Ring it out, the Olympics are coming, say the St James bell ringers
Whaley Bridge bell ringers gave their blessing to the Olympics on Friday 27 July, the day when they started. At just after 8am, the bell ringing team at St James’, Taxal, joined Big Ben, thousands of churches and town halls and town criers around the country to launch Olympic day with the sound of bells.
It was a jolly occasion on a warm summer morning. After a short peal, the ringers adjourned to the churchyard for a picnic breakfast of tea and biscuits.
Duty over, the bell ringers have a breakfast picnic in the churchyard
This was St James’ second Olympic link in less than a week. On Sunday 22 June, a real Olympic torch – carried by a Scout district commissioner through Bury – was brought to a service for the 161st Manchester Scouts (Jodrell’s Own) who return to Whaley Bridge every year for their annual camp.
A reminder: Whaley Bridge’s own Olympian, gymnast Jenni Pinches, performs, for the first time at the Olympics in the artistic qualifications on Sunday afternoon, 29 July.