WHEN a joyous peal of bells heralded the Queen's arrival in Darlington recently, a band of enthusiasts was simply following a tradition dating back to the seventeenth century.

Call changes and a touch of grandsire triples were provided by the ten adults and two 12-year-olds who made up the team at St Cuthbert's Church. They rang for 40 minutes, up to the Queen's arrival in the market square.

Team captain, David Roberts, said it was a fairly simple piece because quite a few learners were involved, but there were two others in the pipeline to celebrate the jubilee year.

"The jubilee delight minor is something we can work on in Darlington alone but we will need to recruit very experienced ringers for the Queen Elizabeth II jubilee surprise major."

The original six bells and their replacements have rung out for sombre and happy occasions over the centuries - for kings and queens, defeats and victories, funerals and weddings.

The early custom was to pay the ringers according to the occasion so that the records show they received five shillings for the Duke of Monmouth's return after his campaign against the Scottish Covenanters and the victory at Bothwellbrig in 1678.

A particularly good performance for the Duke of York in 1795, as he went up to and returned from Newcastle, netted them 18 bob. And an extremely "hard day" of ringing for the queen's funeral in 1818 saw them collecting £2 4s.

Mr Roberts said a fully muffled peal of grandsire triples was rung for almost three hours in mourning for George VI in 1952 and a quarter peal of Stedman triples rang for 45 minutes for the Queen's coronation.

"It is most probable that the bells would have been rung on the wedding days of Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and for Charles and Diana. Similarly the bells would probably have been rung to celebrate the Queen's silver jubilee," he added.

They certainly rang for the Princess of Wales' funeral; on February 6 this year to mark the Queen's jubilee and also for the death of the Queen Mother and her subsequent funeral.

St Cuthbert's dates back to the twelfth century but it was 200 years before the spacious belfry and tower were added and four bells were introduced.

By the eighteenth century there were six bells, but so broken and cracked that a subscription fund was set up to buy a new set. A set of chimes was added by James Harrison of Barrow-on-Humber in Lincolnshire. He was the brother of John Harrison, famous for making the first marine chronometer.

In 1866, during the great restoration of the church, the bells were taken down and five re-cast.

"At that time Joseph Pease offered to provide the town hall clock and bells for the new market tower," said Mr Roberts. "The somewhat incredible story says that when the first two bells arrived they were too big. But, by an amazing coincidence, they completed the St Cuthbert's bells, being exactly the right weight and notes."

Team captains like to catch their ringers young and it is said that, once established, this particular hobby keeps you fit and active into old age.

That is supported by a poem in the belfry telling of Mr T Preston, who died there at the age of 85 in 1872.

Ringing also seems to be a family affair, which in Mr Roberts' case has involved his wife, Gill, and both his sons.

"I started when I was 12 and it is so mentally challenging people over 30 can't cope with it," he said.

"I think it is mainly understanding the type of music and also the level of concentration.

"Eleven-year-olds are not quite mature enough, but by 12 to 13 they are getting a sounder understanding of what is going on. Our oldest ringer is getting on for 80.

"Technique can also be important and one of our daintiest ladies has no trouble with our heaviest bell, the tenor."

Once you are a bell ringer, it is a passport to friendship almost everywhere you go.

"I have a wide range of sporting hobbies, but there is nothing to equal the social side of bell ringing. I work away and I can go out into any part of the country and make friends instantly," Mr Roberts said.

"We have a book of the bell towers and which evenings they ring. The bells vary in character from tower to tower. Some are easy, others more challenging. I have rung at most cathedrals in the country, including St Paul's. I can turn up and be made very welcome."

He often visits Durham Cathedral for Friday night practice, sometimes taking learners along for the experience.

The Darlington team is affiliated to the Durham and Newcastle Dioceses' Association of Church Ringers, which holds an annual competition, but the strength is pretty low in South Durham and the Darlington team has not won since the Seventies.

"It used to be traditional to recruit from congregations, but they are becoming thinner and older," added Mr Roberts.

St Cuthbert's also has a set of handbells and for the last two years has combined with a group from All Saints' Church to play in the town over Christmas.

"We always raise about £1,000 for charity," Mr Roberts said.

The bell tower will be open to the public on September 22 as part of the town's English Heritage trail, but Mr Roberts would love to hear at any time from teenagers with an interest in trying their hand.

The team practises on Monday evenings and is keen to maintain a steady intake of learners. Telephone 01325 284803 for further information