PRESS RELEASE

Bells to Ring Around Leicestershire

The annual conference of The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers will take place this year in Leicester's All Nations Centre on Monday, 29th May. Bellringers representing the 40,000 change ringers from around the British Isles and smaller numbers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, North Italy, Southern Africa and the USA will spend the late May Bank Holiday weekend ringing the bells in Leicestershire churches and discussing the art and science of change ringing.

The Leicester Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2006. It aims to promote the ringing of church bells in Leicestershire, maintain the condition of the bells and advance the art of change ringing as well as extending the appreciation of change ringing amongst the general public. Its work covers the whole of the Leicester Diocese of the Church of England, and there are currently more than 700 members spread across six districts: Hinckley, Leicester, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray and Syston.

The visiting bellringers will have an opportunity to make a tour of the world famous Loughborough based Taylors Eayre & Smith Bellfoundry. It has been based in Loughborough since 1839. The largest bell in Britain 'Great Paul', the massive Bourdon bell at St Paul's Cathedral in London, was cast in Loughborough in 1881, and Taylors have supplied bells for carillons around the USA as well as bells for 'full circle' change ringing around the world.

Listen to the 10 bells of All Saints, Loughborough

Change Ringing around the world - Nearly 6,000 towers in the British Isles and 125 in countries which have a strong historical association with Britain contain rings of five or more bells hung for change ringing. Change ringing originated in the sixteenth century when church bells began to be rung with a rope and full wheel to give control of the bell. This allows sets of bells (rings) to be rung in a continuously changing pattern ('ringing the changes'). Change ringers share a fascinating hobby and a commitment to their bell ringing teams.

For more information on the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, please visit www.cccbr.org.uk

Contact: Judith Rogers prchairman@cccbr.org.uk

For more information on the Leicester Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers please visit www.leicesterdg.org.uk Contact: John Adcock president@leicesterdg.org.uk

For more information about events taking place around the Leicester Diocese during the conference weekend please visit www.leicesterdg.org.uk/cccbr/ccmeeting.shtml

For more information about Taylors Eayre and Smith Bellfoundry, please visit www.taylorbells.co.uk Contact : Jennie Paul enquiries@taylorbells.co.uk