The Lincoln Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers

Bells peal out for the Grenadier Guards

On Thursday 8th May 2008 (VE Day), the City of Lincoln paused to witness the pomp and grandeur of the Queen’s and the Nijmegen companies of the Grenadier Guards exercising their right to parade/march through the City of Lincoln with Colours flying, bayonets fixed and bands playing. The regiment paraded in their distinctive scarlet, full dress uniform with bearskin busbies which made for a very colourful spectacle.

This came after the Grenadier Guards were awarded the honour of being granted the freedom of the City of Lincoln in a ceremony which took place at the Guild Hall earlier that day. They now join RAF Waddington, RAF Scampton and the Royal Anglian Regiment, all of whom have been granted the freedom of the City of Lincoln over the years.

Shortly before 1130 traffic and pedestrians in the City centre of Lincoln came to a standstill as the police cleared the way for the parade. Then at exactly 1130 the parade set off from Tentercroft Street, and the bells at St Mary le Wigford Church pulled off in rounds before going into changes for a Quarter Peal.

The Regiment marched up the High Street, passing St Mary le Wigford Church, to the City War Memorial. It was here that the parade came to a halt and the official salute to the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Hilton Spratt, and to members of Lincoln’s Civic Party took place. It also gave the Mayor the opportunity to inspect the Guards, after which three cheers were given by the regiment, before the parade continued on to City Hall.

The event was a very colourful and exciting occasion, with hundreds of people turning out to line the route to show their support, on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far. As well as shoppers, tourists and well wishers who stopped to watch the parade, many veterans turned out along with members of the Grenadier Guards Association Lincoln branch, and members of the Lincoln Army Cadet Force.

The bells at St Mary le Wigford, which is the Civic Church, and stands on the High Street in the centre of the City by the railway station, were requested to be rung especially for the occasion during the parade. After the Quarter Peal the ringers received many comments thanking them for ringing and saying how nice it was to hear the bells pealing out over the parade.

CITY of LINCOLN

S Mary le Wigford

1272 Plain Bob Minimus

1) John Fry
2) Janet M Risdale
3) Yvonne A Woodcock
4) Christopher C P Woodcock (C)

CCPW