2011 was a fairly quiet year for the Bell Repair Fund, but it finished on a very encouraging note.

The order for the project at Sandiacre was placed in November 2011 and it is now planned for the bells to be ringing again in the summer of 2013.  The delay between placing the order and completion of the work is because the contractor is so busy elsewhere.

In November 2011 Shirland bells and frame were taken down from the bell chamber.  The bells are now in storage at Taylors and the new frame and grillage is currently being fabricated there.  The Shirland project has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant towards the cost of the work.  It is expected that  installation of the restored frame and bells will take place in February 2012.

Alfreton PCC has made the first application for a Heritage Lottery Grant.  This was favourably received and the fund raisers have been encouraged to make the second application.  The costs there have increased and are now expected to be in the region of £130,000.  They have had mixed results with their various fund raising events.

Major refurbishing work took place on the bells at Staveley in order to increase the ease of ringing them.  A grant has been offered to Ripley for work to be done to the gudgeons and bearings on bells nos. 5 and 7.

If you have a problem with your bell installation and are considering applying for a grant and/or a loan from the Bell Repair Fund, please contact the bell consultants before any work commences.  As the Bell Repair Fund is a charity, the trustees must ensure that all the offers fulfil the obligations of the aims of the charity.  All work must be inspected by the consultants before any money is handed over to the PCC and in order to see that the work has been done to their satisfaction and represents good value for money, they must see the installation before any work starts.  Please read the guide and conditions to grants and loans.

All inspections of bell installations are carried out free of charge to the parish concerned.  The consultants will visit the tower, write a report on the conditions there, and then, if necessary, speak to the PCC to help them make any decisions.  The contact details of the bell consultants are here.  The Fund currently aims to offer grants of 10% of the total cost of any necessary work, subject to there being sufficient money in the fund.  Grants are currently offered only when the cost of the work needed exceeds £1000.  No grants are given towards the cost of buying bell ropes or building work.

If your PCC would like to apply for a grant or loan, then please contact the Bell Repair Fund Secretary.