Restoration of ten tubular bells at Riddings

The following article has recently been published in the Ringing World by Anne Westman: Before I moved to Riddings (near Alfreton, in Derbyshire) almost four years ago, I had never come across any tubular bells, despite being a ringer for over 30 years! I quickly discovered there were ten such bells in the tower at St. James, Riddings. Unfortunately, it was obvious that these were in a fairly poor condition. The PCC agreed that funds must be raised to restore these to a safe and ringable condition, and Nicholson Engineering Ltd were contacted. Andrew Nicholson’s report confirmed our suspicions that the bells were in a very poor, more or less derelict, condition. They are a chime of ten tubular bells by Harrington & Latham of Coventry, and are the only ring of ten Harrington’s bells in Derbyshire. Fund raising began in earnest in early 2005. Riddings is not a wealthy parish and funds were to be raised independently of normal church fund raising. However, support for the project, both from within the village, and further afield, was overwhelming and soon the bank account started to fill up. Many hours were spent completing grant application forms and we were successful in obtaining five grants; from The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Amber Valley Housing, Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers, The Sharpe Trust (link currently not working!) and The Garfield Weston Foundation. We also organised a concert with the South Yorkshire Police Male Voice Choir, and organised many raffles, tombolas etc. A collection box in the local post office proved a good source of income too (it helps that the author owns said post office). In fact this box is so successful it has been left in place to raise funds for general church expenses. Eventually, sufficient funds were raised for the order to be placed. The bells were removed, with the help of volunteer labour, in the first week of January 2008, and taken to the works of Nicholson Engineering in Dorset. The bells, along with almost all new fittings, were returned at the beginning of March to be re-hung, again with volunteer assistance. The installation was finally completed on Monday 10th March, in time for a service of re-dedication to take place on Thursday 13th March. The bells are now chimed from a brand new oak chiming frame with ten mini sallies. There is a great improvement in the sound quality, and they are much easier to ring, and, most important of all, they are now safe and not likely to fall on any unsuspecting members of the congregation! We can now look forward to hearing bells in Riddings every Sunday morning.

2008 AGM

Well, the 2008 AGM has been and gone. Having lots of towers open leading up to the meeting drew in the crowds, as can be seen from Derby Cathedral above. After the service, a wonderful tea had been prepared by the Cathedral Ringers... ...which included a sponge cake: The main meeting followed after the food, Pat Halls (right) took the chair and aided by Jane Boden (General Secretary). The new Annual Report was adopted and proposed rule changes defeated. The majority of officers were re-elected, with vacancies for one (of three) vice presidents and Public Relations Officer. It was pleasing to see many new members being elected to the Association. General Ringing (and I assume the pub) rounded off the days events... Don't know when the next event is? Find out here!

Bonsall unringable

During the AGM today, one of the bell consultants, Mike Banks, announced that the 3rd (cast in 1656) at Bonsall has cracked. This may have been caused by the ellacombe hammer (which was used whilst the bells were unringable for around 100 years) hitting this bell. The bell is off to Soundweld, then Taylors Eayre and Smith and should be back this summer.

Fancy a month of Bell Ringing?

The Community of the King of Love in Whaley Bridge are having a month of bell ringing! I think they are putting The Willoughby Campanile into the conference room. They plan to build a tower in the next 18 months to have a real ring of bells, with a tenor about 20cwt. At the moment their largest bell weighs around 10 hundred weight in B Flat and last April it was rehung in new fittings, it will soon have a new clapper with a wooden flight. They also have 12 bells hung dead; the oldest of these was cast in 1400 and are looking at having these retuned. "Why not come and bring your friends, and ring on the bells, or use the hall for a base to go and ring at other towers. Stay as long as you like, either in the Week or Weekends." More details here.

Wedding Ringing

It was suggested that the web site should include information for couples celebrating their happy day and wanted the bells ringing, but didn't know how to arrange them. Now people can read about what happens and contact someone if they are having trouble. I'm glad that Ian Sterritt will provide this service for Derbyshire.

2008 Events

This years Association events are now posted on the web site. Using a Google calendar, it puts the next event at the top. If you use Google calendars, then you can import the events into your calendar. Also, using the little arrow on the top right, you can select the districts you're interested in. Let me know if you love or hate it? If there are events you are hosting in the area, please let me know so I can add them too.