The bells in the Northern District rung out in all their glory this evening to celebrate the 80th Anniversay of VE day.
Coggeshall band rang at 6.30pm and took a lovely photo standing in front of the Peal board that commemorates the 50 year anniversary of VE Day.
Toppesfield band inclued Lucy Prior who then dashed off to join her Morris Dance group, Hells Bells Boarder Morris, who were dancing in Sible Hedingaham as part of the celebrations.
Braintree band rang 300 changes of Bob Minor and then some call changes including Kings and Queens while Wethersfield and Wickham St Pauls had lots of support from their regular ringers so the villagers could hear the wonderful sound of the bells.
Witham, Shalford, Black Notley all rang and Rayne rang St Dunstans Minimus as only had 4 for their band.
The District officers, Jonathan, David and Kelly along with their friends from Witham, Great Yeldham, Gestingthorpe, Gosfield, Castle Hedingham, Sible Hedingham, Toppesfield, Pebmarsh and Halstead all joined forces and had a 4 hour ringing session to make sure 8 towers had their bells ringing out in celebration.
Great Bardfield excelled themselves and did the following V.E. day ringing:
Thursday 8th May: 18:30 – 19:45: All 8 bells used for the ‘ring out in peace’ national commemoration. We muffled this piece of ringing for commemoration and all levels of ringers were welcome to join in. We put out an invitation to the village for anyone to join us on the evening and ring a bell – we had 5 visitors (two were local councillors, who have subsequently advertised bellringing on FB!). They rang our handbells outside the church as we rang the tower bells at 18:30, then had a go ringing tower bells with our band and visited the belfry. From 19:20- 19:45 we rang out open in celebration
19:45: 240 changes of Grandsire to finish the evening
Friday 9th May: Quarter peal of plain bob minor (well done to Alfie who conducted; his first minor conducted).
Finchingfield 2 pieces of VE day-related ringing:
Saturday 10th May: There was a Spitfire flypast at 16:00. After the plane ringing the bells open in celebration (everyone was welcome!).
Sunday 11th May: There was a public service of thanks on Finchingfield green at the war memorial and the bells were rung.
A truly wonderful occasion and we all feel very honoured to remember and commemorate in this special way.
