Just a small update from Harby.

Work has been progressing ‘behind the scenes’ over the past 3 months.   

Community Engagement has been the theme, as Harby Primary School went on an organised coach trip to the Bell Foundry, with 47 year 2-6’s attending, together with Staff and Assistants.  They were well behaved, and look to have been very interested in the whole trip.

The same day, in the afternoon, 27 villagers from Harby, plus some ringers from the local area, descended on Loughborough for our ‘adult’ trip, which was again really very interesting, and it was good to see our bells all sandblasted clean, ready to progress through the works. It was also good to see our ‘new’ bell in real life.

The trip ended up with a go on the campanile. For some it was their first go on more than 6 bells – so to have managed some relatively respectable rounds on 10, on such light bells should be commended, even though there was a broken stay on the 10th!

Thanks to all at the Bellfoundry, and Museum, especially to our tour guides Sally and Peter for a great afternoon out.

Hamish from Long Clawson has written a very good article about the trip, and this can be read from our village website: https://www.harbyvillageleics.com/bells-project-2025

Work up the tower has progressed.   We had professional cleaners, Hands Cleaners from Shepshed, come to give the tower a thorough cleaning, and it is now a much nicer place to be in.  

The following 2 weeks Taylors returned and scraped the frame down, treated the woodwork, and painted all the metalwork, as well as installing ‘galebreaker’ fabric on the louvres, to prevent weather and bird ingress to keep it nice and tidy. It already looks very inviting ready for the return of the bells.

We have just heard that the bells are due to return the first week in September, and should hopefully be completed in time for our beer festival weekend 19th/20th September.

As it is a 3 week install, we may need some extra volunteers to help the bellhanger, so if anyone may be available between 1st and 19th September, and willing to help, please let me know

All of this work would not be able to be completed without the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and players of the National Lottery.

Jonathan Dickenson
harbybells@gmail.com