A Newport bellringer has celebrated 60 years in service this week by completing 46 minutes of non-stop ringing in a team of father and sons.
Chief ringer Graham Talbot, aged 72, was joined by son Richard, along with John Stokes and his son Oliver and Peter Dean with his son Jasper.
Between them, the group of six managed a total of 1,260 non-stop changes on the bells at St Nicholas’ church last Saturday.
Although the quarter peel is rung quite regularly - it is one of the first occasions it has been carried out by a father and son team.
Graham said it was a fantastic way to mark his 60th year in campanology.
He said: “I certainly feel a bit older now but I have thoroughly enjoyed bellringing at this church and I have no intention of stopping any time soon.
“My father and uncle were bell ringers at the church, so it was passed down to me and I have now passed it onto my son, Richard, who has been ringing for 25 years.
“My uncle started in 1904 so we have had the Talbots in charge of the bells for over 100 years.
“I very much enjoyed the father and sons peel last Saturday and I have been doing the job with John Stokes and Peter Dean for teens of years.
“I have also been a clockwinder and a sidesman, taking collections, at St Nicholas for many years so I am very fond of the church.”
Graham began ringing the bells at St Nicholas’ church in Newport on his 12th birthday in February 1950.
And as always he took the lead at last Saturday’s quarter peal of ‘Grandsire Doubles.’
In addition to being the captain of Newport bellringers, Graham has been a past clock winder for 30 years and has been a sidesperson at St Nicholas’ Church for the past 48 years.
He added: “There is a knack to bellringing, it’s not about strength, it’s more about a delicate touch. You need the touch of a midwife.
“I’ve toured all over, including all around Cheshire last year, and I’ve rung in most local churches including Chetwynd and Forton.”
Attentive residents will be able to here Graham ringing the town bells in St Nicholas’ church tower on Friday evenings between 6pm and 7pm and on Sunday mornings between 9.45am and 10.30pm.