Would-be bellringers sought for King’s coronation
ISLANDERS are being asked to take up bell ropes and learn to ring for the King.
Town Church tower captain Duncan Loweth is leading the hunt for new bellringers to take part in the coronation celebrations of King Charles III, which take place over Saturday 6 May.
There are four ringing towers in Guernsey – at Town, Vale, Forest and St Peter’s churches.
It is likely the bells at all four churches will be rung for the coronation.
New recruits will have seven weeks to learn the ropes.
‘There’s no obligation to carry on afterwards – it can just be for the day,’ said Mr Loweth.
‘Although hopefully everyone will enjoy it and want to continue playing.’
The course starts on Tuesday evenings, beginning on 7 March, with the first four weeks of training taken place on the training bells at Elizabeth College.
The sessions will be a mixture of practical time on the ropes and some theory about how the mechanisms work and how we make music out of patterns.
The following three weeks will take place at a different church each week to give the novices a taste of the different towers and how they feel to ring.
‘The idea is that you learn at college and then can progress onto the church bells quickly and safely.
‘Even the lightest bell at the town church weighs 1/4 of a tonne, and can carry a lot of force, but with proper teaching it's all very safe.’
Mr Loweth said the activity was suitable for almost all ages and was happy to hear from volunteers as young as 11.
‘Anyone who doesn’t have serious mobility issues can do it, six boys at EC are Town Church bell scholars and ring the bells on Sundays.
‘They are now some of the best bell ringers on the island.
‘We haven’t had confirmation yet nationally of what exactly will be ringing and when, but its going to be more relaxed and flexible than the late monarch’s funeral.
‘We will probably be playing a sequence known as ‘Kings’, and the aim will be to have all the island's bells ringing out at the same time.’
The campaign is not just taking part in Guernsey but part of a national recruitment drive by the central council of church bellringers.
Mr Loweth said he took up the hobby himself when he was at a loose end shortly after moving to the island.
‘I was at Vale Church, and someone suggested I give it a go. 14 years later I’m still enjoying it.’
n More information and contact details can be found at www.guernseyringfortheking.co.uk.
