Work in the Tower Begins

I've just got back from Drayton church. Andrew Ogden, a bell hanger from Taylor's Bell Foundry came over today and free of charge completed the first stage in our project. He dismantled the fitting from the present lightest bell which is going to be hung stationary for chiming from the porch. He will take these fittings back to the bell foundry to be reused on our new bells.


 He also hoisted the 2nd bell out of its framework to make room for the new bells and timber work for the louvres to be hoisted into the tower at a later date.


Next week hopefully the new electrics will be installed.

A Wonderful Christmas Present

It's Christmas Eve and I've just opened the post and found a wonderful Christmas present for the bell appeal.; a cheque  for £2,500!


Many months ago I wrote letters to various charities that have been known to give grants for bells. One of these was a large charity called the Garfield Weston Trust. This did involve a lot of form filling and collection of information. I filed the application on line at the end of August knowing that they stated that they would take up to 14 weeks to consider the matter.


Well 2 days ago I realised that it had now been 17 weeks since that date. I telephone the trust office 2 days ago and was  only able to leave an answerphone message. A few minutes ago the post arrived and there was a letter from the trust saying we had been successful in our grant application and enclosed a cheque for £2,500. Wow!


This means that , barring unforeseen happening, we should now be able to complete the work mentioned in our appeal.


A really great Christmas present.

Preparatory Work about to Start

At last work can begin!


Preparatory work is about to beginning in the tower at St Peter's.


 On Tuesday 29th December  a local bell ringer, who works for Taylor's Bell Foundry will, free of charge, remove the fittings from the smallest bell. This bell is to be hung stationary for chiming. He is to take the fittings back to the bell foundry as these are to be reused on one of the new bells. He will also while he is there move the present second bell out of its framework to enable materials to be hoisted into the belfry.


On Monday, 4th January the electrician will beginning the work to upgrade the electrics in the tower to provide better lighting and more electrical sockets.

Donation received from Drayton Bassett Parish Council

Yesterday evening just before the ringing for Don Hellmuth's funeral at St Peter's church I was handed a cheque for £500. This very kind gift was from Drayton Bassett Parish Council. The money is towards the cost of the new floor that is being installed and refitting the ringing room. We are very grateful for this gift, as it will help to ensure that the ringing room is a welcoming space to encourage new people to ring the new bells.  In the last few weeks I have been informed of another two people who would like to learn to ring. Lessons will begin in earnest at the beginning of the New Year.

Funeral of Drayton Churchwarden

Tomorrow, following a service at Sutton Crematorium, there will be a thanksgiving service for the life of Don Hellmuth at 3pm at St Peter's Church Drayton Bassett.. Don was  one of the churchwardens at St Peter's Church and a committed supporter of the bell appeal.


With the agreement of the church and his family the present four bells will be rung half muffled before and after the thanksgiving service by members of the Tamworth bell ringing band.

Casting Date Announced

The foundry have announced that the 3 new bells for Drayton church will be cast on Wednesday afternoon 13th April 2016. The parish are organising a trip to the foundry to view the casting and take a tour of the foundry and its museum

Drayton Manor Park Donate a New Bell

It can be made public that Drayton Manor Theme Park have agreed to donate one of the three new bells. This bell will commemorate the lives of George and Vera Bryan, the founders of the park, who died last year. St Peter's Church are glad that such strong bonds exist between them and Drayton Manor. This bell will provide a permanent and audible memorial to George and Vera, who contributed so much to the area.

Order To Be Placed For Casting Of New Bells

Great news. The church council at its meeting last night agreed to place the order with John Taylor & Co of Loughborough for the casting of three new bells and the hanging of the present smallest bell as a chiming bell. The casting of the new bells will take place, hopefully sometime in Spring 2016. More definite dates will be given when our job is placed on the foundry's work schedule.

Sharpe Trust Award

I have just been informed that The Sharpe Trust has awarded a grant of £150 towards the preservation of the old present smallest bell by hanging it for chiming. This grant is payable on completion of the scheme.

PCC Give Permission for Preparatory Work to Commence

At the Drayton Bassett Church Council meeting held last night permission was given to proceed with the preparatory work in the tower.


This will consist of the following work.
1)  Creating openings in the floors to allow materials and the new bells to be hoisted up the tower
2)  The installation of the new ringing room floor by a local joiner, Adrian Taylor
3)  The dismantling of the fittings from the smallest bell, which is going to be hung stationary for chiming. Moving the present 3rd bell to create space for the new bells to be hoisted into the belfry.
4)  Upgrading the present electrical system in the tower to provide safe access to all parts of the tower.


