THE bells of Truro Cathedral will ring out loud and proud when it hosts the South West 12 Bell Striking Competition on Saturday, October 10.

Nine teams of ringers from across the region will participate, including bands from prestigious rings of 12 such as Exeter Cathedral (last years’ winners) and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol.

Each team will ring 264 changes of the classic method “Grandsire Cinques”, to be marked by expert independent judges assisted by specialist computer software (known affectionately to ringers as “Hawk-ear”).

A draw will take place at 10.30am to determine the teams’ ringing order, which will not be shared with the judges. Ringing will start soon afterwards, continuing into the afternoon. Each team will be permitted 15 minutes of practice time to accustom themselves to the bells, followed by 15 minutes to perform the test piece. The result: four and a half hours of bellringing time throughout the day.

As well as the 108 participating ringers, organisers are expecting a significant turnout of spectators and supporters.

It’s the first time Truro Cathedral has hosted the contest. Cornwall’s only cathedral has had the Duchy’s single 12-bell tower since its ring of 10 was augmented in 2011. The bells are rung every Sunday for the Eucharist service and Evensong, as well for special services, weddings and funerals, and to mark occasions of local and national significance including the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and the coronation of King Charles III.

Having started his ringing career at the tender age of 10 in his home county of Dorset, retired vicar John Hereward, 73, is now chaplain to the bellringing team, which counts around 30 volunteers among its number.

“Many of the visiting teams will come from parish churches with 12 bells,” he explained. “There are many such churches, but not all of them have an active bellringing band of 12 – it really is a minority sport.

“I call it my dementia prevention – it’s sociable and physical, and keeps the brain cells going, all that and more.”