The Essex Association of Change Ringers   President: The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford

With immediate effect, ringing at Harwich has been suspended.  This is due to a safety issue with the pendulum bob now that the church clock has been re-instated.  It needs to have a new strong box constructed around the pendulum to catch it should the spring-steel support fail.  If the pendulum were to fall whilst ringers were present, it is highly probable that a serious injury would occur.  Unfortunately, this has happened once before (thankfully no-one was hurt), and we have the dents in the ringing room floor to prove it, so we have reluctantly decided not to take the risk.  Bakers of Danbury are currently undertaking an extensive refurbishment of the interior of St Nicholas, which is due for completion by the end of June, and we are hopeful that they will construct this securing box as part of their work for the church while they are here.  We will notify you once again when ringing resumes.

Tracey Southgate
(Wednesday 5 May 2010)