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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Below is more detail to back up my article=
/ letter=20
on p 987 of this week's Ringing World - with apologies to those who will no=
w=20
have seen this appeal at least 2 times if not 3 or 4!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>John Thorp.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>27 Coldfall Avenue, London N10 1HS. Tel 02=
0 8883=20
7905.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE=20
style=3D"WIDTH: 536.4pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.=
4pt 0cm 5.4pt"=20
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<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: #c0c0c0; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #c0c0=
c0; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #c0c0c0; WIDTH: =
284.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #c0c0c0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transp=
arent"=20
vAlign=3Dtop width=3D379>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justif=
y"><SPAN=20
lang=3DDE=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: fuchsia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;=
mso-ansi-language: DE">To=20
bellringers (past & present) at St Anne=92s Highgate and friends =
of the=20
bells<?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></T=
D>
<TD=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: #c0c0c0; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #c0c0=
c0; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #c0c0c0; WIDTH: =
252pt; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #c0c0c0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transpar=
ent"=20
vAlign=3Dtop width=3D336>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=
=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">27 Coldfall=20
Avenue<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=
=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">London N10=20
1HS<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=
=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:=
p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=
=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Tel. 020 8883=20
7905<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=
=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DDE=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-langua=
ge: DE">E-mail:=20
aandj.thorp@v...<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE=
>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SP=
AN=20
lang=3DDE=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE=
"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"=20
align=3Dright><SPAN lang=3DDE=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE=
">1=20
October 2004</SPAN><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P=
>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><FONT=20
size=3D3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SP=
AN></P>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Restorati=
on of=20
bells of St Anne=92s Highgate, London N6<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SP=
AN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>I wro=
te to many=20
of you in July 2003 to brief you on the appeals that had just been started =
for=20
money to repair the fabric (primarily the roofs but in the case of St Anne=
=92s=20
also the bells) at both the churches at which our local band rings. The app=
eal=20
for St Martin=92s Gospel Oak was successful, and the work on the roof there=
is now=20
complete: I=92m sure that the vicar, John Hayward, would like me to thank t=
hose of=20
you who contributed. I=92m writing to you now to bring you up to date on wh=
ere we=20
stand on raising funds for the bell restoration part of the St Anne=92s=20
appeal.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><FONT size=3D3>The nee=
d for the=20
bells to be restored</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>Apart=
from two=20
pieces of first aid by local ringers and the Middlesex Association of Churc=
h=20
Bell Ringers in the past 20 years (most recently in 1992, financed by a gen=
erous=20
gift from the family of Dr Caroline Deys), very little has been done since =
the=20
peal of 8 bells was installed 151 years ago. Reports from four bell-hanging=
=20
firms confirm that a comprehensive restoration is overdue. In particular, t=
he=20
(plain) bearings are very worn and noisy, the bells are indented where the=
=20
clappers strike and are in danger of being cracked by the expansion of the=
=20
rusting iron clapper-staples, and the clappers too are flattened with wear =
and=20
in at least one case delaminating.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><FONT size=3D3>Work=20
proposed</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><I><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>(F=
or bell=20
hangers=92 estimates)</SPAN></I><SPAN lang=3DEN-US> Clean and tune the bell=
s=20
(including removal of iron cast-in staples and installation of independent=
=20
staples for the clappers), re-hang them (quarter-turned) with ball-bearings=
and=20
other new fittings, in the existing frame; tighten and paint the bellframe.=
=20
<I>(Necessary or desirable ancillary work)</I> Insertion of lifting beams &=
amp;=20
ladder through frame, opening of hatches, lighting; prevention of present r=
ain=20
ingress; repair of ringing chamber ceiling (including removal of sawdust fi=
lling=20
to avoid fire risk); improvement of existing sound control, by enabling the=
=20
upper part of the present boarding to be opened to channel sound upwards, a=
way=20
from immediate neighbours so that it spreads over a wider area, and to redu=
ce=20
the sound in the ringing chamber; removal of disused chiming frame; possibl=
e=20
welding of one or more bells if found to be cracked.<A title=3D""=20
style=3D"mso-footnote-id: ftn1" href=3D"mhtml:mid://00000000/#_ftn1"=20
name=3D_ftnref1><SPAN class=3DMsoFootnoteReference><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: footnote">[1]</SPAN></SPAN></A></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>Es=
timated=20
cost of work, and funds raised so far</SPAN></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>The 4=
quotations=20
received for the bell-hangers=92 work are =A332,137,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=A333,150,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=A333,193 and =A345,742 (all incl=
uding VAT,=20
