Church bells toll across Daventry District in memory of Prince Philip

Church bells will sound across Daventry and the surrounding villages as the county joins the nation in saying farewell to Prince Philip on Saturday.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away last week aged 99, will be laid to rest on Saturday at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Church bells tolled across the district on Saturday afternoon. Several tolled 99 times - once for each year of the Prince's life.

These included Holy Cross, Daventry, Badby, Barby, Great Brington, Newnham, Preston Capes and Whilton.

A library picture of Daventry bellringers.

On behalf of Daventry branch of Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers, Geoff Pullin, who lives in Badby, said the bells have been ringing half-muffled.

"This is achieved by strapping a leather pad on to one side of each clapper so that the bell sounds alternately normal (loud) and muffled, thus giving a melancholy echo effect," he said.

Ringing was restricted due to the coronavirus lockdown. Restrictions are now starting to ease and the bells will be rung again this weekend.

Will you be paying respects to Prince Philip? Email the Daventry Express on [email protected] to share your tributes.