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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" size=3><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">Andrew
Higson:-</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'">I’ve just ordered
some bellmetal – it has rocketed up since the beginning of the year! Purchase
price is now £6560 per tonne – easily the highest price we have had to
pay.<O></O></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Baskerville Old Face'"><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2>Hmmm, that makes the metal value the
average ring of 6 about £15k.<O></O></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial>With prices this high, it is hoped
that diocesan authorities (DAC Bell Advisers?) might advise
parishes of this situation, with the consequent note that their bells
are therefore even more attractive to thieves and that
further security measures should be taken. Bells in towers will generally
be OK, except those in remote locations, but those in
bellcotes and as static exhibits inside churches will be particularly
vulnerable (as we've already seen in the last 12 months). I suspect the
insurers will take a dimmer and dimmer view of PCCs that have taken no
sensible precautions against theft.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial>I can think of one church where the listed
sanctus bell is sitting on a window cill in the ground floor ringing
room...</FONT><O></O></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Chris
Povey</FONT><ST1><ST1><O></O></P></DIV>
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