On Sat 26th August 2-4pm at Knighton, the bell ringers held a Teddy Bear Parachuting and Zip Wire Fund Raising Day. In the morning we carried out further practice trials using a safety line, as in previous trials we had found the bears drifted quite far, even in the lightest breeze. The line allowed the bears to float down, but enabled us to pull them gently back towards the landing zone if they started to drift away.

The zip wire was much easier and the amount of space in the churchyard and the height of the tower at Knighton meant it was perfect for both parachuting and zip wiring.

We set up tables inside for bric-a-brac, a tombola, teddy check-in, treasure hunt tickets and cakes. However just before the 2pm start time it started to thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down. We were a little worried at this point that no one would come!

We needn’t have worried as at 2pm, we had a stream of people queueing to book their teddies in, despite the rain persisting heavily for the first hour. The children delighted in not only their own teddy coming down, but also watching the others as well, and it provided great entertainment for children and adults alike.

All the while the tea, coffee and cakes were being sold and people came and visited the other stalls.

We laid a fantastic treasure hunt around the church yard, incorporating a secret path and hobbit’s house, but sadly the rain seemed to keep ticket sales low. However, those that did it, really enjoyed it.

We made £381.85 during the event and received two additional donations of £200 towards new bell ropes, for which we are very grateful.

The event could not have taken place without the involvement and help of all the bell ringers at Knighton who made cakes, ran stalls, created clues for the treasure hunt, put harnesses on and off bears and reunited arriving teddies. But most of all to our three steeple volunteers, Jake, Paul and Callum who braved the top of the tower in fairly persistent rain, to ensure each bear had the best launch, while also untangling countless strings, and keeping the crowd entertained and informed about whose teddy would be jumping next.

All teddies arrived safely back with their owners. It was a good day.

Rebecca Odames