Stanton St John

[Alan Birney]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "Richard Offen" 
<richard.offen at ...> wrote:

> So what does this all set out to achieve?   Justification for a 
quick 
> grab and then on to the next 'unringable' on the list of 'towers 
needed 
> to finish the county'?
> 
> R
>

       Having been out with Rod to look at several "silent" rings. I 
can verify that he does all this work on a voulantry basis at no 
cost to the PCC or anyone else and many Churches have benifitted- If 
anything, more are needed like him.

       I've seen silent rings where the bells have been condemned by 
Branch/Guild/Association Advisors without any valid justification, 
for example bits of wheel shrouding missing, bells loose on thier 
stocks, etc. The main criteria here should be that the installation 
in safe and when the bells are rung, are they having no detrimental 
effect on the tower.

      Back in 1997, Barnoldswick were going to try and get the bells 
ringable at a low cost with a view to having them rehung and 
augmented for the millenium- This was killed by a Branch Advisor 
with no connection to the Bradford diocese (which we are in). To cut 
a long story short, Barnoldswick were advised that the bells would 
not be safe to ring even if necesary remedial work was carried out- 
the Vicar and PCC will confirm this if needed.

        For the sake of £230 (for materials) and a lot donated 
labour on my part (with later local assistance) , the bells were 
made ringable (including a new headstock on the second), and yes, 
the bells are safe and are having no detrimental effect on the tower-
 We've reports (after the work was done)from Taylors and Adrian 
Dempster of Ward Cole Associates to prove it.

         This is one example of an instance where an Advisor didn't 
know better- We have a replacement eight bell frame to be installed, 
We've placed an order (and paid for) with Taylors for some fittings 
and Taylors will be casting new bells for the scheme ater this year.

       Well done Rod, if more people got motivated like you, there 
would be less unringables around.

Alan