Bell Adviser

Bell Adviser’s Report 2023

Current projects

• Alconbury - the new frame has been fitted and the bells rehung. Some ringing has recommenced with priority being given to the training of villagers who have expressed an interest in ringing. A rope guide is planned as the distance between the base of the tower and the ceiling is approximately 20’.

• Landbeach - Nicholsons are planning to re-hang the bells in the week commencing 18th March, once the new frame has been installed.

• Impington - following an inspection, a new headstock and some re-roping may be necessary.

• Littleport - following an inspection, at least one new headstock may be required.

• Southoe - The headstock has now been fitted and the bell test rung. A little remedial work is necessary on the latchet slider.

• Keyston - Tom Blyth has now finished the headstock and it is awaiting collection. The refitting to the no. 2 bell can commence once the A frame is available.

• Weston Colville - the bells have been out of action due to tower problems (now rectified) since 1998 during which time the ringing room has been moved 3.5m upwards. The bells were made OK for chiming for Ring for the King. They have been re-roped for full circle ringing and satisfactorily rung individually. However, there is a problem due to bearing movement of the 2 (not part of the re-roping). Once this is rectified a final sign-off ring will be arranged.

• Foxton - a faculty has been submitted for a rope guide to make the bells more suitable for a novice band DAC has requested additional information. Photos have been supplied showing proposed guide height in relation to the organ and west window.

• Melbourn - outline quotes received for new headstocks for the treble and 2 and a new wheel. The parish are fund raising and trying to get a more formal quote. Parish report being close to having raised the money.

• Great Wilbraham - tenor headstock has a loose gudgeon, it is planned to remove it in early February and it will be delivered to White’s for rectification.

Other projects

• Swaffham Prior - consideration is being given to fitting modern bearings on the bells and also an investigation into the need for a modern metal frame.

• Stretham - the installation of training bells is still under consideration.

• Walpole St Andrew (CCT Church) - visited by CCT & EDA on 4th August. The bells are ringable subject to a cleanup and lubrication. The clapper bushes need replacing on 5 & 6. Longer term the clappers need re-profiling or twisting.

• West Walton (CCT Church) - visited by CCT & EDA on 4th August. The bells are un-ringable

• Woodston - the church is closed but the bells are ringable. A decision is awaited on the future of the church building.

• March - all ringing suspended pending resolution of structural issues in the tower.

• Tydd St Giles - no change, no ringing until funds are raised to repair the structure of the tower.

• Newton in the Isle - the latest position is that the church is closing.

• Buckworth - only one bell is hung for chiming, the other 4 are resting on the intermediate floor. The PCC would like to sell them – Tom and I visited on 27th September to enable a closer examination of the bells by Graham Pledger, Nigel Taylor and Tracy Manning (CRC)

• Hilgay - following an enquiry from Tim Jackson of Doves Guide, Roger found the bells in relatively good order but following actions are needed before returning the bells to safe ringing:-

  • belfry to be cleaned and bird detritus removed

  • all openings in the intermediate chamber need re-meshing o new ropes to be fitted

  • ladder to belfry to be repaired

  • emergency lighting system recommended

• Huntingdon St Mary’s - problem with one of the bearings moving on no. 3 bell will be addressed once permission to lift the bell has been granted.

• Little Stukeley - the PCC at Little Stukeley expressed a wish to see the bells ringing again so I undertook a more detailed inspection in October to assess their condition. One, and possibly two new headstocks would be needed and a thorough overhaul of all four bells and fittings before full circle ringing could recommence, but chiming is possible.

• Croxton - tie rods to be fitted to strengthen the frame

• West Wratting - less experienced ringers getting a large sideways movement of the treble sally halfway up the raise. This appears to be due to some resonance setting up a large amount of rope movement in the intermediate. A number of small improvements have been made which are satisfactory except when the ropes are very stiff.

• Wood Ditton - following setting up of a new band and resumption of ringing the parish had noise complaints from residents 1⁄2 mile away or noise and its effect on wildlife! Noise measurements take and showed bells were comfortably below urban background noise levels and equivalent to other rural background sounds (distant tractors etc). The parish is attempting to set up a meeting with the complainant.

• Sutton in the Isle - quotations and Diocesan approval are being sought to strengthen the frame and fit self-aligning bearings on all six bells

Geoff Burn

Bell Adviser’s Report 2022

After two years when bell work activity was reduced due to Covid pandemic restrictions, 2022 saw a return to normality. 

