Bells across the world will ring out on Sunday 11th November to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. As usual, many towers will ring half-muffled in the morning for Remembrance services. SCACR is encouraging as many towers as possible to also ring with bells un-muffled at 12.30 pm, as requested by the Government. This will coincide with the procession of 10,000 members of the public past the Cenotaph ("A Nation's Thank You - the People's Procession"), and with the ringing of bells across Europe. The UK government, supported by the German government, has invited nations to participate in international bell ringing to replicate the national outpouring of relief that took place at the end of the war.
We are delighted Sussex has 98 “Ringing Remembers” recruits, who will be taking part in the commemorative ringing on 11th November.
Your local communities may also be involved in Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute evening activities when later, at 6.55pm, buglers will sound the Last Post across the country and at 7pm beacons will burn to ‘signify the light of peace that emerged from the four years of war’. At 7.05pm church and cathedral bells will ring out.
We encourage all ringers to respond as they see fit, taking into account the wide variety of local circumstances. Bell Towers will be able to receive special certificates for ringing at 12.30pm on 11 November to recognise their contribution to the UK Government’s national WW1 centenary commemorations.
Please link your remembrance day ringing to the official Bellboard event to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. The Ringing World is also looking for special photographs to mark the occasion in its published coverage. You can link photographs to performances, submit them independently via the ‘Add Photos’ link on the left panel, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Make sure you link your performance so that it can be included. [N.B. This requires a BellBoard account. Click "register" to join BB for free (no RW subscription required)]
‘A Nation’s Thank you - The People’s Procession’
As news of the Armistice spread in November 1918, church bells, which had fallen silent across the UK during the First World War, rang out in celebration. Bells will ring out around the world at 12:30 pm on 11th November 2018, to symbolise the national outpouring of relief that took place at the end of the war. Ten thousand members of the public will march past the Cenotaph at this time, to mark the centenary of the Armistice. Ringing and the People’s Procession will take place after the conclusion of The Royal British Legion’s Veteran Dispersal and March Past the Cenotaph, which follows the National Service of Remembrance on 11 November 2018. Bell ringing and the People’s Procession both form part of the national commemoration events for the centenary of the Armistice in London, and will be followed by a service at Westminster Abbey in the evening.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said: “On the centenary of the Armistice, it is right that we come together to give thanks to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who returned home to help shape the world we live in today. The 11th of November offers us a unique opportunity to show our appreciation for the generation who gave so much to secure this hard fought victory.”
The People’s Procession will provide an opportunity for those taking part to give thanks to all those who served in the First World War to secure the victory that helped shape the rights and privileges we enjoy today. Members of the public were invited to apply for tickets for the People’s Procession through a ballot.
