Saving the ‘bongs’
Boyd Walton working on the Priory clock
The sound of the chimes of the Priory clock ring out across Malvern day by day.
Affectionately known to many as ‘the bongs’, if they don’t ‘bong’ there’s no other way of telling the time if you’ve left your mobile at home, as the Priory clock has no external face.
Paul, the joint Tower Bellringing Captain, shared this heartwarming Christmastide story…
’Early in December 2023, there was an unfortunate mishap involving the Priory bells and clock hammers, resulting in a bent hammer shaft and the clock chimes being put out of action.
Under the guidance of the resident Steeple Keeper, David, the bellringers removed the bent hammer and searched for a blacksmith who could both carry out a repair, and do so in time for the clock chimes to be back in action for Christmas.
To the rescue came Boyd Walton, local blacksmith based in Malvern Link, who not only delighted in offering to help but also gifted his work free of charge to the Priory and good folk of Malvern so that the clock would be able to chime Christmas and New Year.
So, a big ‘thank you’, from the bellringers and all at the Priory to Boyd, who joined the ringers at New Year and is pictured here re-setting the chime hammers after the New Year had been well and truly ‘Rung In’.’
