Chilbolton, St Mary (3, 7 cwt) - A general overhaul of the ringing gear including rebushing clappers, cleaning bearings, replacing pulleys. (Contractor - Nicholson Engineering Ltd).
Cowes, Isle of Wight, St Mary (1, 8-1-10) - The 1816 Mears bell has been rehung with new timber deadstock and trigger action chiming clapper. The cast in crown staple has also been removed. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Forest, Guernsey, St Marguerite de la Foret (6, 5-1-24 in A flat) - Some repair work has been undertaken around the end of one of the foundation beams to the timber frame, which was loose in the tower wall. (Peter Gallienne).
Netley Abbey, St Edward the Confessor (8, 8½ cwt in A flat) - Rope guides have been fitted and the handling of this ring has been greatly improved. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd with Martin Hough).
New Alresford, St John the Baptist (8, 15-3-18 in F) - Rebushing clappers. (Contractor not known)
Portsmouth, Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury (10, 25-2-0 in E flat) - Replacement of the bearings of all ten bells (Whites of Appleton Ltd).
St Helier, Jersey, St Helier (2, about 9 cwt) - The electrical tolling function has been re-instated on the larger of the two bells and all ironwork associated with the installation has been cleaned and painted. (Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd).
St Saviour, Guernsey, Chapel of St Appoline (1, about ½ cwt) - The bell (15 inch), originally at the Vale Mission Church, Guernsey, has been rehung in its cot with new headstock, bearings, and rope. The chapel is at present undergoing a general restoration. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, All Saints, Redbridge (1, 0-1-2) - This small but excellent casting has had a rather eventful life but has now arrived in what may well be its final home. This hanging completes a fascinating story. Cast in 1934 by Gillett and Johnston, the bell was hung in the “old” church of St Peter, Maybush, which was built in 1932, and was replaced by the current St Peter’s in 1958. For the 1958 church a new larger 25.75 inch diameter Mears and Stainbank bell was hung in the tower, and the G&J bell transferred to a small bell cote, that had been added to the then two-year-old Community Hall and Worship Centre of All Saints, Redbridge within the same parish, and serving the large Millbrook Housing Estate. [The dedication “All Saints” results from the use of funds made available following the wartime destruction of All Saints in Southampton High Street.] In 1964 a new All Saints, Redbridge was completed, adjacent to the hall, which was equipped with a large tower intended for bells.
However an offer of the three bells from the redundant church of St Peter, Chesil, Winchester in 1968 had to be declined on the grounds of cost of hanging. Thereafter the G&J bell continued to be used as All Saints’ service bell until a fire in 1980 required the bell and bell-cote to be removed from the roof. Now, in 2004, on the 70th anniversary of the casting of the bell, and more specifically to mark the 40th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of All Saints, the bell has finally been hung for chiming in All Saints’ tower on its existing fittings, in a new galvanized steel bellframe. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).Alton, All Saints (3, 12 cwt) - Replacement of the current ring of three with a new lighter ring of six to Gillett and Johnston profiles, of a size more in keeping with the dimensions of the tower. Believed not yet started as fundraising not yet complete. (It is understood that the preferred contractor is now Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Bramley, St James (8, 12-0-14 in G) - Overhaul of the headstock, bearings and gudgeons of the sixth bell. (Contractor not known)
Chandler’s Ford, St Boniface (1, 1-3-25) - Rehanging this 1904 Taylor bell in its western gable arch bell-cote, for swing chiming, with replacement fittings as necessary, is due to commence in late March 2005. (Whites of Appleton Ltd)
Crawley, St Mary (5, 6-3-5 in A) - Removal of the cannons from the two treble bells, and any remaining crown staple stumps from all, with rehanging the five bells in the old frame with all new fittings (It is understood that the Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd is preferred contractor).
Fawley, All Saints (6, 8 cwt in A flat) - Removal of the cannons of the three treble bells and rehang the six bells in the existing frame with all new gear. (Robert Parker of Taunton)
Hursley, All Saints (10, 14-0-0 in F sharp) - Replacement of lower poorly proportioned and increasingly “flexible” timber six-bell frame of 1880 by Hooper and Stokes. It is understood that this project also now includes plans to augment the ring to 12. (Preferred contractor not known). Not yet started.
Romsey, Abbey Church of SS Mary and Ethelflaeda (8, 24-0-8 in D) - It is understood that the very long saga of securing approval for the rehanging of the 8 bells in a new, stable, frame may be nearing a satisfactory conclusion that meets the concerns of heritage interests concerned with conserving timbers from a mediaeval 5 bell frame. (Contractor not known)
Selborne, St Mary (6, 9-0-20 in A) - It is planned to augment the ring to 8 with an extension to the existing frame. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Shalfleet, Isle of Wight (2, 8-1-10 in B) - Removal of cast-in crown staples and rehanging the smaller of the two Mears bells with new fittings in a new steel bellframe. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, Church of the Ascension, Bitterne Park (8, 8-1-13 in G sharp) - Augmentation of the ring to twelve, together with some adjustments to the existing ring to maintain a rope circle, and overhaul of the gear if necessary. (Contractor not known)
Southampton, Holy Family (RC), Redbridge Hill (1, 6 cwt) - There is a possibility that the gear and electronic chiming apparatus for this bell may be overhauled in the mid-term. (It is understood that Matthew Higby & Co Ltd is the preferred contractor).
Southampton, St Barnabas, Lodge Road (6, 2-3-2 in F sharp) - Rehanging former service bell for slow swinging as an Angelus bell. Also planned augmentation of the ring installed in 2002 to 8 by the addition of two new trebles and all new gear. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, St Peter, Maybush (1, 3 cwt) - Overhaul of the gear of this 1958 M&S bell is planned for 2005. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
St John in the Oaks, Jersey, St John (8, 7-0-4 in B) - A recent inspection has recommended re-bushing the clappers and new pulleys, and has identified a potentially serious problem with the concrete ring beam concerning the thickness of concrete and damp penetration rusting the reinforcement and splitting the concrete. Further professional advice is being sought
St Peter Port, Guernsey, St Peter Apostle and Martyr (8, 21-1-12 in E flat) - The Jean Baptise Brocard (1736) clock bell which hung outside the spire was taken down in September 2004, its supporting cot having developed a remarkable list to the West during the previous year. The bell is stored in the church pending rebuilding work on the cot.