IF bell ringing piques an interest as a lockdown pastime, free online introductory courses are being held organised by the Wensleydale Bell Ringers. Deeply-rooted in English culture, for more than 500 years the church bells of Wensleydale have been ringing out across the countryside. They provide the grand soundtrack to historic moments, call out for celebrations and toll sadly in empathy with grief. This year, for the first time since the Second World War, the bells are silent as Covid restrictions have halted communal ringing. However, teams of enthusiastic ringers have not been silenced, as they get together on-line to practice and learn.