There is a new team of bellringers at Wendron Church thanks to the dedication of a number of experienced bellringing teachers and seven new recruits.

During Covid lockdown times, Bob Woods, the Helston St Michael's church bells captain, conducted a survey of church bellringing in the Lizard peninsula.

He was somewhat shocked to find that a large number of churches with "ringable" bells were not likely to return to ringing due to low numbers of proficient ringers.

A group of four Truro Guild of Bellringers, including Bob, then masterminded a recruitment process basing the hub for this at Wendron, where a peal of easy hoping six bells are hung.

Wendron had not had a team of ringers for about 25 years although the captain there, Ray Spencer, supported by the nearby Helston bellringers would ring the Bells for Sunday services monthly.

Starting the learning Hub in the last week of October,2021, the students who enrolled have learnt rising & lowering their Bells and more recently ringing as a team undertaking what is called Rounds( 1-2-3-4-5-6) on the bells.

The team comprising of Chloe Moon, Christine Woods, Jenny Mann, Elaine Retallack, Hayley Orchard, Claire Thomson & Tony Dixon all live in the Wendron & Helston areas. They have dedicated time to the weekly sessions & for their 1st team ring as a team, they rang for HM Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Weekend Celebrations.

On Sunday from 1952 to 2022 hours (coinciding with Her Majesty's Sovereign years of reign) the team rang 30 minutes of rounds,joining in the National Bellringing suggested ring for Her Majesty's Celebrations.

Ray Spencer & his Vice Captain Roger Nott were both pleased with the new teams achievement.

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Bob Woods, the Head Teacher at the Hub was unable to attend due to him ringing for the Helston team at the same time.

However, he is very proud of all the students who rang adding that it was a fitting tribute to Her Majesty's Celebrations Weekend that a complete new team of Bellringers has now been established at Wendron.

Bob feels that what happened at Wendron on Sunday night is unique....normally you only have one or maybe two new ringers join in a ringing peal on an important occasion such as the Jubilee Ringing.

To have seven new recruits ringing together in a team for the first occasion on an official basis does not happen.

Wendron probably was the only tower in the UK on Sunday evening achieving this.

It is hoped now that the bells will be sounding out regularly on Sundays from now onwards.