D-Day 80 around the Guild

A creditable fifty-six performances were recorded on Bellboard in relation to “Ring Out for Peace” –  the national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of DDay on the 6th June – including one peal and three quarter peals. One further performance (Bourton) not on Bellboard but notified separately, giving fifty-seven ringing events in total.

At Stratford sub castle the peal (of Cambridge Surprise Minor) included among the ringers Guild President, Pat Davidson, and, as well as commemorating the DDay anniversary, was dedicated to the memory of Ronald Johnson O.B.E. who died on the 29th May 2020; a ringer at Stratford sub Castle since the bells were installed in 1998. He rang in and conducted the first peal on the bells. Also remembering Private Robert Victor Purnell (father of Bob Purnell who rang the 3rd) who took part in the invasion when serving with the 191st Herts and Essex Regiment when Bob would have been 2 years old.

See the full list of performances recorded on Bellboard below. There’s also a nice write-up from the Pewsey Vale ringers here.

(If you haven’t added your own performance to Bellboard you can still do it – just let me know and I’ll make sure it’s linked here, too – Ed)