English-style bell ringing has been a special part of our heritage for over four centuries and now our local church bell towers need more people to help keep the tradition alive for the future.
This year marks 100 years since the end of the First World War during which 1400 bell ringers were killed. To honour their memory, a national campaign has started to recruit 1400 new volunteers. Although none of the 1400 has been directly linked to one of our local towers, just in Huntingdon and Godmanchester, over 22 bell ringers are needed to ring the bells in all the towers on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November, 2018. The current numbers are insufficient to enable this and so new volunteers are asked to come and try bell ringing and help commemorate the centenary of Armistice Day.
There are lots of reasons to have a go – a new hobby or challenge in 2018, making new friends, keeping physically and mentally fit, giving to the community or all of them!
As well as Sunday service ringing Bellringing commemorates ’high days’ like weddings, festivals like Christmas, historic and public events.
People ring from their early teens to eighties. You don’t need to be religious, musical or strong but need a minimum height of 4’ and 6-7 stone and willingness to climb stairs. Previous ringers are welcome also.
Please contact Jez Bottley (07702 959066/[email protected]) or Frances Smith (07909 647070).