As part of the national ringing and at the Royal Households request that church bells should be tolled or rung generally before The Queen’s funeral, St Peter’s Church Bell Ringers were honoured to perform this sombre duty of ringing rounds for three quarters of an hour from 10:00 to 10:45. Then tolling of the tenor bell by three of the towers young teenage ringers who took it in turns to ring for the last fifteen minutes. After watching the funeral together, the bell ringers returned to the tower for three quarters of hour more ringing.
All bells were fully muffled, apart from the tenor which was half muffled but open at backstroke for tolling.
Left to Right: Tower Captain, Mary Broadbridge, James Wedley, Sally Wedley, Paula Tribe, Alice Kidd, Lauren Kidd, Erin Halder, Nick Halder, Katherine Wilkins, Madeline King and Caroline Welsh. Photograph taken by David Malone who also rang.
On Sunday 18th September before the Petersfield’s Civic Service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 held in St Peter’s Church ringing also took place for an hour with general ringing and tolling on muffled bells. One of the St Peter’s Church bell ringers, Sue Walker went to the lying-in state, queuing for twelve hours to pay her respects to The Queen and said what a very moving occasion it was.
Special thanks were given to Duncan Wilkins, Oliver Stubbs and Mary Broadbridge who placed the muffles on the bells which is not an easy task.
Photograph taken by Caroline Welsh who also rang.
Lauren Kidd, Alice Kidd, James Wedley, Erin Halder, Nick Halder, Katherine Wilkins, Paula Tribe, David Malone and Tower Captain Mary Broadbridge.
Left to right front row: Madeline King, Sally Wedley, Sue Walker and Christine Rushton.
Left to Right: Erin Halder, Katherine Wilkins and James Wedley.
Photograph taken by Caroline Welsh.
Article submitted by Caroline Welsh, St. Peter’s, Petersfield.