THE intended three hour peal attempt on the bells of Crediton’s Holy Cross Church came to an untimely halt after less than an hour’s ringing on Saturday, November 7.

Geoff Sparling, tower captain, told the “Courier: “A loud bang announced that something had gone wrong upstairs.

“In fact the clapper had come out of the 10th bell. The whole clappper and its bearings had sheared off the steel clapper staple attaching it to the bell. Happily two stout wooden floors meant there was no danger to the ringers.

“Although one of the two regular annual peal attempts, this was also to be a 70th birthday compliment to Ian Smith, one of the band. Ironically Ian was ringing the bell that lost its clapper.”

Mr Sparling explained that prompt action by Nicholson Engineering of Bridport saw the clapper repaired and back in time for the Tuesday night practice.

He added: “The breakage meant that we only had 11 bells for the half-muffled Remembrance Day ringing on the Sunday.

“As the clapper came out it hit one of the chiming wires for the clock, flipping its hammer away from the bell. Consequently for part of the day the clock was only sounding one bell for the quarter-hours rather than the usual two.”

Alan Quick