Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists Pulling Up at Exeter Cathedral

A group of bell-ringing motorcyclists will be parking their modern, retro, and vintage bikes outside the West Front of Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 11 May, before proceeding inside to ring the cathedral’s bells.

The visit by The National Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists Club is just one stop in their tour of churches and cathedrals across the UK, and their first visit to the South West since 2019. A spokesperson for the National Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists Club said that they are particularly excited to find some “time for socialising over a cream tea on the seafront,” while they are in the region.

Paul Pascoe, Secretary to Exeter Cathedral’s own Society of Ringers, said he is delighted to welcome the visiting team:

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists Society on Saturday morning. They include experienced ringers from all over the country and have rung at so many prestigious cathedrals and abbeys. We look forward not only to hearing their ringing, but also to seeing their mix of motorbikes.

“Special permission has been granted by the cathedral for the motorbikes to be parked across the West Front apron whilst they ring, so we hope this will be an additional attraction for our visitors.”

The Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists Society is made up of people from across the UK, with a passion for both bellringing and motorcycles. Organisers of their South West Tour hope that Devon will offer the group some stunning scenic roads to enjoy en route to Exeter Cathedral, which is thought to have the world’s second heaviest set of bells for full-circle ringing.

Visitors to Exeter’s Cathedral Green on the day will be able to admire both the sounds of the cathedral bells and the variety of motorbikes lined up in front of the building’s famous medieval West Front.

The National Bell-Ringing Motorcyclists club will be visiting Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 11 May, from 10am-11:30am.