Three local bell ringers including two young men from Ashton were part of a world record-breaking team - ringing for just under 18 hours non-stop.
The marathon peal in 1963 was rung in a soundproofed tower at Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough consisting of 40,320 changes (known as a ‘Plain Bob Major’) in an ‘extent of eight’ - the maximum permutation of eight bells.
The team led by Robert Smith, 25, of Ridge Road, Marple included Neil Bennett, 24, of Union Road and Ricky Shallcross, 17 of Russell Street, both Ashton.
With glucose tablets, biscuits and water as their only sustenance, it proved a huge test of stamina, especially for young Ricky.
Umpires - including Derek Ogden, a former ringing master at St Peter’s Church, Ashton were on hand to check all the ‘changes’ to make sure all were rung.
Robert, one of the North of England’s best known campanologists and a regular at All Saints Church, Marple, had organised previous record-breaking attempts.
As well as conducting the team he rang the heaviest bell of the eight (the six hundredweight tenor bell).
Neil, a research chemist with Oldham and Sons, Denton, was the current ringing master at St Peter’s. A former pupil of Audenshaw Grammar School, he had been ringing for nine years.
While Ricky, a keen cricketer with Ashton 3rd XI attended Ashton Grammar School. He started bell ringing aged nine and was now ringing master at Ashton Parish Church (St Michael’s).
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From the Reporter files - Thursday 4th September 2025
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