Little late with this item, but well worth a read………….
2025 has been a mixed year for the Tower. In April we discovered that the 7th bell (one of the heaviest) had developed a serious problem and was impossible to ring, so began the long process of arranging for Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough to give us an estimate of the repair and gaining permissions from the Diocese. In the meantime, we continued to ring on 6 bells and on a very hot day in August, the headstock and gudgeons which enable the bell to swing through 360 degrees, were manhandled across the belfry and down two flights of narrow steps
This took quite some time as the headstock weighs 22.5 stone or 143 kg and there is only just enough room for two people! Taylors were as good as their word and the Headstock was returned at the end of September and once again we were able to ring all 8 bells.
We received a grant towards the work of £500 from the Yorkshire Association’s Bells Repair Fund which together with a donation of £500 meant that the final bill was around £3,500. We are hugely grateful to St. Oswald’s PCC for their support.
We are currently training 3 new recruits. We continue to be immensely grateful to Jane Lynch for her help with this, however, training is not just restricted to new recruits. Other members of the tower are encouraged to extend their skills, there is always something new to learn, one of the joys of bell ringing.
We are proud to report that on Saturday 13th September, we rang 2 quarter peals, each lasting 45 minutes and requiring a sustained amount of effort and concentration! Congratulations were in order to Martin Stockdale, who rang the treble and Steve Saunders who rang the tenor for a quarter of Plain. Bob Doubles and to Jan Alexander who rang the treble for a second quarter of Cambridge Surprise Minor. We are ably supported by more experienced ringers and our sincere thanks to them for keeping all 3 of us ‘right’ and rescuing the occasional wobble.
We were delighted to receive compliments on our ringing for Remembrance Sunday when all 8 bells were rung half-muffled as is the custom. Producing a rather haunting sound. We remembered especially John B. Jackson, a Guiseley ringer who was killed 24th July, 1918 in France.
Bellringing goes back to the 14th Century and is deeply rooted in British culture. Almost everyone in Britain lives within hearing range of bells. If you are interested in learning to ring, get in touch and help us to continue this ancient tradition at St. Oswald’s.
Jan Alexander – Tower Contact.
