Jonathan Hughes 1983-2005

 

Jonathan was passionate about bell ringing and was very keen that the tradition be taken forward, by encouraging new ringers at every opportunity.  Jonathan was just nine years old when he started ringing.  In those early years many experienced bell ringers shared their time and knowledge with Jonathan, enabling him to reach a very high standard.  During his years as tower captain at Stoke St Michael’s in Coventry and as Steeple Keeper at Coventry Cathedral, he trained and encouraged many young ringers.

 

Jonathan died in a tragic accident in 2005, aged only 22.  Jonathan had a 1½cwt ring of 8 bells, which were cast by Petit & Fritsen in Holland in 2003.  He had an inscription on the tenor bell to commemorate his maternal grandparents. 

 

Jonathan had a moto: “"Let the bells be rung” which featured in a video he made as a high school project.  That moto appears on his headstone, on a bell that was given in his memory at St Dunstan in the West, Fleet Street, London and also on many bell ringing achievements dedicated to him to date.

 

These bells were originally given as a teaching aid as Worcester Cathedral attracted a lot of young ringers.  Jonathan wanted very much to promote this ancient art and increase its popularity with the young.  The bells are currently hung from a ‘'tree’ which enabled them to be used with the teaching computer system and electronic hammers. 

 

 

Unfortunately, the hammer system broke a while back, and as it was sourced second hand originally, there are no spare parts available, and the system is now deemed beyond repair.  They have therefore been silent for some time.

 

Jonathan always planning to hang these 8 bells as a full circle ring, which is how they were specified and profiled.  Annette & Kevin Hughes, Jonathan’s parents, have been waiting for the right project to come along, and St Clement’s appears to be the perfect fit.