What is a Peal?
Peals are rung by experienced ringers and take a great deal of skill and concentration over a long time - typically around 3 hours at St James.
Peals are often rung to celebrate some event (such as a jubilee, wedding, anniversary). They can also be rung for the challenge and enjoyment of the bell-ringers.
Because of their length, the ringing can gradually achieve degrees of accuracy not easily achieved in short pieces on a practice night or service ringing.
This allows the ringers to get into a rhythm, and enjoy the 'music' of the bells with the bells evenly spaced, and without any bell clipping each other (ringing too close together).
Peals have some very special features, that need some introduction to understand. If you rang 2 bells, there are two sequences (otherwise known as 'changes') that can be rung 1-2, and 2-1.
On 3 bells there are six: 1-2-3, 1-3-2, 2-1-3, 2-3-1, 3-1-2, and 3-2-1. On 4 bells there are 24, and so on.
Number of Bells | | Name of Stage | | Number of Unique Changes | | Approx. time to ring all changes |
5 | | Doubles | | 120 | | 4 mins |
6 | | Minor | | 720 | | 25 mins |
7 | | Triples | | 5040 | | 3 hours |
8 | | Major | | 40320 | | 24 hours |
9 | | Caters | | 362880 | | 9 days |
10 | | Royal | | 3628800 | | 90 days |
11 | | Cinques | | 39916800 | | 2.75 years |
12 | | Maximus | | 479001600 | | 27 Years |
Peals are rung with no repetition of any single change (sequence), until every other change has been rung or reach a minimum of 5000 changes.
On 7 bells or fewer, at least 5040 changes total are required for a peal, and 8 bells or more a minimum of 5000 changes must be rung.
Peals on fewer than 7 bells, will need to repeat several extents (complete sets of changes), so 6 bells would ring 7 x Extents of 720 changes = 5040 changes.
Peal Records from the Belfry and Other Records, and PealBase.
Click on any of these thumbnail images to enlarge:
Peal Summaries are available in the Felsted project.
This page has gathered together details of many of these peals from newspapers, magazines, belfry records and LACR annual reports.
There is a summary table, followed by the full details of each peal (summary has on-page links to the peal details).
The Publication reference column abbreviations are C.B. for Church Bells magazine, and RW for Ringing World.
The Belfry Record Acroynm - Vol 1 = original log file; OCF = Orange Clip Folder (essentially vol 2); Vol 3 = log file from restoration in 2014
In summary, the peals rung at this tower are:
First Peal Details
The first peal rung on the bells is recorded in the belfry records (p12) and in The Barrow Herald Saturday July 28th, 1877
Belfry Records:
"The bells were ready for Ringing on the 25th July 1877(St James' Day) and a special dedication service was held. A party of change Ringers from Earlsheaton near Dewsbury was engaged
and in the course of the day rang a peal of Kent Treble consisting of 5120 changes in 3 hrs 15 min. Charles Fox acting as conductor."
Barrow Herald (Saturday, 28 July 1877 edition):
"It was fitting that the bells should have rung their first merry peal on the feast of St James. The committee secured the services of a society of ringers from Dewsbury -
a neighbourhood where the art of bell ringing is thoroughly appreciated and understood. The treble was rung by Mr. William Senior, 77 years of age, No. 2 bell by Mr. Frank Bailey,
No. 3 by Mr. Seth Senior, No. 4 by Mr. Harry Robinson, No. 5 by Mr. John Kaye, No. 6 by Mr. Chas. Senior, No. 7 by Mr John Garforth and the tenor by Mr. Chas. A. Fox, who also acted as conductor."
"Shortly after luncheon, the bell ringers again raised the bells in peal, and commenced ringing 5120 changes, known as the "Kent Treble Bob Major".
The work there is in performing these changes may be estimated from the fact that there were about 27 changes performed every minute, with eight strikes in each change. This continued for 3 hours and 17 minutes."
