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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We still fire the bells at weddings here a=
t St Mary=20
de Castro, Leicester. All very precise and effective, though I don't =
think=20
it does my spire much good !</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There was an exception - when Kingsley Mas=
on (my=20
Tower Master) and Rosemary Hughes (Peter & Jill Staniforth's daughter) =
got=20
married last year, RKM was otherwise engaged. She who was in charge=20
decreed that there would be no firing as SMdeC was unused to 'bad=20
striking'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>At Canterbury Cathedral probably well befo=
re 1980,=20
we used to fire the old twelve ar least when ringing in the New Year. =
The=20
sound of Firing, with five bells of 1726-8 by Knight, two of 1802, two of 1=
856,=20
two of 1923 all by various incarnations of Mears, and a M&S Simpson ten=
or of=20
1951, was (as our late Secretary, Bert Luck used to say, "Like the gun=
s at=20
Waterloo") quite unforgettable. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It was good that RCO was able to lean on t=
he Dean=20
& Chapter to keep the five clock chime bells, the old 4-8, which=20
surprisingly enough tuned up beautifully. Another unforgettable sound when =
you=20
hear them with Great Dunstan.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>DLC</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0p=
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<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>Fro=
m:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:cmpovey@3..."=20
title=3Dcmpovey@3...>Chris Povey</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
href=3D"mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com"=20
title=3Dbellhistorians@yahoogroups.com>bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>=
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, August 07, 2003 7:=
10=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Bell Historians] Firing =
the=20
bells</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Malcolm Bland asked about firing at wedd=
ings.=20
This is still done at a number of towers in the North Cotswolds and the V=
ale=20
of Evesham, although probably not quite so much as 30-40 years ago. There=
are=20
three firing sessions, all consecutive (ie the bells aren't stood in betw=
een),=20
and each session consists of 'rounds, cross (Queens) and fire'.</FONT><FO=
NT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2> The number of firings per session is certainly not=
seven,=20
because that would end at the wrong stroke, and it's usually a few m=
ore.=20
After the last fire, the bells are brought into rounds, the trebles pulli=
ng in=20
as quickly as possible and the tenors holding up. The firing is only done=
=20
after the wedding and it is the first thing to be rung. Firing is=20
supposed to bring good luck to the couple.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Firing is OK when it's good firing; when=
it's=20
ragged, it's very poor. There is some satisfaction in getting some good b=
angs.=20
The photographers normally don't like firing, because just as they are te=
lling=20
the wedding party to get into order for a photo, there's a big noise=
and=20
he has to repeat the instruction. It has been known for a=20
photographer to storm into a (ground floor) ringing room and de=
mand=20
that the ringing stops.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Chris Povey</FONT></DIV><BR><BR><TT>This=
=20
message was sent to you via the Bell Historians' Mailing List. To unsubsc=
ribe=20
from the list send an email to=20
bellhistorians-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com<BR><BR></TT><BR><BR><TT>Your u=
se of=20
Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <A=20
href=3D"http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Terms of Service</A>.</=
TT>=20
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