All of the planned works for 2013 have been completed. On behalf of the BRF Trustees we inspected the finished works at Heckfield and Minstead.
The front three bells at Heckfield have had their crown staples removed and have been rehung with new canon retaining headstocks, also retaining and adapting some of the existing fittings. New rope bosses have been fitted. We recommended that locking nuts be fitted to the bell retaining bolts and that the iron work on the 4th and Tenor bell be cleaned and painted to match the new work.
The augmentation work at Minstead involved providing a new rider frame to house the existing treble and a new bell was cast and hung with all the necessary fittings. The bells ring nicely and the new bell fits in well. We recommended that locking nuts should be fitted to the bell retaining bolts.
The work at Hinton Admiral is complete and an inspection will be carried out early in January 2014. We did not inspect the works at St Agatha’s RC Church Portsmouth or Tichborne. The work at St Anne’s Alderney was not BRF grant funded.
We carried out an inspection of the ring of three bells at Shipton Bellinger. The bells hang on large wooden headstocks with plain bearings in a wooden frame. The bell wheels are in quite good condition if a little loose. The bells have had their crown staples removed and are now fitted with independent staples. The old clapper assemblies have been fitted by means of a rather large iron hoop, the clappers would hit the bell frame if the bells were to be rung full circle. It was hoped that with the use of some of the bell fittings we have saved, the bells might be made ringable again. However this was not to be the case, so it is hoped that the bells will be rehung for full circle ringing by a professional bellhanger in the future. All the necessary measurements, details of the bells and a good selection of photos were gathered for the bell stock form.
We carried out a full service of the ringing installation at Chawton and some minor repairs at St Mary’s, Liss.
We also carried out an inspection of the installation at St Peter’s, West Liss in order that some ringing could take place for a wedding. The church is now owned by the International Presbyterian Church (IPC) and little ringing has taken place since they acquired the church in 2009. The Church has recently undergone a massive refurbishment including the bell tower. It is hoped that the bells will be rehung when funds permit. On inspection it was discovered that one of the plumber blocks, that of the treble bell was lifting up in the frame. This was rectified with the use of a new coach bolt. A lot of cleaning and lubrication was necessary. We supplied a set of ropes for the occasion. Although the bells were quite difficult to ring it was agreed that more regular ringing would improve the situation.
We were asked to look at the rope fall of the 2nd bell at Abbotts Ann as some difficulties in handling the bell especially in raising and lowering the bell had been experienced. The rope is drawn in the intermediate chamber and runs over a ground pulley. A flapper board is fitted between the two pulleys. We advised against moving the ground pulley, as the rope falls through the centre of the ringing room ceiling boss. It was decided that a further steel guide eye be fitted to the flapper board.
I think it worth a mention that the Froxfield Green bell cast in 1754 by Lester & Pack of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry London (weight 3-0-6) which had been standing on the floor of the church vestry for many years, and then had been put into storage at Matthew Higby’s works has now been rehung with all new fittings for stationary chiming. A crack in the crown of the bell was repaired by Soundweld of Newmarket.
The roof and bell turret have recently undergone extensive strengthening and restoration work. The rehanging work was carried out by Matthew Higby & Co.
On the 12th October 2013 we held a belfry maintenance course in the Andover District on behalf of the education committee. 11 students attended. There were two practical sessions; the morning practical session was proceeded by a short lecture on health and safety in the belfry.
I would like to place on record our thanks to Christine Knights-Whittome for making all the necessary arrangements, which ensured the course ran smoothly.
We will be assisting the bell hanger with the work at Hawkley, and some work to repair the belfry floor, and adjustment of the rope fall of the 6th bell at St Mary Liss.
We will be running a belfry maintenance course on behalf of the Guild education committee in the Alton & Petersfield District on Saturday 22nd November 2014 based at Hawkley.
It is my intention not to remain a member of the BSC beyond the 2015 Guild AGM. The BSC is a most important part of the Guild and needs your support. So with this in mind I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone who has an interest in belfry maintenance and would be interested in joining the BSC to contact me. It would be great if a member from each District was represented.
Once again, I would like to thank my Colleagues for their time and effort over the past year.
| Income | Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £.p | £.p | ||
| Balance b/f | 193.25 | Balance c/f | 193.25 |
| £193.25 | £193.25 | ||
Roger Barber