A SONGWRITER from Bere Regis hit the right notes in a national competition.

Linda Lamon reached the semi-finals of the UK Songwriting contest with a tune that was written to help the refurbishment of a 500-year-old bell tower in a church mentioned by Thomas Hardy in his famous book Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

She wrote The Bells of Bere Regis to help with a £60,000 fundraising effort for the parish church to refurbish its bells.

Hardy referred to Bere Regis in his novel as Kingsbere and Tess takes shelter there under a window that still features in the church.

Linda said: “I used to hear the bells ringing every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening on practice nights.

“It was a wonderful sound and it is sadly a traditional part of English village life that is disappearing, so I was keen to do something to help.”

The single was recorded in Poole by Linda with a trio of Purbeck musicians – Pip Evans, David George and Callum Gibson.

Local schoolchildren, the village ladies choir and Anuska Gilbert added vocals on the song, which was launched earlier this year with proceeds going to the bells fund. Linda said: “It’s been a busy and exciting time for me recently as I am putting together an album of my own songs and this semi-final place in the competition is the icing on the cake.”

Linda previously penned a charity song for former Queen guitarist Brian May’s ‘Save Me’ Badger and Cattle Vaccination Initiative.

The song, called The Badger and The Wren (Creatures of the Wood), was recorded in Dorchester.

A contest spokesman said: “The UK Songwriting Contest directors and judges include some of the world’s top Grammy, Emmy and BRIT Award-winning producers who have worked closely with such artists as Sting, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Kylie Minogue.

“There were over 6,000 entries this year and we are pleased that Linda Lamon achieved such impressive results.”

The Bells of Bere Regis is also in the running to win the Christian and Gospel section of the competition, with the results revealed in December.

Linda plans to release the song on iTunes to coincide with the re-dedication service for the newly refurbished bells, which are being returned to the tower after extensive work in Loughborough.

Copies of the CD can still be obtained to help further work on the bells at a cost of £3.50 plus postage. Email Linda via zeplammy@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

 

• The Bells of Bere Regis

The Bells of Bere Regis
The Bells of Bere Regis
Ring out their song
From St John the Baptist
To the village and beyond

For five hundred years
They’ve lent their soulful sound
To neighbours of this holy ground.

Ring, ring, ring loud and clear,
Bring, bring, your people near.
Lets hope, hope, your ancient chimes
Will live, live throughout time.

They lovingly call and invite us to pray
When the music peels, we're with you this day.