Firing the bells

[Chris Povey]

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Malcolm Bland asked about firing at weddings. This is still done at a numbe=
r of towers in the North Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham, although probab=
ly not quite so much as 30-40 years ago. There are three firing sessions, a=
ll consecutive (ie the bells aren't stood in between), and each session con=
sists of 'rounds, cross (Queens) and fire'. The number of firings per sessi=
on is certainly not seven, because that would end at the wrong stroke, and =
it's usually a few more. After the last fire, the bells are brought into ro=
unds, the trebles pulling in as quickly as possible and the tenors holding =
up. The firing is only done after the wedding and it is the first thing to =
be rung. Firing is supposed to bring good luck to the couple.

Firing is OK when it's good firing; when it's ragged, it's very poor. There=
is some satisfaction in getting some good bangs. The photographers normall=
y don't like firing, because just as they are telling the wedding party to =
get into order for a photo, there's a big noise and he has to repeat the in=
struction. It has been known for a photographer to storm into a (ground flo=
or) ringing room and demand that the ringing stops.

Chris Povey
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