May 2007

PRESS RELEASE

(also downloadable as a Microsoft Word document)

Ring the bell for the Centenary of Scouting

Bells will ring out around the UK and the rest of the world to celebrate the Centenary of Scouting between 27th July and 8th August 2007, when Scouts will be marking this event in many ways, including the World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex which 40,000 Scouts are expected to attend. In particular there will be a focus for bells to be rung for the Scouting's Sunrise celebrations at 8am on 1st August when Scouts from nearly every country in the world will renew their promise.

For many years Scouts have been able to work towards an Activity Badge for which bellringing is a part. Visit www.scouts.org.uk for more information about this.

Jenna Smith, a Scout from North London said "I am learning to ring bells as a part of my Chief Scout's Gold Award, and this idea will give me the opportunity to help celebrate the Centenary of Scouting with thousands of other people. Scouting is all about fun, challenge and adventure and bell ringing gives me all three!"

Judith Rogers of The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers says 'We are keen to help celebrate Scouting's Centenary by ringing bells, and also to encourage Scouts to find out about change ringing by visiting their local bell tower. We would like to find adults who were Scouts and learned bellringing for a Scout badge and may now have time to take up the hobby again.'

Change Ringing around the world - Over 5,000 towers in the United Kingdom and about 150 in countries which have a strong historical association with Britain contain rings of five or more bells hung for change ringing. Change ringing originated in the sixteenth century when church bells began to be rung with a rope and full wheel to give control of the bell. This allows sets of bells (rings) to be rung in a continuously changing pattern ('ringing the changes'). Today there are more than 40,000 ringers in the UK, and smaller numbers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Southern Africa and the USA. They share a fascinating hobby and a commitment to their bell ringing teams. For more information about the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and to find out where to learn about bellringing in your area visit: www.cccbr.org.uk

For further information please contact:

Peter Robson
Public Relations Committee, Central Council of Church Bell Ringers
email  

The Scout Association
Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW, UK
Tel +44 (0)20 8433 7100 Fax +44 (0)20 8433 7103
email   scout.association@scouts.org.uk

Patron HM The Queen   President HRH The Duke of Kent   Founder Robert Baden-Powell OM Chief Scout Peter Duncan
Incorporated by Royal Charter - UK Charity No. 306101