Avocado Music Productions

Weston-under-Penyard Bellringers

The present band at Weston-under-Penyard was put together in about 1998 as part of a drive to get as many towers ringing for the Millennium. Weston, whose dedication is to St. Lawrence, has had ringing bells since 1704, and the last bell to be added was in 1955 when the ring was augmented to six by Taylors of Loughborough.

Once upon a time the ringing band would have been made up of villagers from Weston itself, but today the band pulls people in from up to ten miles away.  We practise on a Monday night each week and currently ring for one Sunday a month, for Weddings and for special services such as Christmas.  We have a very strong band capable of ringing a variety of methods (tunes of a mathematical nature!). 

We were approached to take part in the composition to provide the sound of the bells.  This was too good an opportunity to turn down and as such provided us with an interesting ‘take’ on something called Plain Hunt.  Our composer, Jeremy, whose original offering of Plain Hunt had to be adapted also had to completely change the key of his work to fit in with the key of the bells.  This was to be a slightly easier task than removing the bells from the tower and having them re-tuned to the key of his work!

We are always looking for new members, young and older; a good ‘start age’ is about eleven years .....the older end (?) ..... I’ve taught learners in their seventies!  If you’re interested go and see your local tower and help keep this art alive.

Mike Williams

Weston-under-Penyard TowerCaptain

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