Vernet Bells

01/08/2026

Congratulations to Luzette, who made a great job of ringing her first rounds this evening, becoming the ninth fully resident ringer here.

13/07/2026

How splendid that the new method Vernet-les-Bains Bob has been added to the CC library at the same time as 🤖 Count Binface Treble Place! 😁 It looks a bit spiky, but Vernet-les-Bains Bob Major is in fact nearly all Grandsire Triples. The only differences: a) the tenor ducks under the treble at the half lead (causing the second hunt bell to make 6ths) , and b) you ring Plain Bob Triples for one row at the lead end. That's it. We rang the first quarter peal of it on handbells in Ringing Room last Thursday. It extends or contracts onto any even number of bells from six upwards, so feel free to give it a try!

08/07/2026

We were very sad to receive unexpected news of the death of our friend, Dr Niels Benatar. Niels only visited St George's twice, but in that time left a permanent gift by painting the two watercolours of our church which we have sold ever since as postcards. Niels was a world class hand surgeon in Germany and will be hugely missed professionally. We will miss him too as a ringer. He loved the bells here and we had very much hoped he would visit us again. Sadly, that isn't to be. Rest in peace, Niels.

02/07/2026

And here we were (those of us who weren't stranded in Nuneaton or still in France) at the start of our Cheshire adventure, based in Nantwich last weekend. The main focus was two days of touring, taking in a dozen towers, the highlight being the glorious ring of 12 at Chester Cathedral. The photo was taken in the tower at Nantwich practice on the Thursday evening, where it was a delight to ring with Nantwich's own French ringer, F***y. Two of us were pivileged to join her in a quarter peal on those lovely bells on the final Sunday afternoon. You can read more about our visit by clicking on the photo, where you'll find Nantwich ringer Anna's article for the Nantwich News. Massive thanks to Nantwich Tower Captain, Stefan (far right) for his impeccable and meticulous organisation. All we had to do was to turn up and enjoy!

The French flag was raised above St Mary's Church in Nantwich this week in honour of a group of visiting bellringers from Vernet-les-Bains.

07/06/2026

We're delighted to have rung the 100th quarter peal on the bells, after morning service today. 37 of them have been on ten bells, 21 on eight and 42, including today's, on six. Of those, four have been rung on the top six. The leading method is Grandsire Caters. It was disappointing to lose an attempt with the local band yesterday; we're grateful to Jenny and Jane, our two visitors from Wareham, for stiffening the band up today.

1260 Doubles (2m) rung at Vernet-les-Bains (St George), Pyrénées-Orientales, France

21/05/2026

This Sunday (24th May), we'll be giving a couple of ringing demonstrations, at 12:00 and again at 13:30. In between, there's a 'bring and share' lunch. It's all part of our inaugural festival of Books, Bells and Bites, which starts at 10:00. We have seven visiting authors, loads of second-hand books for sale or exchange, tea and scones, bell-ringing on all ten bells...If you're in the area, do drop in and join in! Service ringing and our Pentecost service at 16:30 will round off what promises to be a fabulous day. See you there!

17/05/2026

A very special moment today, when Lottie Harmer, pictured, became the first Trevelyan College (Durham University) undergraduate to ring the bell which bears the college's name and motto. 'Trevelyan', the third of our ring of ten, is one of six bells at St George's cast in memory of Catherine Ladd, the wife of tower captain Jeff. Catherine studied theology at Trevelyan and, like Lottie, was also a ringer with the Durham University Society. Congratulations to Lottie for ringing 'Trevelyan' to a quarter peal of Grandsire Triples, a day after ringing the treble, 'Catherine', to her first peal on ten bells, Cambridge S Royal. Footnote: the college motto (Vera fictis libentius) loosely translates as 'truth rather than falseness'; particularly apt on a bell hung for change-ringing!

04/05/2026

If you're in the area on Sunday 24 May, make sure to come along to our special event featuring Bells, Books & Bites - the joys that bring us together! Visiting ringers welcome!

Join St George’s and Animer Vernet for the inaugural Bells, Books & Bites: a day that brings communities together over food, literature and English change-ringing bells. Join us for:

- Local authors (French & English)
- Giant sale of used English books
- Bell demonstrations in France’s only tower of English change-ringing bells
- Bring-and-share sweet or savory treats
- Afternoon snacks

Come enjoy a day in Vernet you won't forget.
We'll be sharing more details soon — watch this space for updates!

01/05/2026

It's very rare for us to ring a quarter peal with the sound control fully open. This was for 'La Ronde des Clochers', a 30 and 15km running race touring round the local bell towers. We rang for 90 minutes in total (with the odd break) starting off with rounds and calls on ten. Very happy that we could ring for this!

1260 Grandsire Doubles rung at Vernet-les-Bains (St George), Pyrénées-Orientales, France

12/04/2026

Massive congratulations to Caitlin Gainsbury, who yesterday joined a very select group of those who have come to Vernet and left having rung their first quarter peal. It was a real pleasure ringing with Mum, Dad and the two sisters. Congratulations to all of them for managing to make it here in a day trip from Collioure on buses and trains. That sort of thing needs careful planning!

1260 Plain Bob Doubles rung at Vernet-les-Bains (St George), France