Bellringing tradition turns into marathon (From Gazette Series)

Bellringing tradition turns into marathon

BELLRINGERS in Dursley have been successful in their attempt to celebrate one of the town's most famous exports.

Bell-ringing enthusiasts rang the bells at St James the Great Church on Monday in a three-hour event to celebrate the life of William Champion, originally from the town but who was deported to Tasmania in the 19th century for receiving stolen goods.

His family were hatters and William was taught the trade at his father Peter's factory in Parsonage Street. He also practised church bell ringing in Dursley before being convicted of receiving stolen hat blocks and sentenced to 14 years transportation to the penal colony of Van Dieman's land, or what is today known as Tasmania.

After serving his sentence, Champion became a well-respected businessman and was instrumental in setting up a bellringers club to ring the bells of Holy Trinity Church, Hobart.

He was responsible for the installation of a ring of eight bells, sent from England, and the recruiting and training of ringers.

He died never having had returned home to his native land aged 70 on September 25 1871.

Every year in Hobart since, bellringers have commemorated the death of Champion with a peal on his birthday.

This year, however, that tradition was extended back to the ringer's hometown.

Three members from the club were joined by ringers from the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers to ring the peal, which includes a mammoth 5,000 changes.

Frank Byrne, one of the Dursley trio who took part, told the Gazette: "We were successful in our attempt to do this. It is never guaranteed that it will be successful. We were very satisfied with it."