The significance of bells has become very obvious to me in the days since Queen Elizabeth has died. I and many other ringers have spent a great deal of time at the end of a rope since 8th September.
What ringers have been doing is providing a soundscape for a period of national mourning. The sound of bells fully muffled for most of the period of mourning has reflected the mood of the nation: sombre, sad and yet thankful for the life of a remarkable servant Queen. Ringing in our area has been mostly well struck rounds and call changes, nothing fancy. We have discovered just how much our efforts have been appreciated by the communities where we have been ringing. The one complaint we had was that the muffled bells were too quiet!
We ringers have been the voice of a population, expressing through our instruments, bells, the emotions and thoughts of the people who have a deep sense of loss for someone they have held in such high regard. We have been privileged to have been able to serve the needs of our town and villages in these days.
I reflect that we have been the voice that has expressed a widespread national emotion. It is so important that we realise that our ringing is more than just an enjoyable pastime; it is an act of service in so many cities, towns and villages. It is a service offered to express the mood of times like this. We as ringers today have a skill that needs to be shared and passed down to another generation, rather like the monarchy itself!
May our Queen rest in peace and rise in glory.
ANTHONY ELLIS – Guild President