CHURCH bells will chime in memory of a man who spent his life ringing in a village church.

Brian Sayer, 69, has lived in Tolleshunt D’Arcy for most of his life.

Brother Raymond was the tower captain at St Nicholas’ Church before he died after suffering from heart failure, aged just 52.

Brian is now calling for fellow bell-ringers to join him to ring a quarter peal in memory of his brother.

Brian said: “I lost my brother 25 years ago over Christmas.

“He was tower captain of St Nicholas’ Church at the time.

“Bell-ringing has been in the family for over 120 years so I’m doing a quarter peal in December to mark the anniversary of my brother’s death and to remember his time ringing the bells.

“Although the bells at D’Arcy are sadly not able to ring at the moment, we’re doing it in Tollesbury, another local tower he rang for when he was alive.”

A quarter peal is usually rung before evensong or a special service, or to celebrate an important event.

Brian is also fighting to restore the historic St Nicholas’ Church bells so they can ring out once again. It will cost a minimum of £85,000 and Brian is urging people to get involved.

He added: “I’ve now taken position of tower captain at D’Arcy and hold small events there to raise money so the bells can be restored back to what they were.

“The bell frame was originally installed in 1987 but it now needs a new one at the cost of £85,000.

“I’ve been holding bingo nights every third Sunday of the month to raise a bit of money.”

Raymond learned to ring in 1950 through his father, uncles, cousins and sister Valerie who was the first female ringer at St Nicholas’, and enjoyed bell-ringing up until his death in 1994.

Brian is also appealing for any bell-ringers who rang with Raymond in the past to come forward to join the memorial.

The next bingo night is on Sunday, October 27 at 6.30pm at the Queen’s Head pub in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.