It is hoped that some of this work will begin shortly.


The PCC will meet again in November when, it is hoped, an order will be placed with John Taylor Bell Founders  for the casting and installation of the new bells.

Drayton Cubs to visit Tamworth tower

Karl Hughes, the cub leader of Drayton Bassett Scout Group, contacted me last week about a visit to see bell ringing at Tamworth St Editha's. We've arranged for the cub group to visit the tower at St Editha's on Wednesday 21st October at 7pm. They will see the bells and watch what bell ringing is about. Perhaps this will encourage some of them to learn to ring the new bells at Drayton when they are installed.

Wonderful Meeting with lay readers Maureen and Neil from Drayton

Last Friday I met for a coffee and a chat with Maureen Casson and Neil Spink, Lay Readers at St Peter's Drayton. They were very supportive of the bell project and were heartened by the fact that the project was involving all sections of the village community and binding them closer together with the church. The fact that so many had already come forward to offer their practical help to the project and also to learn to ring was further proof that the church was seen as an important part of the community in the village.

Useful Planning Meeting at Manor School Drayton

Had a very fruitful planning meeting with Nicky Jarrett, the Y5/6 teacher at the Manor School, Drayton today.


We are looking forward to a geography/ history and literacy based topic on "Drayton Now and 100 years ago" to include work on 1st World War, the 6 men from the village who gave their lives in WWI,  the Peels and Drayton Manor. This will take place in the second half of the Autumn term.


 Another topic on bells and bell ringing will coincide with the installation of the new bells, hopefully early in 2016.

Total Passes £22,000

With another donation of £100, gift aided, from a lady in the village the total in the funds or promised has now past the £22,000 mark. A fantastic achievement. That means that we are only £10,000 away from our target. No far to go!

Descendant of another of the WWI heroes found

A great niece of Harry Clower, one of the six men from the village who gave their lives in the 1st World War has contacted me. Jane Greves is the great niece of Harry has promised to share all the information that her family has about Harry. We know that Harry's family farmed at Hill Farm, Drayton Bassett. In 1913 Harry emigrated to Canada. He was serving with the Canadian forces in France when he was killed.

Successful Quiz Evening at Village Club

Last night saw over 50 people at Drayton Bassett Club at a quiz evening in aid of the bell appeal. This time the event included a tasty fish and chip supper. Over £300 was raise for the funds and a very enjoyable time was had by all. A big thank you to Linda Hayes for organising the event and to the ladies who acted as quiz masters.

1st Drayton Scouts Support Appeal

A fantastic donation of £50 has arrived from the above scout group. They are keen to support things that are happening in the village that binds together the community.


This group has been running in the village for 40 years and Mrs Zena Dewes, their treasurer, has said that they have over 50 keen members aged from 6-12 years old.


I hope to work with the scout leaders to ensure that the scouts find out more about bells and bell ringing in general and what is happening to the bells in their village in particular. Maybe some of the older scouts might be interested in giving bell ringing a try!

Offer of Significant Donation received

I have just received an email from a couple in the village offering a donation of £1,000 towards the bell appeal. They have lived in the village for a number of years and were married in the church. A really big thanks for their generous gift. A big step nearer our target!

Successful Planning Meeting held

Last night a group of 8 people interested in the bell appeal met at the village club to discuss future action. We were please to welcome Bev Davies, who lives in the village and Mary Wheeldon, both of these being descendants of two of the six men  from the village killed in WWI and mentioned on the war memorial. It is are hope that one of the new bells will be provided in their memory.


John Mulvey outlined what the appeal was hoping to achieve. He mentioned how he was going to involve Year 5/6 from the village school in recording the project, finding out about bells and bellringing and also helping to research the background of the six men. It was the hope of the meeting that their findings would be presented in an exhibition in the village.


So far £20,000 had been raised or promised, which leaves only £5,000 to be raised for the cheaper option or about £12,000 for the preferred option.


Now that we have permission from the diocese to carry our the work; a faculty, John had started to apply to trusts for grants.


The meeting felt that as a sizable sum had been raised some preparatory work should be undertaken to show that progress was being made. This was in the hope that this would encourage further donations.


Linda Hayes indicated that at least 5 people were willing to learn to ring and John Mulvey said that it was his hope to start an after school bell ringing club for children from the school.