and including discounts for use of the voluntary labour that we shall be ab=
le to=20
supply from our own band and other members of the Middlesex Association).=20
Subject to further consultation, particularly with the Diocesan Bell Advise=
r, we=20
intend to accept the cheapest of these estimates. Including the ancillary w=
ork=20
listed above and allowing for some inflation in the original estimate (whic=
h=20
will expire before we have a Faculty and can thus commission the work), we =
are=20
budgeting <B>=A340,000</B> for the whole bell restoration project. So far w=
e have=20
<B>=A317,430</B> available (=A315,000 from the Middlesex Association, =A380=
0 from the=20
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers=92 Bell Restoration Fund, =A3630 in =
St Anne=92s=20
Bell Fund from past donations and wedding fees, and =A31000 from promised p=
ersonal=20
donations). Although the Parochial Church Council is, understandably, givin=
g=20
priority to the roof and the other structural work described in the next=20
section, at its meeting on 9 December 2003 it affirmed its commitment to th=
e=20
restoration of the bells as a significant part of the overall restoration o=
f the=20
church; some funds should therefore be available eventually from the church=
=92s=20
general fund-raising effort to help bridge this <B>=A322,570</B> gap in fin=
ance=20
for the bell project. Meanwhile I am working to raise further funds explici=
tly=20
for the bell project from other grants, eg from the Sharpe Trustees (who ma=
nage=20
a legacy devoted to the restoration of church bells), the Mercers=92 Compan=
y (who=20
have a historical link with Highgate and church bells via their 3-times Mas=
ter,=20
Dick Whittington), charities or companies linked with the bells=92 original=
donor,=20
Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and with Sir John Betjeman =96 who was baptized in=
St=20
Anne=92s and mentions =93<I>the bells from sad St Anne=92s</I>=94 in his po=
etry, appeals=20
to individual ringers via the Ringing World, the Middlesex Bell News and th=
is=20
letter, and to Highgate area residents via the autumn issue of Buzz. Any=20
suggestions for other potentially fertile areas that we could try, or quest=
ions=20
about the plans that I have outlined above, are welcome.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><F=
ONT=20
size=3D3>Wider background of St Anne=92s restoration</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><SPA=
N=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><SPA=
N=20
lang=3DEN-US>The restoration of the bells is part of a larger project for t=
he=20
restoration of the church (a Grade 2 Listed Building) involving the roof, t=
he=20
organ, the vestry, provision of community space and better facilities for t=
he=20
children, and disabled access. This larger project (including the bells) wa=
s=20
initially assessed at =A3380,000. Between May 2003 (when an appeal was laun=
ched)=20
and end 2003, =A350,000 was raised for the overall project. An application =
was=20
submitted to English Heritage for a grant of =A3160,000 for the restoration=
of the=20
roof. In response, EH awarded =A3117,000 in February 2004 for a reduced pro=
ject=20
excluding the porches and vestry, thus reducing the cost of the overall pre=
sent=20
project provisionally to =A3335,000. Applications are being made to the His=
toric=20
Churches Preservation Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Edmonton A=
rea=20
Pastoral Committee of the Diocese of London and, subject to preliminary=20
discussions, Marshall=92s Charity. In addition, the Parochial Church Counci=
l has=20
set a target of =A327,000 from fundraising events (social events, sponsored=
walks,=20
concerts etc) in 2004. If all of these hit their targets, St Anne=92s will =
=96=20
allowing for drawing down the church=92s existing reserves =96 be =A317,000=
short, at=20
the end of 2004, of the total needed for the overall restoration (including=
the=20
bells). It is hoped that this can be made up through other grants (eg any f=
rom=20
the sources mentioned above for the bells), personal donations and further=
=20
fundraising events in 2005.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><B><=
SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US>=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85..<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></=
P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><SPA=
N=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 241.0pt"><SPA=
N=20
lang=3DEN-US>So <B>gifts, large or small, for the bell restoration will be =
very=20
welcome</B>. Cheques, to =93St Anne=92s Highgate PCC=94, can be sent to me;=
please=20
include =96 if appropriate =96 a signed statement that =93I am a UK taxpaye=
r and want=20
the PCC to treat my donation as Gift Aid=94. If you want your donation to b=
e=20
anonymous from me, please send it to the vicar, Rev Andrew Meldrum, 106 Hig=
hgate=20
West Hill, London N6 6AP; say that it is for the bell part of the overall=20
restoration, if this is your wish.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>I sha=
ll be away=20
from 26 November till 8 February (visiting friends and relatives in Austral=
ia),=20
and not dealing with correspondence in that period. I am hoping that we can=
=20
raise sufficient money before then to make the vicar and the Parochial Chur=
ch=20
Council confident enough to place a firm order with the bellhanger. The=20
bellhanger probably has a 9-month order book, so we need to place an order =
soon=20
in order to avoid the risk of losing a grant (from the Central Council of C=
hurch=20
Bell Ringers) that expires if the work is not begun by March=20
200<U>6</U>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-US> </SPAN><SPAN lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-US>John=
=20
Thorp</SPAN></P>
<DIV style=3D"mso-element: footnote-list"><BR clear=3Dall>
<HR align=3Dleft width=3D"33%" SIZE=3D1>
<DIV id=3Dftn1 style=3D"mso-element: footnote">
<P class=3DMsoFootnoteText style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><A title=3D""=20
style=3D"mso-footnote-id: ftn1" href=3D"mhtml:mid://00000000/#_ftnref1"=20
name=3D_ftn1><SPAN class=3DMsoFootnoteReference><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: footnote"><FONT=20
size=3D2>[1]</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><FONT size=
=3D2> A=20
fuller description of the proposed work is in my paper of 12 March 2004, wh=
ich I=20
can supply to anyone who is interested in=20
it.</FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>