On 25 June Andrew Nicholson, bellhanger, measured all the dimensions he needs to make new plates to ensure that the new self-aligning roller bearings fit the existing frame holes. He also measured up for fabricating a safer access platform and ladder to maintain the bells in the future.
The day before, he advised us that Soundweld, the specialist bell welders, reported that although there had been a suspected crack seen from inside the crown of bell no. 3, after cleaning and undertaking dye penetrant crack testing, no crack could be found! So their charge had been reduced accordingly.
On Monday 21 July Richard Gibson led RG Electrical Solutions’ team of three to upgrade the lighting in the tower:
- In the bellchamber: two 30W LED floodlights above the bells and two 5ft 29W weatherproof LED batten lights under the bellframe
- In the clock room: a 5ft 29W weatherproof LED batten light
- In the ringing room: two 30W LED floodlights and a replacement emergency light
- On the stairs: an additional lamp between the ringing room and nave door.
The tower is ready for the frame de-rusting and repainting to start on Monday 28 July with the return of site bellhanger Neil helped with a rota of two volunteers a day for a fortnight.
In the meantime, Badby bellringers have held Wednesday practices by kind permission of the local authorities at Newnham (3), Staverton (2), Everdon (1) with Welton and Charwelton to come.
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