Ringing endorsement for Castle Bromwich bells film

A SHORT film which charted efforts to restore the church bells at Castle Bromwich has received recognition in a national contest.
The documentary-style feature was shot by Michael Finney and received a four star rating at this year’s British International Amateur Film Competition.
The eight-minute film revealed the race to have the new bells ready for the wedding of a local couple, who had chosen to tie the knot at St Mary and St Margaret’s last August.
It was originally intended that the new bells would be completed several days before vows were exchanged, but various delays meant that the work continued until the last minute.
The film also features footage taken during casting at Taylor’s bell foundry, in Loughborough, and the painstaking working involved in hanging the new ring in the belfry. Some of the problems which pushed back the original schedule left church trustees Bill Dargue and Stuart Stanton concerned that the project would not be completed in time for the couple’s big day.
As it happened, the work was finished just in time and the bells rang out during the service.
Mr Finney’s film was screened at the Amateur Film Festival, in Harrogate, Yorkshire, on April 14.