So how many ringers managed 18 towers in 10 hours?
On the LEBRF Open Day on 15 August 2026, 18 towers were available in the Devizes branch open in slots between 9am and 7pm with 30 minutes allotted to each tower and no extra time for travel.
Known officially as the Llewellyn Edwards Bell Restoration Fund Open Day (phew) it’s also known as an ultimate tower ‘grab’ day for good reason – anyone collecting all the towers had to be first in the queue, ring whatever was on offer, then hot foot it to the next tower already plugged into the sat nav with cross-fingers for easy parking. No surprise then a number of ringers turned up in motor bike leathers.
For many I’d imagine there were other material needs – where were the loos? Lunch had to be packed, with flasks of tea and bottles of water loaded into the car boot. I set up a little refreshments stall (courtesy of All Cannings Community Shop) at Bishops Cannings St Mary the Virgin but most ringers whizzed by, flashing me their red and white day pass badges. A few towers offered homemade cakes and tea. There were hopes for a fair few ground floor rings mixed in with all the steps – many, many steep, narrow stone and wooden steps were climbed that day in short order (hats off to the wheelchair user who made it up most if not all the towers). I managed four towers, with only one ground floor ring, and a stiff climb of 137 steps to the top of Steeple Ashton St Mary’s tower, courtesy of Matthew the steeple keeper. You can see the video on the branch Instagram account, @devizesringer
If someone could ring independently they had a go on the ropes so the ringing standard was luck of the draw – an experienced method ringer might get rounds if that’s all the whole band could do in their short slot, or manage a brief touch of Cambridge Surprise Minor if the stars aligned.
The weather needs a mention given recent times. After a heatwave earlier in the week, the temperature settled down to a sunny mid-20sC which made rushing around and pulling on ropes enjoyably do-able.
I cried off the final two towers, instead opting for a top quality Westbury fish and chips takeaway at the top of a parched brown Westbury white horse, enjoying the orange glow of sunset across Wiltshire towards Bath.
With thanks to all the open towers, helpers and in particular organiser Anne Willis. You can see more photos of the day on Instagram @devizesringer
Facts and figures
- Money raised for the LEBRF – £1654
- Number of participants – more than 80
- Most number of towers in one town/village – Bradford on Avon kicked off the day with three towers
- Most bells – Trowbridge St James, 12 bells
- Heaviest bells – Westbury All Saints, 8 bells 35‑0‑14 cwt tenor
- Lightest bells / bells not in a church – The Wilderness Campanile in a Bradford on Avon garage, 8 bells 0‑2‑21 cwt tenor
- Newest bells – Melksham St Michael and All Angels who augmented their 8 bells to 10 bells this year.
- Distance driven from first to last tower – 62 miles
- Furthest travelled to the day – as well as visitors from Yorkshire, Zennor in Cornwall and the Isle of Wight, the winner is… Washington DC! There are full circle church bells in DC and, incidentally, they rang a quarter peal there on Sunday 30 August.
Louisa Davison
Devizes Branch Comms Officer
