Bells Ring Out To Remember

The All Saints Swanton Morley Bell Ringers joined the rest of the nation in remembering those servicemen and woment who have lost their lives in conflict. Prior to Swanton Morley Church's Service of Remembrance the bells rang half muffled. After the wreath laying ceremony the ringers rang once again as the congregation left the grounds and solders from Robertson Barracks marched back to the church. The ringers who take part were Aaron Hall, Celia Barker, Ted Conyers, Mark Tweedie, Helen Watson, Claire Willetts, Chris Brown, Ayslon Booth and Brian Laing.

...and On

Last month routine maintenance was carried out on the six bells of All Saints. Whilst this routine maintenance took place a question arose about how the clappers should sit inside the bells. After Brian conducted some enquiries it appeared that all the clappers were positioned in the bells wrong. So Brian and Aaron returned up the tower to carry out some more work. In the worse cases some of the clappers were out of place by over 5 inches. After several hours of work the clappers were all repositioned. The test came the following practice night when the band got to ring the bells again! Everyone commented on the vast improvement of the bells and how different they sounded. The only negative point was that work needs to be carried out on the third clapper as the bearings are starting to go. 

The Maintenance goes on....

You may have heard the bells of All Saints ringing for a few minutes on Thursday last week and this afternoon. This is as we have been carry out some routine maintenance on the bells of All Saints. A huge thanks goes out to Brian Laing who gave up his time to help Aaron look over the bells and make sure everything is ok with the bells. Apart from a few nuts and bolts needing tightening everything seems ok!

Tower holds the clue to BBC Radio Norfolk Treasure Hunt

Becky from BBC Radio Norfolk's Treasure Quest had to climb up those never ending stairs to reach the bell chamber of Swanton Morley Church to get the second clue. The clue was resting against the fourth bell. Becky seemed over the moon to climb up the tower!!

 The clue that led them to the tower was:

"Here the royal townsmen lurk,

Although you’ll have to get them in order.

Where they’re doing more than picnicking today,

...Not a division one, but go to the chamber."

It was great listening to all the people guessing where it could be!

Click here to see the photos.

Teddy Afternoon Fun

The All Saints Swanton Morley Bell Ringers held their 3rd Annual Teddy Bear Zip Wire Afternoon at Swanton Morley Church on Sunday 31st July. Many families turned out to take part in this increasingly popular event. It is estimated that over 300 people attended the three hour event which included in many competitions and games in addition to the terrifying teddy bear zip wire from the top of the 100ft tower.

Countless excited children (and adults) watched as their precious teddy bears took the “express” trug lift up the front of the mighty bell tower before taking the exhilarating ride back to the waiting hug of their owners. It was brilliant to see so many families having such a good time, many staying most of the afternoon talking to other parents and families.

Many families searched the church and churchyard for hidden teddy bears to create the mystery word, with the eventual winner being Elizabeth from Swanton Morley winning a teddy bear. Zoe Gatt also won a teddy bear after impressing  the judges with her design for a teddy bear. Lauren Cooke correctly named guessed the name of the Teddy Bear and won “Lenny”. In addition to the games and competitions, three troops from Robertson Barracks brought a Spartan transporter to allow members of the public the chance to look inside a military vehicle with many parents saying their children wouldn't let them proceed to the other stalls without first taking a look inside!

The event raised £288, a record total, which will be put towards the Swanton Morley Bell Fund which keeps the bells of All Saints Church ringing. The current project is to start replacing some of the bell ropes which are starting to show signs of wear as well as correcting some of the problem with the striking of the bells.

Photos coming soon

Pearl Wedding Celebration Ring

A team of ringers rang extended rounds and call changes to celebrate the Pearl Wedding Anniversary of Michael and Vikki Ball.  The band was made up of Sarah Seaman, Vivianne Stubbs, Celia Barker, Ted Conyers, Mark Tweedie, Aaron Hall. 

Funeral of WO2 Grant Armstrong

The ringers of All Saints Church Swanton Morley rang half muffled prior to the funeral of W02 Grant Armstrong, from the Light Dragoons based in Swanton Morley. 

Striking Competition Success

A team of ringers from All Saints came second in the 24th Griston Five Bell Plate Striking Competition. The band received only 37 faults (only 1 fault off the winners Carbrooke), an improvement on previous years. The judge commented that faults were gain through slight clips. The band was 1. Sarah Seaman, 2. Brian Laing, 3. Celia Barker, 4. Ted Conyers, 5. Aaron Hall (conductor). To see a photo of the successfull band click here

School's Visit to the tower

School children from Year 3 and 4 from Swanton Morley Primary School took the long climb up the tower of All Saints Church to visit the ringing chamber and learn a bit about the bells of Swanton Morley Church as well as ringing in general. They were then treated to a short ringing demonstration by three of the ringers of All Saints. It was part the year group's visit to the church's flower festival which they had created a rainforest display. 

The bells of All Saints joined in with National celebration of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton with a quarter peal of plain bob doubles. During the day Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, married at Westminsters Abbey. The bells provided the perfect background sound to villagers street parties and BBQs  with a special quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Doubles. The band was made up of 1. Ted Conyers, 2. Shelia Smith, 3. Mark Tweedie, 4, Brain Laing, 5. Aaron Hall (conductor) 6. Celia Barker.

Celebrating the Royal Wedding

The bells of All Saints joined in with National celebration of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton with a quarter peal of plain bob doubles. During the day Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, married at Westminster Abbey. The bells provided the perfect background sound to villagers street parties and BBQs  with a special quarter peal of 1260 Plain Bob Doubles. The band was made up of 1. Ted Conyers, 2. Shelia Smith, 3. Mark Tweedie, 4, Brain Laing, 5. Aaron Hall (conductor) 6. Celia Barker. See photo gallery for photos of the quarter peal band.

Keeping in good order

On Friday 15th April work was carried out on the bells to correct the odd struckness of the treble and third bells. Peter Trent, the Diocesan Bells Advisor, took a look at the bells of All Saints and along with Aaron and suggested work which might need doing as well as help Aaron sort out a few problems there had been with the bells.  It is hoped that  over the coming months the work will be carried out to get the bells in the best condition they can be.

Welcoming bells...

Pupils from Swanton Morley Primary School we welcomed to their All Saints Church for their special Easter service by the bells of All Saints. The band, made up of Shelia Smith, Brian Laing, Tom Davis and Aaron Hall, rang Plain Bob Minimus as the children walked in the gorgeous spring sunshine from the village school to the church. Many of the children were excited to hear the bells knowing they were being rung for them

First Quarter Peal of the Year

Ringers from All Saints rang their first quarter peal of 2011 to celebrate the Pearl Wedding anniversary of Janet and Ian Alderton of Swanton Morley. The band was made up of 1. Ted Conyers, 2 Mark Tweedie, 3. Chris Brown, 4. Brain Laing, 5. Aaron Hall (conductor) and 6. Celia Barker