Felsted PB-ID = 459-0835; Belfry Records - Page 12; Barrow Herald (Sat 28 July 1877); Built By Men Of Steel (Vernon Bradley) - p20 |
On Wednesday, 25 July 1877 |
in 3 hours and 15 minutes |
A peal of 5120 Kent Treble Bob Major |
Composition: - unknown - |
1 | William Senior (age 77 years) |
2 | Frank Bailey |
3 | Seth Senior |
4 | Harry Robinson |
5 | John Kaye |
6 | Chas. Senior |
7 | John Garforth |
8 | Chas A Fox | (C) |
First Peal on the bells. Ringers were members of a society of ringers from Earlsheaton, Dewsbury |
Felsted PB-ID = 248-7698; Belfry Peal Board 1 |
On Thursday, 7 Nov 1878 |
in 2 hours and 48 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: John Holts (ten part) |
1 | Joseph Hill |
2 | John Higginson | (C) |
3 | Charles Pass |
4 | Stonard Kendall |
5 | Samuel Brotherton |
6 | John Mercer |
7 | James Wilson |
8 | Robert Bowker |
The above was the FIRST PEAL rung by the AMATEUR RINGERS of this CHURCH |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7709; Church Bells Vol 9 p163 |
On Saturday, 1 March 1879 |
in 2 hours and 40 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: [not specified] |
1 | J Graham |
2 | John Higginson | (C) |
3 | J Wilson |
4 | S Kendall |
5 | S Brotherton |
6 | J Hague |
7 | J Mercer |
8 | R Bowker |
On the 26th December last, eight members of the same society attempted a peal of Grandsire Triples,
when owing to an accident to one of the ropes, it could not be completed. 4382 changes had been rung when 'Stand!' was called. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7714; Church Bells Vol 9 p439 |
On Saturday, 26 July 1879 |
in 2 hours and 51 minutes |
A peal of 5012 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Stephen Hill |
1 | R. Graham |
2 | J. Wilson |
3 | S. Kendall |
4 | J. Mercer |
5 | S. Brotherton |
6 | J. Hague |
7 | C. A. Fox (of Kendal) | (C) |
8 | J. Hill |
In commemoration of the second anniversary of the dedication of the bells. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7723; Peal Board 2 |
On Saturday, 7 February 1880 |
in 3 hours |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Mr J Reeves (ten part) |
1 | R M Graham |
2 | S Kendall |
3 | C Pass |
4 | C Fox | (C) |
5 | S Brotherton |
6 | Jno Hague |
7 | Jno Mercer |
8 | R Bowker |
Seven members of St James Amateur Society of Change Ringers assisted by Mr C Fox of Kendal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7738; Church Bells Vol 11 No.519 p7 |
On Thursday, 25 November 1880 |
in 3 hours and 2 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Mr W.E. Taylor's Bob-and-Single |
1 | R. M. Graham |
2 | J. Wilson | (C) |
3 | J. Mercer |
4 | W. Baxter |
5 | S. Brotherton |
6 | J. Hague |
7 | j. Walsh |
8 | R. Bowker |
Rung to celebrate the 'coming of age' of Mr F. Ramsden |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7746; Church Bells Vol 11 p363 |
On Tuesday, 3 May 1881 |
in 3 hours and 12 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Holt's Ten-part |
1 | S. Brotherton |
2 | W. Wilson | (C) |
3 | B. M. Brown | * |
4 | J. Dancer | * |
5 | S. O. Kendall |
6 | J. Hague |
7 | J. Mercer |
8 | R. M. Graham |
* First Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7751; BN Vol 8 p99; Belfry Records - Page 38 |
On Saturday, 25 May 1889 |
in 2 hours and 59 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: John Millets |
1 | W Corlett | * |
2 | P M Brown |
3 | A H Hill |
4 | R G Hindle | * |
5 | C J A Cushing | * |
6 | J Corlett | * |
7 | J Mercer | (C) |
8 | E Beach |
* First Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7767; Belfry Records - Page 175; LACR 2541 |
On Saturday, 11 December 1926 |
in 3 hours and 8 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Groves' Variation pf Parkers 12-part |
1 | Arthur Granville | * |
2 | William Picthall | # |
3 | Miss E. M. Suart |
4 | James Williams | * |
5 | Edwin Jennings |
6 | James Burrows | * |
7 | William Robinson | (C) |
8 | Arthur Matthews | * |
* First Peal; # First Peal in Method |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7772; Belfry Records - Page 175; LACR 2573 |
On Saturday, 12 February 1927 |
in 3 hours |
A peal of 5040 Plain Bob Minor |
Composition: Seven different 720's |
1 | William T. Clark |
2 | John P. Barker |
3 | Miss E. Butterfield |
