A former choirboy who began ringing church bells has now celebrated the Coronation of two monarchs.
Brian Coward rang the church bells aged 12 for the Coronation of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on June 2 1953.
Now aged 82, he’s just rung the church bells at St James’ in Trowbridge on Saturday (May 8) for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Mr Coward, of Farleigh Avenue, Trowbridge, said: “I was very proud to ring the bells for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and pleased that I was fit enough to ring again for the Coronation of King Charles III.”
Brian had bell-ringing in his blood after being born opposite St Michael’s Church in Mere near Warminster. His mother, Elsie, rang handbells, while his father Edward ‘Ted’ Coward rang the church bells.
When the family moved to Dorking, young Brian joined the choir at St Martin’s Parish Church, where the organist and choirmaster was Dr William Cole, a friend of the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Mr Coward said: “Dr Cole lived in Vaughan Williams’ old house in Dorking and I sang under Vaughan Williams at the Leith Hill Musical Festival founded by his sister Margaret when I was young.”
After moving to Trowbridge, Mr Coward became captain of the St James’ Church bellringing team from 1974 to 1998, before handing it over to Veronica Newman after having a heart bypass operation.
He retired from his job at the University of Bath in 2004 but kept on ringing the bells at St James’ and looking after his allotment off the Wingfield Road.
“I’m still in good health and ringing the bells helps to keep my mind active and me physically fit. It is very enjoyable,” Mr Coward said.
“I have no idea of when I will give it up. I will go on for as long as I can. I’ve still got a few years to go."
More than 120 churches throughout Wiltshire, from Alvediston to Yatesbury rang their bells over the Coronation weekend.
Team captain Veronica Newman said: "Bellringers of all abilities from learners to advanced came together to ring for the Coronation.
"It really felt like a celebration and everyone joined in ringing from rounds and call changes to firing (all 12 bells sounding at once).
"This was followed by a Quarter Peal on 10 bells on Sunday, May 7 which took 51 minutes to ring."
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