LIGHTHORNE BELL RINGERS
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Officers |
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| Secretary | Chris Wild | 01926 651633 | chris@swiftron.co.uk |
| Treasurer | Sue Lawley | ||
| Tower Captain | Gordon wild | 01926 651633 | gordon@swiftron.co.uk |
| Steeple Keeper | Mike Rigby | ||
| Steeple Keepers Mate | Ray Stanton | ||
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A History of The Bells Of St. Laurence by Mike Rigby. |
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Recent History.
The current band was formed in late 2005 in preparation for the return of the repaired fourth bell for St. Laurence's Church. It was formed from scratch, of people interested in trying their hand at Campanology. Training was undertaken by experienced bell-ringers from neighbouring villages, and the hope was that the group would be able to do justice when the Church Bell Tower was returned to its complement of four working bells. - The four bells were commissioned in June of 2006 and the trainee ringers returned home to continue their training on their own bells. A further two bells were installed on November 6th 2006 and this completed the refurbishment of the bell tower of St. Laurence, Lighthorne.
The full complement of bells was then dedicated at a service in the Church on the 26th November.
The Bishop of Coventry hands over the Bells to the Tower Captain.
The Diocesan Guild have donated one of the new bells in commemoration of their Centenary. But the cost of the remainder of the program of refurbishment is estimated to be in the region of £42,000. Charitable and other bodies have contributed around £14,500. An additional £10,000 has come from generous individual donations, and the village has been running fund raising events throughout 2006 and have raised in excess of £2,000. The efforts will continue through 2007. - Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Chris Wild on 651633
Campanology is not all serious - read below!! |
No Experience Needed After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bellringer was needed. The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process. After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills and finding no suitable applicant, he decided to call it a day. Suddenly, a lone, armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the job. The bishop was incredulous. "But, but, you have no arms!" "No matter," said the man, "Observe!" He then began striking the bells with his forehead, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment, yet convinced that he had finally found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo. Suddenly, rushing forward to strike a final crescendo, the armless man tripped, and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below. The horrified bishop rushed from the belfry. By the time he reached the street, a crowd, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before, had gathered around the fallen figure. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, "Bishop, who was this man?" "I don't know his name," the bishop said sadly, "but his face sure rings a bell."
!!!BUT, WAIT. THERE'S MORE!!!
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist (now there's a trivia word), the bishop continued his interviews to fill the position of the Bellringer of Notre Dame. the next man to approach him said, "Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor, armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in his desired duty." The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, unbelievably, as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, and died of a stroke on the spot. Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side. "What has happened?" the first monk breathlessly asked, "Who is this man?" "I don't know his name," sighed the distraught bishop, "but he's a dead ringer for his brother."
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