4 | Miss E. M. Suart |
5 | Thomas J. Clement |
6 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7780; Belfry Records - Page 164 & 176; LACR 2776 |
On Saturday, 29 September 1928 |
in 3 hours |
A peal of 5040 Plain Bob Minor |
Composition: Seven 720's called differently |
1 | H J A Cushing | * |
2 | W Picthall |
3 | J Williams |
4 | S Hyder | * |
5 | H A Smith | * |
6 | C J A Cushing | (C) |
7 | A Stedman | * |
Belfry records say that owing to the unforseen absence of one of the members could not attempt Grandsire Triples * First Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7795; Belfry Records - Page 176; LACR 2838 |
On Saturday, 13 April 1929 |
in 3 hours and 13 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: E. Morris |
1 | Harry A Smith | * |
2 | Frederick Limb | * |
3 | James Williams | * |
4 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
5 | Sidney Hyder | * |
6 | James E Burles |
7 | Arthur Stedman | * |
8 | Thos Metcalfe |
* First Peal in the Method. First Peal of Major on the bells |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7805; LACR 2932 |
On Saturday, 15 February 1930 |
in 3 hours and 20 minutes |
A peal of 5088 Kent Treble Bob Major |
Composition: H Hubbard |
1 | Gerald Sutton | * |
2 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
3 | William Robinson |
4 | James Tebay | * |
5 | William Picthall | * |
6 | James E Burles | * |
7 | Thos S Jefferson | * |
8 | Frank Wilson | * |
* First Peal in the method on the bells and by the branch |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7818; Belfry Records - Page 176; LACR 3085 |
On Saturday, 11 April 1931 |
in 3 hours and 10 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Parker's 12-part |
1 | William Robinson |
2 | Frank Wilson |
3 | James Williams |
4 | William Picthall |
5 | Thomas E Jefferson |
6 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
7 | James Tebay |
8 | James E. Burles |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7826; Belfry Records - Page 178; LACR 3170 |
On Saturday, 28 November 1931 |
in 3 hours and 10 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: C. Charge |
1 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
2 | Frederick Limb |
3 | Hector Woodburn | * |
4 | Jim Tebay |
5 | Thos. S Jefferson | * |
6 | James Williams |
7 | Arthur Stedman |
8 | James E Burles |
* First Peal in the Method. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7839; Belfry Records - Page 178; LACR 3229 |
On Monday, 16 May 1932 |
in 3 hours and 8 minutes |
A peal of 5184 Double Norwich C.B. Major |
Composition: Rev. H. L. James |
1 | Peter Crook, Junr. |
2 | Fred Hindle |
3 | Laurence J. Williams |
4 | Peter Crook |
5 | James Marsh | * |
6 | Edwin Jennings |
7 | Arthur Tomlinson | (C) |
8 | Joseph Ridyard |
First Peal in the method on the bells * First Peal in the method on an inside bell |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7847; Belfry Records - Page 179; LACR 3392 |
On Monday, 5 June 1933 |
in 3 hours and 3 minutes |
A peal of 5056 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: F. Bennett |
1 | Alan W. Casson | * |
2 | Stanley Richardson | * |
3 | George E. Braithwaite |
4 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
5 | Gordon Whittam |
6 | Nicholas Newby |
7 | William Langhorne |
8 | James E. Brown |
* First Peal in the Method. Rung as a birthday compliment to ringers of 2, 3, & 7. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7852; Belfry Records - Page 180; LACR 3428 |
On Saturday, 16 September 1933 |
in 3 hours and 2 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Holt's 10-Part |
1 | Arthur Stedman |
2 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
3 | Gordon Whittam |
4 | James E. Brown | * |
5 | Nicholas Newby |
6 | George E. Braithwaite | * |
7 | James E Burles |
8 | William Langthorne |
* First Peal in the method on an inside bell. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7860; Belfry Records - Page 180; LACR 3457 |
On Tuesday, 26 December 1933 |
in 3 hours and 5 minutes |
A peal of 5056 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: F. Bennett |
1 | Edwin Jennings |
2 | James E. Brown |
3 | Nicholas Newby |
4 | G. E. Braithwaite | *(C) |
5 | Gordon Whittam |
