A call for all ringers to join in the National celebration in May.
On the 8th May 1945 bells rang out across Britain as the nation took to the streets for Victory in Europe Day, the celebration of the end of six years of the Second World War.
Eighty years later people across the country will celebrate this momentous occasion by hosting parties and lighting beacons and the Central Council for Church Bellringers is encouraging as many towers as possible to join in these celebrations with ringing across the country at 6:30pm to recreate the moment 80 years ago.
The sound of bells had not been heard for the duration of the war so to hear the traditional sound in towns and villages after such a long gap during those dark days must have been particularly moving and would have been symbolic of the brighter days ahead.
This is a great opportunity to raise the profile of ringing in your local area, and by doing so we can also do some subtle recruiting. A short article for local magazines, Facebook groups etc informing people of what will be happening and the reasons for it – including the time and date – is, in my experience, always well received and can result in new interest being generated. Feel free to copy any of the content of this article if it makes it easier for you. Items often get more readers if they are accompanied by a photo which could be of the church, the bells, the ringers or the VEday80 logo.
I do hope you’ll get behind this collective initiative and do what you can to be a part of it.
In these times in particular it is worth Ringing Out For Peace and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live in a free world.
There will be a special page on Bellboard to record your participation: bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event
For further information about the VE Day 80 Celebrations please visit: www.VEday80.org.uk
Andy Waring
