BELLS will ring out on Coronation Day in the Abbey.
Hexham Abbey will host one ringer on King Charles III's Coronation Day (May 6), Neville Parkin, who will make history as he rang church bells on Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Day in 1953, 70 years ago.
Neville started to learn to ring aged 11 in Leeds, but discovered he couldn’t be a chorister and a bellringer at the same time.
Once his voice broke, bellringing took over.
Neville, aged 14 in 1953, was a member of Ripponden’s team of bellringers in West Yorkshire.
He remembers a street party with an ox roast, as well as ringing the bells throughout the day.
For approximately 30 years Neville and his wife Anne have rung bells here in Hexham, climbing the 100 steps to the ringing room twice every Sunday.
As well as ringing bells across the UK, they have rung bells in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.
Neville’s experience shows bellringing is a great hobby at any age, gentle exercise for mind and body, a social activity, and a service to the church.
It is common for young people to learn to ring, only to stop a few years later as their lives change.
Get in touch at www.hexhamabbeybells.org.uk.
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