Major projects

• The St Clement’s training centre was completed in June after a major effort by members of the Association who raised and installed the steel framework then the six new bells and fittings - a total of 29 days’ work!

• The 6 bells at Alconbury are being rehung by John Taylor & Co.  We provided assistance to remove bell fittings and help to lower the bells which have now been transported to Loughborough.

• Good progress has been made on fundraising at Landbeach for an augmentation to 6 bells.

• At Sawston, quotations have now been obtained for the removal of the bells to be retuned and refitted with modern headstocks and fittings.

• At Stretham, the installation of training bells is under consideration.

• Consideration is being given to fitting modern bearings on the bells at Swaffham Prior and also an investigation into the need for a modern metal frame.

Other projects - New pulleys have been fitted at Longstanton and Leighton Bromswold. Wheel rimming has been reattached at both Whittlesey churches. The metal frame at Harston has been treated for rust and repainted.  A headstock and three wheel halves have been removed from Keyston for refurbishment. Many inspections and minor repairs have been carried out as requested.

The bells at Tydd St Giles and Newton in the Isle are now unringable.

Volunteers - Finally, many thanks to all volunteers who have given their time freely to carry out the above work.

Geoff Burn

Bell Adviser’s Report 2021

The Covid pandemic restrictions resulted in a patchy year of activity with very little being done in the first three months; although the opportunity was taken to give Haslingfield a mid-life refit. This was followed by an inspection campaign to support Return to Ringing where the team visited 21 towers and carried out minor maintenance in at least eight.

Major projects – After a long period of negotiation with the Churches Conservation Trust, Swaffham Prior now has an excellent ‘going’ tenor thanks to Matthew Higby and the co-ordination efforts of Gareth Davies.  Bury has two bells rehung with new headstocks and the tenor has been quarter turned, together with the secondary and tertiary foundation beams being clamped together. The St Clement’s training centre has had the two original bells relocated, the bases of the spire beams removed and a new steel ringbeam installed. It is planned to install the frame and bells before Easter. Two new projects are under development: at Alconbury it is proposed to rehang the bells lower in the tower and an augmentation to 6 bells at Landbeach.

For the future, the Return to Ringing inspections highlighted the need for regular inspections especially in those towers without an active band or steeple keeper. This will require widening the pool of competent steeple keepers and maybe linking towers together in more formal local support groups. This will then need to be supported by more training and production of training material. assistance.

Tom Ridgman

Bell Adviser’s Report 2020

There has been a very limited amount of work carried out due to the Covid pandemic. Prior to the first shut down there was work being carried out in four towers and a number of inspections carried out.  It has been hard to interpret what is permitted under the various public health restrictions but where possible various visits have been made and at my home tower, Haslingfield, we have used the opportunity to have a mid-life refit of cleaning up and doing all the little improvement jobs in the tower and ringing room.

Dove’s guide used the lockdown to carry out an updating and enhancement exercise of their records and I am grateful to a number of people who assisted with that, although it has left a list of seven towers that still need to be visited.

I gave a talk on care of bells, belfries and ringing rooms that is now available on the Cambridge District You-Tube channel and have been asked to produce an edited version for the CCCBR Technical Committee. I have also produced a paper for that committee on how a training and accreditation system for volunteers maintaining and working on bells could be set up following the format of the ART system.

Finally, a reminder that before ringing recommences its essential to check that the bells have not deteriorated. A quick visual check is all that’s required that nothing is obstructing the bells from swinging, the ropes are in good condition and the stays, sliders, wheels, pulleys and clappers are serviceable. If anyone is looking for help the District Bell Advisers will be happy to arrange some assistance.

Tom Ridgman

Bell Adviser’s Report 2019

This has been the first year with formal District Bell Advisers and as a result it has been possible to provide advice and support to a much wider range of towers. The list of towers contacted for a variety of reasons last year reached 32.

Following changes to the BRF Constitution and the Bell Repair Sub-Committee Terms of Reference we are now planning to go beyond just offering advice to more practical help:

• • For large projects we will provide advice, work with ringers, PCCs and others to progress the project and supply voluntary labour to assist the bell hangers.

  • For towers with regular bands we are available to train steeple keepers and provide advice and help as required.

  • For towers without a regular band but rung by the Association we will provide a steeple keeping service.

  • For towers not normally rung we will endeavour to inspect and try and prevent deterioration.

This will require a larger team than just the bell advisers and we will be signing people up to a competency matrix (rather like the ART scheme) and giving them training to ensure everything is done safely.

Tom Ridgman