BELL-RINGING FOR NINE HOURS.

Otaki Mail, 7 September 1923, Page 4

BELL-RINGING FOR NINE HOURS.

TWELVE MEN IN A BELFRY WITH OCT FOOD.

Locked in a belfry tower, without foot} or drink, 12 Londoners rang heavy church bells for 9 hours, 48 minutes, without stopping, at St. Saviour’s Cat-hedral, Southwark, S-,E.

They rang 12,675 different changes of 12 bells, and so achieved their object of beatfng the world’s record held by Birmingham ringers, who rang 11,111 changes in December. 1901. The feat was carried out by members of the Ancient Society of College Youths — the societv of 'bellringers founded in the 17th century. The bells, which are 200 years old.' weigh 111 tons in all. the tenor bells weighing 21 tons. Some of the ringers wore house slippers, and they rang in their shirt sleeves. The - oldest, Mr Challis Winner, is 65, and the youngest Mr W. Rushton, 171. Several ot them had blistered hands.

“I would do it again to-morrow if necessary," said Mr A. B. Peck, who i rang the 2J-tons bell. “IVe are enthusiasts.”. • Mr Herbert Langcion, the conductor, said afterwards: “We were locked in . because if we have our attention dis- ‘ traded, we might make a mistake. Nobody had anything to eat or drink during the whole time.”

It was stated that never before have so large a number of changes been rung on such.a weight of metal. To ring all the changes possible with’ 12 bells would take 37 ye are of continuous ringing.