The Bells of Aylsham (St Michael), Norfolk

On Thursday 27th August, following 2 years of silence, the ten bells at Aylsham Parish Church rang for the first time since welding of the 7 cracked bells, retuning and rehanging. The work was undertaken by Nicholson Engineering of Bridport during 2023. At 2:00pm, 15 local ringers met to form the band for the 'try-out', much to the delight of the town. The ring used to have a tenor weight of 17-1-6cwt and tuned to Eb. During the tuning, which saw the profiles altered, the bells reduced in weight to a tenor of 16-0-23cwt and the ring has been retuned to E. Below are the details of the band who took past in the first ring:

Norwich Diocesan Association
Aylsham, Norfolk
St Michael
Thursday, 24 August 2023 in 3m (16–0–23 in E)
Rounds
1 Ollie E P Watson (Aylsham/Buxton)
2 Tricia Francis (Buxton)
3 Michael Brooks (Aylsham)
4 Sue Morton (Upper Sheringham)
5 T Daniel Phillips (Aylsham, former Tower Captain)
6 Kristopher Harper-Allison (Buxton, President of the NDAR)
7 Stephen Cockbill (Buxton)
8 Chris Cozens (Nicholson Engineering Bell Hanger)
9 Rob Morris (Buxton)
10 Guy W Morton (Upper Sheringham)
The first ringing on the bells following welding of the 7 cracked bells, retuning and rehanging.

The ringing in this video features the first ring on the bells, as well as excerpts from the ringing session.
Timestamps:
Raising the two tenors - 0:26
Raising the front six - 1:58
The first ring of all ten bells - 3:24
Plain Hunt on Nine - 5:21
The bells from outside - 8:29
Cambridge Surprise Minor (Back Six) - 15:20
Lowering the front six - 19:40
My thanks to Peter Jolly and Rob Morris for their recorded footage, which has been incorporated into this compilation.

(Side note: My apologies for my rather worn out, tired and pained look. I was very unwell at the time but dosed myself up on meds to make sure I was able to ring. A few hours later I was in the back of an ambulance being rushed to resus on blue lights and sirens. Don't panic - I survived (just) and am now on the road to recovery.)

First of the 'Aylsham Trilogy'.
1. The Bells of Aylsham (St Michael), Norfolk
2. The Bells of Aylsham (The John of Gaunt Ring), Norfolk
3. The Bells of Aylsham (Bellflowermews), Norfolk