Falklands : Trafalgar Day Ringing for South Atlantic Islands
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 21.10.2005 (Article Archived on 04.11.2005)

Tim and Pauline Carr rang the two bells located at the Whalers' Church at Grytviken in South Georgia.

Photos (c) J. Brock (Sartma) - a view of the Whalers' Church during restoration

TRAFALGAR DAY RINGING FOR SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS

The Whalers' Church

By J. Brock (SARTMA)

On Friday, 21 October 2005 – the 200^th anniversary of Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory over the Spanish and French Fleets at Trafalgar in Spain, waves of Church bells and ships bells rang to honour the man who was lost to a sniper’s bullet after the victory was won.   At precisely 1200 hrs a team of seven ringers in the Falklands and two (Tim and Pauline Carr) at the Whaler’s Church in South Georgia, some 800 miles to the east, began to pull the ropes.  Her Majesty’s ships around the world also rang their bells at precisely 1200 hrs as well.

 Tim Restoring Stanley's Whalebone Arch

The five bells, pulled by Keith and Kathy Biles, Rebecca, Hannah, and Daphne Arthur Almond, Louise Taylor and Abigail Cook, a visiting tourist from the UK rang a total of 504 changes lasting 20 minutes. The Bells of the Cathedral were cast at Whitechapel, London in 1904 and range in weight from 9cwt.(1,017lbs) to 3.5 cwt. (400lbs).   The ringing methods used were Double Bob, Single Court and St. Nicholas.

The Whalers' Church at Grytviken has two bells - just right for Tim and Pauline.

  Pauline aboard Curliew

                              Keith Biles Anticipating 504 changes

  The Team -Louise Taylor, Abigail Cook,                      Daphne Arthur Almond, with Rebecca and Hannah behind and Kathy Biles

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