BACK in the 1970s I was a touring coach driver and guide.

Occasionally I was scheduled to be in the city of York, still my favourite city in the UK, on either a Sunday or bellringers’ practice night.

I joined the team and was always warmly welcomed both in the tower and for a beer afterwards at a local pub.

One time I was in York on St Peter’s day and was invited to ring Great Peter.

The tireless hard work of David Potter and the Sanderson family in money raising for the Minster tower and their physical work at this time was inspirational.

These fine people raised money to hang two semi-tone bells in the Minster belfry. These bells enable three scales of six bells and two of eight bells to be rung.

They also purchased a peal of bells from a disused church and hung them in another York church.

And their lifetime of hard work is rewarded with this treatment.

I have no doubt that their efforts were continued after I left to live in the USA in 1984.

I lost touch with the Minster ringers after 1984 but it was my pleasure and privilege to have known them.

It is not for me to offer an opinion as to how this matter is to be resolved but I hope it is to the satisfaction of this fine team of campanologists.

Roger Mitchell, Brookings, USA