PRESS RELEASE

Bells Ring for Battle Bicentenary

Bells all over the world will ring out on Friday 21st October in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Britain's greatest naval victory, the Battle of Trafalgar. To mark this important occasion, the National Maritime Museum Nelson Commemorations Committee is co-ordinating the national Trafalgar Festival. This celebration culminates in Trafalgar Weekend (21st - 23rd October 2005) which commemorates the bicentenary of the battle and the heroism of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and the gallant crews of his outnumbered fleet which scuppered Napoleon's plans to invade Britain.

As in 1805, when church bells rang out the news of Nelson's victory, bells will play an important part in this year's celebrations. The Nelson Commemorations Committee, in conjunction with the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, is co-ordinating the ringing of bells throughout the world on 21st October and over the following weekend to mark this special anniversary.

"The first ringing of the day world-wide, will take place whilst most of us in the UK are still in bed!" said Richard Offen, co-ordinator of the international ringing. "The bells of Nelson Cathedral, New Zealand, will be rung at noon local time. This will be followed by the bells of St Mary's Basilica, Sydney and the Swan Bells, Perth, Western Australia. At the other end of the international time zones, among the last bells to sound that day will be those of Stanley Cathedral in the Falkland Islands. International coverage indeed!"

Hundreds of bell towers have already indicated that they will take part and many are planning to ring special commemorative peals or quarter peals for the occasion. "For centuries bells have played a huge part in the celebration of important events, so it's fitting that they should play a major part in this commemoration" explained Judith Rogers of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. "The bells of St Paul's Cathedral in London will be rung following a formal wreath laying at the tomb of Lord Nelson which is timed to start at 11am and a full peal will be rung there in the evening. We hope that bells will ring around the country to make this a celebratory weekend to remember!"

Ends

Further information can be obtained from:
Judith Rogers, Chairman, Public Relations, CCCBR
prchairman@cccbr.org.uk

Notes for editors:

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 on the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, please visit:
www.cccbr.org.uk

The Trafalgar Festival

The Trafalgar Festival is an exciting programme to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It will consist of exhibitions, re-enactments, special publications, regattas, yacht rallies, conferences, symposia and community-based activities around Britain. The climax of the Festival will be the Trafalgar Weekend on 21-23 October 2005 with dinners, parades, fireworks, beacons, church services and bell-ringing across the country. Further details can be found at: www.seabritain2005.com

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