[Bell Historians] Re: Stanton St John

[Richard Offen]

> Is not a DAC Bells Advisor there to *advise the DAC*, should a Parish 
wish 
> to do work on the bells which requires a faculty?.  Or have I 
> over-simplified?
> 
> It is up to the Parish, surely, to decide who should do the work.
> 
> John Cater
>

Unless things have changed radically since I was a DAC advisor, the 
role of an advisor is to give expert advice to the DAC in order that it 
can consider each faculty application in a manner that will result in 
an outcome that is in the best interests of the parish and the fabric 
of its church.   It most definitely the role of the consultant to 
advise the DAC if he/she considers the proposed work is what is 
required and will be carried out competently and safely by the 
contactor or volunteer group chosen by the parish.   

This surely is the whole point of having expert advisors.

For the obvious reasons of accountability and liability, advisors are, 
in most cases, almost bound to recommend work is carried out by a 
professional body, who have the requisite qualifications and indemnity 
cover (one hopes!) for the work required.

Where is the accountability if something goes horribly wrong with a job 
carried out by individual volunteers, not even working under the aegis 
of a guild or association?   If a serious accident occurred in a tower 
where the bells have been restored by volunteers, I suggest the legal 
consequences have the potential to be very nasty. 

I view of the offence I caused earlier on in this discussion, please 
note that the above is in no way an indictment of those who have 
carried out some splendid work to ailing bell installations over the 
years on a voluntary basis.   I am merely stating the role of a DAC 
advisor, as I understand it, and pointing out the possible consequences 
of a volunteer job going wrong.

Richard