Bell Ringing for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

Commemorations, Peals, Quarter Peals, ,

Thursday 8th May 2025 was the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). Hitler had already committed suicide and the German forces surrendered on 7th May 1945 after nearly six years of war. This led to peace in Europe and many people took to the streets to erect British flags and light bonfires. Winston Churchill declared 8th May 1945 a national holiday. Many hosted street parties and a crowd of 100,000 people gathered outside Buckingham Palace and The Mall.

During the war, bell ringing was banned from June 1940, with bells only to be rung in the event of a German invasion. Churchill did however authorise ringing after the El Alamein victory in 1942 and it was allowed on Christmas Day that year. The ban was lifted in 1943 and there were enough bell ringers to ring on VE Day 1945.This tradition has continued over the years with all major milestones celebrated with the ringing of bells. The 80th anniversary, however, was the last major milestone where a number of WW2 veterans were still alive to share their memories. This gave significant importance to the occasion and at St Andrew’s we joined other ringers around the country to ring the bells on 8th May 2025 at 6.30pm.

The photograph shows the bell ringers that took part in the national event.

The occasion was also marked with a quarter peal on 8th May and a full three-hour peal on 9th May, both shown below:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Thursday, 8 May 2025

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 James P Riley

2 Dennis Ellisdon

3 Alwyn Brock

4 John M Church

5 Clive J Stephenson (C)

6 Mark E Lendon

Rung to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, clearly remembered by Dennis Ellisdon who was a young boy at the time.

Essex Association

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Friday, 9 May 2025 in 3h 10 (18–0–0 in E♭)

5040 Plain Bob Royal

Composed by David Heighton

1 Jon Waters

2 Helen J Carter

3 William J Stungo

4 Elle G Buttery

5 Roderic K Bickerton

6 M Louise Booth

7 Andrew P Barham

8 Hugo L Tracey

9 Lucas J Owen

10 Clive J Stephenson (C)

Rung to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.

First Royal – 4.

First Royal in the method and 35th peal – 8.

Bell Ringing Prize on Promotion Sunday 2024

Learners, New Ringers, Quarter Peals,

The achievements of St Andrew’s bell ringers are recognised when they have rung their first quarter peal.

During the past year, young bell ringer Carys Hayward successfully completed her first quarter peal at St Andrew’s in June.

She rang continuously for 45 minutes following a set pattern (method) whilst her mother (Marianne) conducted the changes.

Congratulations to Carys who received her award from Ken during the morning service on 29th September.

Carys with her bell ringing award

70th Birthday and First Quarter Peal Congratulations

Birthdays, Commemorations, Quarter Peals

On Sunday 23rd June 2024, St Andrew’s bell ringer Tina Gornall celebrated her 70th birthday. Thiswas an opportunity for the bell ringers to mark the occasion by ringing a quarter peal for Tina.

It was also a chance for young bell ringer Carys Hayward to attempt and succeed in ringing her first quarter peal. The changes were conducted by her mother Marianne and Carys effortlessly rang her bell for 45 minutes without stopping.

Carys’ godfather, Jeremy, was also able to give his support, travelling all the way from Kent to take part.

Congratulations to Tina (aged 70) and Carys (aged 14).

Full details of the ringing as follows:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Saturday, 22 June 2024

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 Carys E Hayward

2 John M Church

3 Jeremy R Byers

4 Marianne R Hayward (C)

5 Clive J Stephenson

6 Mark E Lendon

Specially arranged to celebrate the 70th birthday of Tina Gornall on 23rd June.

First quarter peal – 1.

The team of bell ringers with Tina in front

Bell Ringing For The 80th Anniversary of D-Day

Church, Commemorations, Quarter Peals,

The D-Day operation of June 6th, 1944 was the largest invasion in history which would ultimately defeat Nazi Germany and end the Second World War.

On the 80th anniversary of this day, it was more than fitting that the St Andrew’s bell ringers should ring out to mark the occasion.

Former Hornchurch Ringing Master Frank Gant was involved in the Normandy landings of 1944.

On D-Day, Frank was in command of a tank landing craft which, on approaching the beach in Normandy, lost its rudder on an underwater obstruction. He managed to reach the beach, however, offload the tanks and return to England without a rudder.

He steered the boat by varying the speeds of the twin propellers and received official recognition for this remarkable feat.

Today’s bell ringers met at 9.30am on Thursday 6th June to ring before and after the Communion Service where Mark gave thanks for our country’s role in the liberation of Western Europe.

Our ringing included a quarter peal shown in detail below along with the ringers that took part:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Thursday, 6 June 2024

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 James P Riley

2 Michael J Warren

3 Paul T Crick

4 John M Church

5 Clive J Stephenson (C)

6 Mark E Lendon

Rung to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Remembering Frank Gant, former Hornchurch Ringing Master, who took part in the D-Day landings.

First quarter away from cover – 1.

St Andrew’s Ringers on D-Day

70th Birthday Celebrations for Mark

Birthdays, Quarter Peals,

On Friday 8th March 2024, Mark Lendon celebrated his 70th birthday.

To honour the occasion, a team of six bell ringers (including Mark) met at St Andrew’sto ring a celebratory quarter peal:

Hornchurch, Essex

St Andrew

Friday, 8 March 2024

1260 Plain Bob Doubles

1 Valerie A Swain

2 Ethan J Musham

3 Michael J Warren

4 John M Church

5 Clive J Stephenson (C)

6 Mark E Lendon

Rung to celebrate the 70th birthday of Mark Lendon on this day.

The following day a gathering of family and friends continued the celebrations in St Andrew’s Hall where Mark arranged a delicious buffet.

Revd Ken spoke of Mark’s commitment to the church (including bell ringing) and we drank a toast to Mark and his loving family.

Mark and Carol celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary later this year.

The team of bell ringers with Mark (far right)