Roy Bridge
A NEW bell ringing record has been set in Lochaber. Tulloch Ringing Centre near Roy Bridge saw 12 worldclass ringers set a new record for the longest peal of Spliced Maximus.
Starting at 7.59, the band rang a challenging 11-part work composed for the occasion by Robert W Lee. The 38 methods included 20 new ones.
The group rang continuously for 12 and a half hours, generating 20,064 changes.
It used a variety of methods, some of them composed specially for the occasion.
Rules for such performances are set by The Central Council for Bellringers and required the 12 ringers to each ring their own bell unaided for the whole time. It was not a relay performance.
The previous record had been set in 1993 at Worcester when 15,840 changes were rung in 10 and a half hours.
Three ringers took part in both performances and one of them from the 1993 performance was an umpire for the event in Roy Bridge.
The umpires have to listen to the ringing and tick off every change to confirm none of the changes were the same as any other.
A group spokesperson told the Lochaber Times: ‘We are thrilled Tulloch was selected as the venue for the longest peal of Spliced Maximus rung.’