Town hall a-peals for name with a ring to it

THE famous sound of Rochdale Town Hall’s bells gained national publicity when they rang out across the land on BBC Radio 4 over Christmas.

And now Rochdale council has launched a special naming competition for the famous five clock tower bells. The idea chimed with council leader Allen Brett when he was asked during a live radio interview if the bells had official titles.

Residents have now been challenged to come up with interesting names, which capture the town’s rich heritage as well as its future regeneration vision. Up to five winners will receive a £20 voucher to spend at Rochdale Town Hall’s splendid Clock Tower Restaurant, followed by a guided tour of the grade one listed building.

The council recently gained stage one funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to renovate the town hall as part of a £16m restoration project.

The restoration is part of a wider regeneration of our historic assets, which will see the council invest £25m in heritage in Rochdale town centre over the next five years.

Coun Brett said: “The competition is a bit of fun but also provides another chapter in the fascinating history of this historic building. A lot of people sounded me out about naming the bells so I thought it would really chime with the public mood to launch a special competition.

“The Big Ben bells already have names and if it’s good enough for Big Ben, it’s good enough for Rochdale Town Hall. It starts the New Year on a high note and I’m looking forward to receiving a bountiful bonanza of exciting entries.”

Dorothy Johnstone, from the Friends of Rochdale Town Hall, said: “A naming competition for the bells has a really nice ring to it.

“Our town hall is renowned throughout the land and I’m sure entries will flood in from far and wide. We were thrilled when the BBC used the gongs over Christmas and this is another piece of ●●Councillor Allen Brett, leader of the council and Dorothy Johnstone, from the Friends of Rochdale Town Hall, help to launch the competition to name the town hall’s bells positive publicity. May the best names win!”

Suggestions for names for the bells can be emailed to townhallbells@rochdale.gov.uk or sent to the council’s Facebook page or submitted on Twitter using the hashtag #Rochtownhall.

The closing date for entries is midnight on February 11. Full details on how to enter and all the competition terms and conditions can be found at rochdale.gov.uk/townhallbells