The next fundraising event was the Quiz on Friday 12th June at the club. The next group meeting was fixed for Thursday, 15th October. All interested people welcome to attend.

Quiz Evening Friday 12th June

Another quiz evening in aid of the bell appeal will be held at Drayton Club on Friday, 12th June beginning at 7.30pm. The cost is £7 which will include a fish and chip supper. Teams of up to six welcome.


The quiz held last November was attended by over 70 people and raised nearly £700. Let's make this quiz as successful.


Entries to Linda Hayes on 07921 256180 or email lindleigh@btinternet.com by Monday 8th June.

Another Generous Donation from a bell ringer

Today, unexpectedly, I received in the post a generous donation of £150 from a bell ringer to whom I had previously mentioned the Drayton appeal. He has no connection with this area but wanted to encourage what he said "was a very worthwhile project". This does act as a real encouragement to continue fundraising.

Faculty has been Granted

I have just received news that the official faculty document has been received by the churchwarden which gives the church permission to carry out the work in the bell tower.

A Big Thank You for Donations

Donations flow in


Since the last post on this blog many leaflets have been distributed in the local area, thanks to Linda Hayes for her help, and to other bell ringing groups. This has resulted in an increasing number of people donating over £700 to the bell appeal, most of this gift aided.  Some of it was donated personally. Many donated in memory of much loved locals Margaret and Brian, whose funeral was held recently at St Peter's. £170 was donated at their funeral service and Miss S Orton collected £57 in their memory from their friends at the local bingo group. A big thank you to all those who have given.


Official Permission to begin will be granted soon


The "waiting period" will soon be over for the application to carry out the work on the bells. A notice, asking for comments, has been posted near the church door for 28 days and when this period has been completed the Chancellor of the Diocese will grant us official permission to carry out the work; this is called a faculty The main work on the bells will not begin immediately. Once permission has been granted preparation work will begin; extension work to the electrics in the tower to provide a safer environment and creation of openings in the tower floors to enable the new bells to raised up the tower. 


When will the new bells be in position?


No date has been fixed as this depends on how quickly we raise the funds needed to carry out the work. Once the faculty has been issued, applications will be made to trusts for grants towards the work. Hopefully if we are successful this will quicken the date when six bells will ring out from St Peter's church.

Advisory Committee Recommends Go Ahead with Project

The Diocese Advisory Committee met last Tuesday and considered the application to carry out the work we wish to do in the tower.  They have recommended that the application be approved by the Diocesan Chancellor.  Before this can take place a notice needs to be positioned near the main church door at Drayton detailing the work and asking whether their are objections. This needs to be in place for 28 days, after which the Chancellor should approve our application and work can begin.

Tremendous News - Grant Application Success

As I previously posted, I made an application for a grant towards our bell appeal to the ruling body of bellringing, The Central Council. This body administers legacies which have been left specifically for bell restoration work.


I have received an email today saying that the  Drayton Bell Appeal has been awarded a grant of £1,000 to be paid on completion of the work.


Marvellous news that will spur us on towards our target of six bells ringing in St Peter's church.

The shiny appeal leaflets have arrived, all 5 000 of them, in six big boxes. Now I'm spending time inserting  gift aid forms into every leaflet. Then comes the big job of distributing them to every home in Drayton parish plus all the businesses.

Appeal Leaflet Goes to Print

Now that the application for permission to carry out our scheme has been made it is time to print the appeal leaflets. Now is the hard work of raising the remaining money we need to completed the scheme.

Faculty Application Now Been Completed

At last all of the necessary forms have been completed and drawings have been gathered together. The package has now been submitted for consideration at the Diocesan Advisory Committee Meeting on March 17th. We hope that the committee will allow the application without requesting further information.

Tower Survey - A clean Bill of health

As I wrote at the end of last year, the Diocesan Advisory Committee required us to have a structural survey to confirm that the tower would be strong enough for the extra bells we are proposing to install.


I have just received the official survey and it gives the tower a clean bill of health. The structural engineer has stated that he can see no reason why the scheme should not go ahead.


Fantastic news!


Just a few more items to gather before I submit the application to the Diocese for us to proceed with the scheme.

Another Ringing Group Makes Donation

The bell appeal has received a donation of £100 from a group of bell ringers who meet on one Wednesday each month in the Birmingham area. Every ringer that attends give a donation to the group's funds every time they meet. Donations are given to each church they visit to ring and any surplus is, every so often, given to bell restoration appeals. We very much hope that when we have our six bells installed this group will visit to try them out.