A group of 50 villagers and friends visited John Taylor's Bell Foundry in Loughborough yesterday. There, after a tour around the small museum and the works, we witnessed the casting of our 3 new bells. Among the party were Year 5/6 from the village school, 4 descendants of the 6 men from the village who were killed in WWI and who will be commemorated on one of the bells and donors of the 2 other bells.
It was a very moving experience watching this historic occasion which sees the completion of a scheme started with the rehanging of 4 bells at Drayton in 1964.
No date has been set yet for the new bells arriving in Drayton and being rehung. This will be at the earliest late June/ early July. But I will keep you posted as this will be an opportunity for people to see the bells at close quarters before they are hoisted up the tower.
I will attach a link later to an album of photos taken by Kevin Jackson, a ringer from Tamworth, who did all the technical drawings for our faculty application.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
New Ringing Floor Progresses
Adrian Taylor and friends have been at work. They have cut the trap door in the porch ceiling and now are in the process of building the new ringing room floor. See the photographs.
Clock Will Again Strike The Hour
In the original scheme that was proposed the smallest bell was to be set aside. This would have a clapper fitted so that it would be chimed manually from the porch by using a rope.
A number of people have asked whether the clock would be able to strike the hour again. Using the existing clock mechanism to strike the hour would have been very expensive. I asked the foundry about how this could be achieved at a lesser cost. They said that if the church, instead of having a manual controlled chime bell, were to have an electronic control panel this would be possible. The control panel can be programmed in many different ways just like central heating boiler controls so that the bell can be made to chime slowly for funerals, before services and how we want. This will be installed at the same time as the new bells are hung.
A number of people have asked whether the clock would be able to strike the hour again. Using the existing clock mechanism to strike the hour would have been very expensive. I asked the foundry about how this could be achieved at a lesser cost. They said that if the church, instead of having a manual controlled chime bell, were to have an electronic control panel this would be possible. The control panel can be programmed in many different ways just like central heating boiler controls so that the bell can be made to chime slowly for funerals, before services and how we want. This will be installed at the same time as the new bells are hung.
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Work with the Manor School and a Farewell to Nicky Jarrett
During the Autumn Term, before Christmas, I was able to go into Manor School in Drayton for a number of afternoons to work with Nicky Jarrett, the deputy head and her Y5/6 class of children.
The children were studying the village now and 100 years ago. The children used the school laptop computers to do on line research using the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Many of the children were able to create family trees and quite a few of the children found family connections with the village.
We also visited the village war memorial and noted the names of the 6 men, from the village, who died in World War I. Then the children used the internet to find out about them . Bev Davies from New Row came into class and talked about one of the men, Sam Tilling, who was her ancestor.
After Easter the class are going to attend the casting of the 3 new bells at John Taylor's Bellfoundry in Loughborough. But Nicky Jarrett will not be with us, as she is moving to be deputy head of the school in Kings Bromley. This is great news for her but it's sad for us that she will not see the completion of the project. I'm sure that the children will send her a photographic record of their trip.
The children were studying the village now and 100 years ago. The children used the school laptop computers to do on line research using the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Many of the children were able to create family trees and quite a few of the children found family connections with the village.
We also visited the village war memorial and noted the names of the 6 men, from the village, who died in World War I. Then the children used the internet to find out about them . Bev Davies from New Row came into class and talked about one of the men, Sam Tilling, who was her ancestor.
After Easter the class are going to attend the casting of the 3 new bells at John Taylor's Bellfoundry in Loughborough. But Nicky Jarrett will not be with us, as she is moving to be deputy head of the school in Kings Bromley. This is great news for her but it's sad for us that she will not see the completion of the project. I'm sure that the children will send her a photographic record of their trip.
Date for Start with Tower Woodwork
As soon as the bell appeal was launched, Adrian Taylor,a joiner who lives at Ashdene Farm, Drayton kindly offered, free of charge, to create trapdoors in the tower floors and to build our new ringing room floor. He has now told me that this work will start on Tuesday 29th March.
Gould's woodyard in Fazeley have offered to provide any wood needed free of charge for this work and for the sound control boarding that we are putting up against the louvres.
We are truly blessed with so many marvelous people who are willing to give their time and products free of charge for the appeal.
Gould's woodyard in Fazeley have offered to provide any wood needed free of charge for this work and for the sound control boarding that we are putting up against the louvres.
We are truly blessed with so many marvelous people who are willing to give their time and products free of charge for the appeal.
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
More Begin to Learn to Ring
Lauren and Millie, daughters of Kay Putnam have begun to learn to ring ready for the new bells arriving at Drayton. The two girls are carrying on a family tradition as both Kay their mum and their grandparents, Peter and Marg know how to ring. As the damp conditions, at the moment, at Drayton make it difficult to teach new ringers, teaching sessions have moved to Tamworth. Lauren and Millie have had 3 lessons so far and are making rapid progress.; Lauren nearly being able to handle a bell on her own.
Brian Reynolds who began to learn last month is sticking with it and is enjoying the experience. He is progressing well and is nearly able to handle the bell without assistance.
At least 2 more villagers are ready to start lessons and will have their first lessons soon.
Brian Reynolds who began to learn last month is sticking with it and is enjoying the experience. He is progressing well and is nearly able to handle the bell without assistance.
At least 2 more villagers are ready to start lessons and will have their first lessons soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)