Whalley bells ring out to mark VE Day

At noon on Sunday, the bells of St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Whalley, rang out in thankfulness for the victory in Europe 70 years ago.
Bell ringers at St Mary and All Saints Church at Whalley mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day. (s)Bell ringers at St Mary and All Saints Church at Whalley mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day. (s)
Bell ringers at St Mary and All Saints Church at Whalley mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day. (s)

They joined hundreds of others throughout the country ringing over the weekend in response to a letter from William Hague to the president of the Central Council of Church Bellringers.

Of special note in Whalley, one of the ringers present was Mr Frank Peel, who also rang to celebrate actual VE Day in 1945. He was able to recall the names of others who were with him on that day, but unfortunately are no longer with us: Harry Hargreaves, Harold Birtwell, Billy Sutton, Jack Carr, Brian Carr, Derek Haworth and Eric Blackledge.

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On this Sunday, in 2015, the other ringers with Frank were Joan Peel, John and Shirley Pilkington, Adrian and Sarah West, Catherine Duckworth, Brian Haworth, Neil Graham and Geoff Garnett from Slaidburn, who came specially to join in.

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