Busy winter programme will see bell sound ringing across Perth

Perth’s chief bell ringer is gearing up for a busy winter season.

Carilloneur Dr Ian Cassells will be at the city’s St John’s Kirk to celebrate St Andrew’s Day on Friday.

He will play a programme of traditional Scottish songs and dances from 12.30pm.

Visitors are invited to come along and watch him at work on the big screen.

It follows Dr Cassells’ muchadmired recital to mark the centenary anniversary of the end of the First World War.

He also supported the recent Christmas lights switch-on ceremony with a selection of festive tunes.

The bells have been at the centre of a restoration programme led by Perth and Kinross Council and Dr Cassell says they are now sounding better than ever.

His final recitals of the year will be for Advent on Friday December 14 from 12.30pm.

The bells will ring out once more on Sunday December 16 at 4.15pm after St John’s Civic Carol Service.

Session clerk Bill Wilson said: “All of the carillon recitals are informal and last for about 45 minutes.

“It will be possible to come and go during them, as well as to look round the kirk while listening to the bells.”

He said: “If you have never seen a carillon of bells being played or would like to enjoy Ian Cassells skills once more, you will be very welcome to come to St John’s.”

The city centre kirk has more bells than any other church in Britain.

The performances follow an exciting year for Dr Cassells, who was Great Britain’s delegate to the 2017 “carillon Olympics” in Barcelona.

The newly restored bells are said to sound ‘better than ever’.