Shropshire bells set to ring out for peace

As preparations are well underway for commemorating the end of World War One, it has now been revealed by the UK's pageant master Bruno Peek that he is already planning a full day of events for the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe day in 2020.

Mr Peek was in Shropshire yesterday for talks with bosses of the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry.

The centre has already supplied a large hand bell which a Chelsea Pensioner will use as part of this year's Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute, on November 11 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War WW1.

Mr Peek said: "Having worked with the Ironwork Centre which is providing the handbell for the Chelsea Pensioner, I contacted him to see if we could work together on the Victory in Europe event which will take place on May 8, 2020.

"The idea is that councils and communities across the UK will get together to buy a specially engraved handbell, with part of the money going to a forces charity.

"That handbell will be kept by the community and, on May 8 each year, will be rung out at 3pm, the time Winston Churchill announced the end of the war.

"We are hoping that up to 1,000 handbells will take part in 2020 and that this will become an ongoing commemoration with more and more communities taking part over the years."

"The bells will be known as peace bells and will come to symbolise the call for peace around the world.

"In these times of upset and uncertainly I think peace bells are something that are very much needed."

Chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, Clive Knowles, said that he was honoured to be involved in such a big event.

"We are involved in many community events and to be asked to be involved in something on such a national scale is a great honour," he said.