Can you help church bells hit the right note?

The church bells at St George’s in Littleport will soon be ringing out across the parish again after many months sat silent and the church is looking for a team of bell ringers to make sure they hit the right note.

The church tower dates back to the 15th century and, over the years, the weather had took its toll on the external stone walls, leaving it in urgent need of repair and earning the building a place on English Heritage’s At Risk Register.

Planning for the project started in May 2011 when the church applied for grants to help meet the £250,000 cost and a series of fundraising events were also held.

By April, after a successful fundraising drive, all plans had been drawn up and approved, tenders had been sent to contractors and a contractor appointed.

Now with work nearing completion, the church is looking to start up a bell ringing group.

In the Littleport Life magazine, tower captain Barney Leeke, said: “St George’s church is equipped with eight lovely bells, which you may have heard being chimed by the clock before the tower work silenced them.

“With that work nearing completion the chimes will soon be ringing again, but there is a much more enjoyable and interesting way of ringing these bells.

“When the tower work is complete I hope to start a Littleport bell ringing band, a group of people who ring the bells as they are designed to be rung: by pulling on a rope.

“This is not a difficult activity and most people can grasp the basics quickly. There is no age limit, you don’t need to be a churchgoer and no musical skills are required. “You just need to be capable of moderate activity and able to stand on one spot during ringing. I am no expert myself, so am looking for ringers of all abilities or none to join.”

Anyone interested in getting involved is advised to get in touch via e-mail at barnabas.leeke@ gmail.com or to call 01353 860639.