Just over forty years ago, HM Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee, and here at Exeter Cathedral we marked the event in a very special way – a new treble bell was cast by John Taylors Bellhangers of Loughborough.
The ‘Jubilee 10’ is a special combination of 10 of the 14 Cathedral bells that includes the available semi-tone bells to produce a lighter/brighter sound. It includes the newest and lightest bell which is called ‘Jubilee’ (which was installed following the Queen’s Silver Jubilee) and one of the oldest bells ‘Cobthorne’ (cast in 1676) as the largest bell.
On Saturday 19th May, HRH Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle, and so the Cathedral Society of Ringers will be attempting a full peal on the Jubilee Ten on the morning of their wedding day. Being lighter, the bells are slightly easier to ring, and so a full peal attempt will usually only last about three and a half hours – but a perfect way for the city to join in the national celebrations, as bells ring out across the country.
The Exeter Cathedral Society will attempt to ring a full peal of 5040 different changes (in the method called London No. 3 Surprise Royal) on the ‘Jubilee 10’ to celebrate the event.