Abbey-The Runners' Bell

Four years ago, I lost my lovely wife Catherine to breast cancer. 'Abbey' is a celebration of two of her favourite activities: bell-ringing and running.Taking her name from Abbey Runners, Catherine's running club in Leeds,  'Abbey' will be one of the 10 new bells at St George's Anglican Church, Vernet-les-Bains, in Southern France. We bought a small holiday home in Vernet in 2001, and it's where I now live for a good part of each year. Catherine loved helping others and worked as a careers adviser in and around Mirfield, West Yorkshire. It's entirely fitting that half the funds raised by 'Abbey' will be donated to the Hollybank Trust. Based in Mirfield, the Trust offers education, activities and accommodation to around 100 adults and young people with special needs. 'Abbey' has the full support of Abbey Runners; you can help them by organising and sponsoring a running and/or ringing event, or maybe by just donating a quid or two every time you do your weekly run, beat that PB or ring a quarter or a peal. Whatever you do, enjoy it, please tell us about it and don't forget to mention if you're an Abbey Runner! All the events and donations will be recorded on the ringing-room wall, inside the church at St George's. 'Abbey' will be cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough on Thursday 13th December and all ten bells will be installed in time for Easter next year.