The Hope Bell installation has been completed, and was officially opened at a special event on 4th July. The structure is a tribute to the NHS, key workers and serves as a reminder of how communities came together to support each other during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also be a place for reflection to remember lost loved ones and be a beacon of hope for the future. 

The Hope Bell is a clock chime installation comprising four quarter chime bells and the main Hope Bell. 

It is 7.5 metres high. The bells are supported by four steel pillars which symbolise people coming together to embrace in a hug, something people said was much missed in the early days of the pandemic. 

Bells are synonymous with Loughborough as it is home to the last major bellfoundry in the UK, John Taylor & Co, which made the Hope Bell on behalf of the Council. 

Here is a video of the making of the bells and the frame, from the Taylor’s Bellfoundry YouTube channel.