive years, qualifying for the Final this year. If awarded the £500 prize, I would invest in new ropes at Chapel Allerton, where several are second-hand, and use the remainder to fund transport to further ringing opportunities across the country.