Ring Forth Holy Bells

CBC008 (re-issue)

20 Towers of the Surrey Association

A collection of Tower bells in Surrey recorded for the first time on one album. It includes narration throughout by actor Nicholas Smith.

Towers featured are :-

Beddington - Stedman Caters

Streatham - Little Bob Major

Bermondsey - Call Changes

Clapham Common (Holy Trinity) - Grandsire Doubles

Limpsfield - Grandsire Doubles

Caterham St. Mary - Call Changes

Caterham St. John - Grandsire Triples

Outwood - Reverse Canterbury / Pain Hunt

Nutfield - Plain Bob Doubles

Croydon (St John) - Cambridge Maximus

Coulsdon - Original Doubles

Battersea - Cambridge Major

Charlwood - Call Changes

Addington - Cambridge Major

Kingston - Grandsire Cinques

Godstone - Bristol Major

Reigate - Grandsire Caters

Benhilton -Stedman Triples

Ashtead - Plain Bob Major

Southwark Cathedral - Call Changes

Review from "The Ringing World" - Dec. 1995

I certainly haven't listened to every ringing CD and cassette on the market, but of those I have listened to, this is unquestionably the best. The recordings - for the technically minded were made inside the bell chambers using adapted Pressure Zone Microphones, and the quality is excellent. There is a clarity to all the ringing that makes it particularly accessible to those ringers - and, indeed, non ringers - who find it difficult to appreciate what's going on, and the fact that most pieces start from rounds is an added help. It is an excellent recording for developing your critical listening skills. In addition, each piece of ringing is individually introduced in smoothly modulated tones by the actor, Nicholas Smith - Mr Rumbold of Are You Being Served? - with the result that the whole CD has a warmth and understandability that makes it particularly enjoyable. The recordings cover 20 towers in the Surrey Association, from Charlwood on the Sussex border to Southwark Cathedral in the centre of London, and they range from a four to 3 twelves, with everything in between. The ringers are the local bands - with a little help from a few visitors - and the ringing is their normal Sunday service ringing. Both the CD and the cassette include notes for the uninitiated, but the CD also gives the names of all the ringers and the bells they are ringing. Brave ! You can hear Call Changes, Bob Doubles, Grandsire on all numbers, Stedman Triples and Caters, Surprise, and most of a lower in peal. It is an ideal recording for giving to non-ringers, improving your listening skills, illustrating talks, and - most important of all - just enjoying yourself.

Steve Coleman