6 | James E. Burles |
7 | William Langthorne |
8 | William Pickthall |
* First Peal in the method as conductor Rung as a birthday compliment to Mr J. Brown |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7871; Belfry Records - Page 180; LACR 3499 |
On Saturday, 21 April 1934 |
in 3 hours and 5 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: F. Holt's 10-Part |
1 | John Bagnall | * |
2 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
3 | James E. Burles |
4 | Arthur Stedman |
5 | J. Gordon Whittam |
6 | J. Edward Garnett | * |
7 | Nicholas Newby |
8 | William Langhorne |
* First Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7883; Belfry Records - Page 182; LACR 3617 |
On Saturday, 21 September 1935 |
in 2 hours and 58 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Parker's 12-Part |
1 | Rev. C. H. Wheat | * |
2 | John Hutchinson |
3 | James E Burles |
4 | George M. Wheat | # |
5 | James E. Brown |
6 | Edwin Jennings | (C) |
7 | J. Gordon Whittam |
8 | George E. Braithwaite |
* First Peal; # First Peal in the method. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7894; Belfry Records - Page 181; LACR 3717 |
On Saturday, 10 October 1936 |
in 3 hours and 9 minutes |
A peal of 5056 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: Frank Bennett |
1 | Fred. C. Limb |
2 | John Bagnall | * |
3 | Nicholas Newby |
4 | M. George Wheat |
5 | James E. Burles |
6 | Frederick H. Crawley |
7 | Arthur Stedman |
8 | Albert Crawley | (C) |
* First Peal in the method Arranged for Mr. Albert Crawley, of Crewe |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7901; Belfry Records - Page 182; LACR 3820 |
On Saturday, 27 November 1937 |
in 3 hours and 8 minutes |
A peal of 5056 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: Pritchard's 4-Part |
1 | George Slack | * |
2 | Fred. C. Limb |
3 | John Bagnall |
4 | James E. Williams |
5 | Frederick H. Crawley |
6 | Arthur Stedman |
7 | C. J. A. Cushing |
8 | James E. Burles | (C) |
* First Peal in the method
Rung as a Coronation Peal, and also in honour of the 72nd birthday of Mr. C. J. A. Cushing, the leader of this Tower,
who has completed 55 years service as a ringer at this church.
All the band are regular Sunday service ringers at this church. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7917; Belfry Records - Page 183; LACR 3842 |
On Saturday, 26 February 1938 |
in 3 hours and 13 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Holt's Original |
1 | George Slack | * |
2 | John Bagnall | # |
3 | Michael G. Wheat | # |
4 | James E. Williams |
5 | Frederick H. Crawley |
6 | James E Burles | (C) |
7 | Albert Crawley |
8 | Arthur Stedman |
* First Peal; # First Peal in the method. |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7925; Belfry Records - Page 183; LACR 3917 |
On Saturday, 14 January 1939 |
in 3 hours and 6 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Parker's Twelve-part |
1 | Ronald A. Wilton | * |
2 | Nicholas M. Newby |
3 | John Bagnall |
4 | James E Burles |
5 | Arthur Stedman |
6 | Frederick H. Crawley |
7 | Albert Crawley | (C) |
8 | Michael G. Wheat |
* First Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7930; Belfry Records - Page 222; LACR 4120 |
On Friday, 23 November 1945 |
in 2 hours and 53 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples |
Composition: Parker's Twelve-part |
1 | Fred C. Limb |
2 | Nicholas M. Newby |
3 | Sidney Usher |
4 | J. Bracewell |
5 | Richard K. Barnes | * |
6 | Edward Iddon |
7 | James E Burles | (C) |
8 | Alfred G. Dalton | * |
* First Peal Rung to Commemorate the Restoration of Peace in the World |
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Felsted PB-ID = 248-7949; Belfry Records - Page 226; LACR 4213 |
On Friday, 25 October 1946 |
in 3 hours and 8 minutes |
A peal of 5008 Plain Bob Major |
Composition: J. Harrison's peal from 'Ropesight' |
1 | R. A. Wilton |
2 | F. C. Limb |
3 | S. B. Usher |
4 | J. Bracewell |
5 | J. Bagnall |
6 | N. M. Newby |
7 | F. H. Crawley |
8 | James E Burles | (C) |
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The peal records from 1st Jan 1953 have been captured in PealBase - a great ringing resource (external to this site)
that has captured information of over 250,000 peals rung since 1953.
