BELL REPAIR FUND SECRETARY’S REPORT

2003 was a relatively quiet year for the BRF, particularly during the first six months. 

On June 21st a very successful Tower Open Day in aid of the BRF was held in the Peak District. The recently restored bells at Stanton in Peak were open, also the augmented ring at Scarcliffe and the restored and augmented ring at Brackenfield. 

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the dedication of the bells at Stanton in Peak on June 28th by Bishop Bob Beak. This saw the fulfilment of much fundraising and hard work by members of the parish and also of some Association members. The story of the project appeared on the front cover of ‘The Ringing World’.

A decision was made to go ahead to restore the six bells at Bonsall. A request was made for a grant towards the work of rehanging and restoring the bells and a grant of £3,800 was offered in September. It is expected that the bells will be installed and ringing by late spring 2004. 

Ockbrook bells are being refurbished and a grant of £100 was made towards the project.

In November there was a request from Shardlow for information about grants and loans as there is a problem with the fourth bell there.

The year saw a decline in the number of parishes affiliated to the BRF, but it is hoped that some of those who have lapsed will rejoin in the near future.

Could I ask that in future all correspondence relating to the BRF is sent to me at 10, Fairbourne Drive, Mickleover, Derby DE3 0SA. If work costing more than £1000 is planned on your bells, please enquire about financial assistance from the BRF before the work is done. The BRF is there to help.

I’d like to finish by thanking Brian Tomlinson for guiding me through the BRF Secretary’s job during the past year.

Pat Halls

The Bell Repair Fund Gift Aid Scheme

Ringing members (and friends) are warmly invited to make an annual donation to the Bell Repair Fund. If a Gift Aid declaration is made, the Fund (being a registered charity) benefits not only from the original gift but can obtain tax refunds from the Inland Revenue. At a standard rate of tax in 2003-2004 of 22%, each 78p of the original donation can be increased to £1 at no expense to the donor; thus £10.00 donated can be increased to £12.82, and proportionally for any other amount - or in other words, by about 28p in the pound.

The Gift Aid scheme is an extremely tax-efficient way of boosting regular donations from individuals. It is also very good for one-off donations. For further details of the scheme, (given in confidence, if so requested) please contact the BRF Treasurer.



The Bell Repair Fund Affiliation Scheme

This scheme enlists the financial support of Parochial Church Councils on a regular basis in carrying out the aims of the Fund. The present annual subscription is no longer fixed (originally of £1, set in the early sixties) but is left now to the generosity of each individual PCC. At present 91 PCCs are affiliated to the Fund, paying amounts varying from £3 to £50, with the largest numbers being of £10 or £20. During each year, the PCCs are sent a special report about the Fund, together with a copy of the Association's latest annual report.



Parochial church councils affiliated to the bell repair fund 2003

The Association is grateful to the following PCCs for their continued support of the Bell Fund: