The missing bells. A story of my Granddad.

Phillip was 8 in 1940, he was a bell ringer boy (campanologist) his older brother Jeoff was 16. Before the war he would ring the Highclere church bells, but not only that church. He would cycle for up to 60 miles every Sunday. Highclere church was the most beautiful church you could imagine, as the ornate carvings sweeping up and down the stone walls are the most lifelike carvings anyone could manage.

One day Phillip's Mother came up to him when he was cycling up to the church, "Philip," she called in a slightly grave tone "you are not to ring the bells at our church anymore." "Why not?" Philip was as usual, curious. "They need the bells for something else" Philips mother had long since mastered the art of lying smoothly, even when she should have told the truth. Philip trudged towards the chipped table , towards more homework, which he hated. and away from the bells that he loved.

Phillip managed to keep himself from the church for the day, but couldn't keep himself from the castle, especially when his mother walked up the hill towards the gothic gates. He held in his muddy hand the ornately written shopping list his other had given him. She was a secretary at the castle and had the most elaborate handwriting, Jeoff was off with his friend Christopher, as he always was when his mother went to the castle. Phillip always played with Tom, who was on this occasion ill with the flu, so Phillip was left to play by himself which he always hated. His mother entered the castle long before he dared to creep in.

When he finally plucked up his courage he was greeted by John, who was 18 and kept the gardens of the castle. He no longer wanted to go inside the castle but instead trotted beside John until they came to the recreational grounds, "Want to do some gardening?" John asked before continuing to whistle, "you bet!" exclaimed Philip, he then tried to whistle the same tune as John. He knew it was the nostalgic tune that he would be playing on the bells if his mother hadn't stopped him.

That evening Jeoff dropped by to ask if he could camp in the recreational grounds with his friends, Phillips mother immediately grated permission as she couldn't bear Jeoffs moans when he didn't get his way. As Phillips mother began to set the table Phillip crept out of the backdoor and sprinted up the road to the church without looking back. He just had to ring the bells. He crept silently up the creaky wooden steps of the bell tower, and pulled the ropes of the bells 1, 2, 3 , 4 times. He hears a sudden clash of snapping wood.

"WHERE ARE THEY! WHERE ARE THEY!!" he heard several voices shouting - it was those voices that sounded suspiciously like old Beans', Cranky Bobs' and the rest of Dads' army...

"WHO!" Phillip shouted as he tumbled down the stairs, "WHY, YOU RUNG THE BELLS, THAT MEANS THE GERMANS!"

Phillip, after long explanation, was forgiven by the Home guard and granted permission to ring the bells, one last time, the next morning.

Phillip slept in. There wasn't any school as a fire had occurred in the school little over a week ago. He slept until 10:17. He suddenly remembered the bells, he leaped out of bed, shoved yesterdays clothes on and sprinted out the door and down the street. He ran up the rickety stairs, and pulled the old rope. It came away in his hands.

The bells were gone.