And I'll try to backdate the postings so they come out in the right timescale
The Bells Ring Out!
Morpeth
Bellringers rang out the Mayor’s Peal on 31st May – seven ringers
completed the “London Surprise Major” with 5024 changes in 2hr 40min.
Fortunately I had two professional mathematicians – Roger Dye and Lucy Manning
– to explain how the peal worked through all the permutations of seven bells. I
hadn’t realised that bellringing was such a curious mix of maths, music, recordkeeping,
concentration and hard physical exercise – the bellringers were both jubilant
and totally exhausted when they successfully finished the peal!
The fact that
it was all to honour the new mayor really brought home to me the significance
of the office. As a councillor, I’ve become used to people complaining about
actual and perceived failings of the council and having to try to explain the
reasons behind council decisions, But as mayor – and admittedly I’m only a
couple of weeks in office – people are treating me with a level of respect and
warmth which I can only explain by realising that the mayoralty is an
embodiment of the town. People love and are loyal to Morpeth and their respect
for the mayor is a reflection of that.
The
bellringers are keen to recruit new members – both youngsters and older people
– and from the interest showed on Fair Day when the Clock Tower was open to the
public should mean they’ll soon be getting some.
