A lovely story of the GEORGE family of LITTLEPORT in Cambridgshire. Here are three generations of the same family – the Georges, ringing at a St. George’s Church, on ST.GEORGE’S Day. And to cap it all it was the birthday of the youngest ringer, the daughter.  BRILLIANT

In the north of Somerset is the important market town of BRIDGWATER whose church, St. Mary’s rang out on its 8 bells to celebrate ST. GEORGE’s Day.  The church has a very tall tower standing as it does in the heart of the town.  It was used by the Duke of Monmouth to survey the King’s encampment based in Westonzoyland before he marched to his defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685.

And here is the happy band from left to right back row: Keith Lane, Eric Wood, Sean Maltravers, Richard Lee.  Left to back front row: Kate Bennett, Jane Cork, Carol Wood, Margaret Lee (C) Hasu Watson.

The village church of COWDEN in Kent is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and has six bells.  The original bells were recast and rehung in 1911 to commemorate the reign of Edward VII and a sixth was added at the coronation of George V.  On the day the Churchwarden gave all the ringers a red rose buttonhole and they celebrated their hard work and ST.GEORGE in style – with champagne.  Here is a picture of the happy band sent in by Caroline Levy-Cooper.

Another wonderful tower in Somerset that stands near Bridgwater.  It was nameless for many years but recently it has become dedicated to St. Hugh.  These happy ringers rang quarter peal of doubles, and three methods: Grandsire, Reverse Canterbury, and Plain Bob.

The ringers are from left to right back row: Valerie Stone (C), Derek Hurley, Carol Arscott. And from left to right front row: John Hallett, Bill Wilkinson, Terry Warman.

Pictured are the band that rang for St. GEORGE from the tower in WESTONZOYLAND in Somerset.  The church is dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary and its tower is 100 feet tall standing in the village which was the site of The Battle of Sedgemoor  6th July 1685 – the last battle to have taken place on English soil. The ringers rang 1260 changes, for 43 minutes with 3 methods.

The photo of these wonderful ringers are, from left to right:  John Hallett, Maurice Hurley, Trish Everitt.  Front Row: Brian Wylde (C), Mike Gardner, Peter Welch.

Another tremendous year with even more towers ringing out and the Campaign growing.  Such happy news with  it being featured on local radio stations and newspapers, and now national television.  The word is definitely spreading and everyone thinks it a lovely idea so – keep ringing!

The Campaign, now in its 5th year, is about to be celebrated by being featured on the

BBC’s ONE SHOW  –  TONIGHT

We are hoping there will be live ringing and pre filmed towers and ringers on the show so save the time 7 – 7.30 pm and if you are busy ringing  then try and record it.  GOOD LUCK for today and of course HAPPY ST. GEORGE’S DAY.

It may be only small as cities go –  the 3rd smallest city in England – but RIPON sits amongst some of the loveliest countryside England has to offer.  It was a market town founded by St. Wilfrid (634 – 709) who was born in Northumbria,  and sits on the River Ure and has nearby the ruins of Fountains Abbey a UNESCO site.  St. Wilfrid also founded the cathedral, dedicating it to St. Peter, and brought specialist craftsmen and stonemasons over from Europe as he intended it to match the brilliance of other cathedrals. As a result it is one of the best examples of early English Gothic in the country and is dedicated to both St. Peter and St. Wilfrid. Its bells have a rich history and this ring of 13 will be ringing out across The Dales for ST. GEORGE.

This magnificent building, WELLS, designed in the Gothic style, was started in 1175 and took 80 years to build.  Hardly surprising when it is a collection of astonishing architectural and sculptural design.  It has a tower that holds the second oldest clock mechanism in the country.  It has a wondrous stained glass window that is called The Jesse Window which is the original dating from 1340.  The most photographed front of a cathedral is the West Front of Wells for here is a quite remarkable display of medieval statues all telling the Christian story.  Then there are the famous scissor arches which were the result of a brilliant solution to overcome the weight of the tower above and these were constructed in 1338. The bell tower holds the heaviest ring of 10 bells in the world and they too will be ringing out for ST. GEORGE and will be heard right across the county.

This famous landmark of the City of OXFORD is called Carfax Tower as it is all that remains of the 12th C church of St. Martins which was demolished to make way for the growing traffic.  It has the name Carfax in recognition of its position sitting at the junction of four main streets right in the heart of the city.  It stands 74 feet tall and is the standard by which no other building can be built higher.  It has 6 bells and they will be ringing out for ST. GEORGE on April 23rd.