Other resources include Felsted and BellBoard
A PDF document is available to view containing the 20 peals rung at St James in this period : Peal Records 1953 to 2011
Note: no peals were rung between 1999 and 2013 when the bells were out of action.
Felsted PB-ID = 233-5120; RW 5389.0813; LACR 16908; Belfry Records - Page 8 |
On Friday, 25 July 2014 |
in 2 hours and 49 minutes |
A peal of 5056 Cambridge Surprise Major |
Composition: C Middleton (Johnson variation) |
1 | Simon D Woof | LACR Vice President |
2 | Dennis Ellisdon | * | Benefactor and former Barrow ringer (learned to ring at Barrow in 1950's) |
3 | J Andrew Pollock | Tower Captain |
4 | Thomas F Metcalfe | Representing Furness & South Lakeland branch of LACR |
5 | John J Proudfoot | Representing CDGCBR (Carlisle Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers) |
6 | Simon J Poole | Co-Representing LACR (Lancashire Association of Change Ringers) |
7 | Douglas J Beaumont | Grandson of James E Burles (former long serving Tower Captain) |
8 | Joseph St J Beaumont | (C) | Grandson of James E Burles (former long serving Tower Captain) |
The first peal on the restored bells, rung on the anniversary of the very first peal on St James' Day in 1877 * 400th Peal |
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Felsted PB-ID = 459-7162; RW 5441.0794; LACR 17046; Belfry Records - Page 18 |
On Saturday, 25 July 2015 |
in 3 hours and 5 minutes |
A peal of 5088 Yorkshire Surprise Major |
Composition: N J Pitstow |
1 | Helen Midwood |
2 | Alison L Brooke |
3 | Ann S Thompson |
4 | D Robert Pettifor |
5 | Simon D Woof |
6 | Patrick L H Brooke |
7 | Roger Fellows |
8 | J Andrew Pollock | (C) |
Dedicated to Mona Tomlinson, long serving Churchwarden at this church, who passed away at St Mary's Hospice on 4th July 2015, aged 88 years.
First Peal - 7 First Peal as conductor - 8 300th peal for LACR - 3 Previous and only other peal in 1971 - 1 |
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Felsted PB-ID = 467-9908; RW 5549.0869; LACR 17298; Belfry Records - Page 32 |
On Saturday, 30 July 2017 |
in 3 hours and 3 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Stedman Triples |
Composition: F H Dexter (No. 2) |
1 | Alison L Brooke |
2 | Mandy L C Bartlett |
3 | Clarissa J E Caroe |
4 | Ann S Thompson |
5 | Anne E Pettifor |
6 | Simon D Woof |
7 | Patrick L H Brooke | (C) |
8 | J Andrew Pollock |
Rung to mark the 140th anniversary of the bells (25th July 1877), and to welcome Isaac Sidney Marchbank, grandson of 1 and 7 (born 18th July 2017) First peal of Stedman - 2 |
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Felsted PB-ID = 480-9045; RW 5806.0742; LACR 17741; Belfry Records - Page TBC |
On Saturday, 23 July 2022 |
in 2 hours and 58 minutes |
A peal of 5040 Plain Bob Triples |
Composition: -unspecified- |
1 | Clarissa J E Caroe |
2 | D Robert Pettifor |
3 | Anne E Pettifor |
4 | Iwan Cotgreave |
5 | Norman M Brock |
6 | Jayden Milby |
7 | Julia R Cater | (C) |
8 | Hugh F Pettifer |
First peal, and with best wishes for his recent 18th birthday; 4 To celebrate Ron East and Geoff Pullin being awarded the British Empire Medal for services to bellringing in the Queen's Jubilee birthday honours Rung to mark the patronal festival on 25 July |
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