Date Given for Installation of New Bells

John Taylor's of Loughborough have stated that the 3 new bells will be installed in the week beginning Monday 26th September. The installation should take about 3 days if there are no complications.

It is hoped that as many people as possible, and hopefully the children of the school, will greet the arrival of the new bells into the village.

The rector, Rev Jonathan Iddon, is already in the process of arranging a date for the dedication service for the new bells.

Sound Control on Louvres Nearly Completed

Adrian Taylor, local joiner, has nearly completed the installation of the sound control on the four sets of louvres in the tower. In the photograph you can see the hopper type hinged opening. These are open in the photograph to let sound out but when the bell ringers are practising they can be closed to limit the amount of sound coming out of the tower.

Latest Pictures from the Tower

 This shows the bellframe which has been treated with a coat of rust inhibitor and a prime coat. A gloss coat is yet to be applied.

 Above is the original smallest bell, dated 1713. This bell will be hung dead in a separate frame and a hammer will strike the hour on this bell.

 This is the original 2nd bell, will be the 4th in the new ring. It has be moved onto the top of the frame to allow space for the new bells to be raised into the belfry.

                                                      Another view of the repainted frame.

Sound Control To Be Installed Soon

After the completion of the building of the new ringing room floor, work is to begin soon on the installation of new woodwork on the inside of the louvres. This will ensure that the level of noise from the bells can be controlled. The sound control, when installed, will contain small opening doors. These can be opened for service ringing and closed when bell ringing practices are taking place.
The new woodwork will be installed by Adrian Taylor who has installed the new ringing room floor. The work should begin within the next few weeks.

Villagers Watch Bells Cast

On Wednesday 13th April 50 villagers and friends visited Taylor's Bell foundry in Loughborough to witness the casting of our 3 new bells. 25 children from Y5/6 of the Manor School attended. Also there were descendants of 3 of the 6 men from the village who died in WWI to watch the smallest bell being cast. Mr Colin Bryan represented Drayton Manor Theme Park who gave the 2nd bell in memory of his parents, George and Vera Bryan who founded the park. The party was split into 2 groups to tour the museum and foundry workshop before being taken to a balcony overlooking the casting hall. Before the bells were cast  the rector, The Reverend Jonathan Iddon, led the party in prayer.

Following watching the casting from the safety of the balcony the group were allowed to come onto the casting hall floor to view the bells close up.

Keven Jackson,a ringer from Tamworth who very kindly drew up the drawings for the faculty application took a large amount of photos. Some of which you can view by pasting the following link into your web browser


.https://www.flickr.com/photos/141395550@N05/

More Villagers Volunteer To Learn to Ring

Millie and Lauren daughters of Kay Putnam and Brian Reynolds have been having instruction in bell ringing at Tamworth for the last few weeks. They are now confident and can handle a bell very much on their own. They will now need plenty of experience ringing with others to build up their accuracy and confidence.

Neil and Gail Kneal, who are new to the village and are our rector's parents in law, have just had their first lesson at Tamworth. Two more people will start learning the ropes when the bells are back in action at Drayton.

If you know of any others that would like to consider having a go at learning they can see what is involved and have a try. Just contact John Mulvey on 07760 367570 

Our 3 New Bells Cast

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.