AFTER two years of fund-raising and nearly five months away at the foundry, the six bells of St Paternus Church, South Petherwin made their triumphant return to the village on the afternoon of Friday, May 18.

David Smith Packaging in Launceston, who generously transported them to and from Taylors Bell Foundry in Loughborough, marked the start of their public journey.

Loaded onto a flat bed trailer, kindly lent for the occasion by Mark Thomas, they were linked up to two steam engines — 'Cracker', driven by owner John Wakeham, and the mighty 'Colossus' driven by owner and bell captain, John Atkinson, with Paul Curtis bringing up the rear on his vintage Fordson Major tractor.

They were pulled along the A30 to Kennards House, via Tregadillett, so that the school children there could catch a glimpse of them, then on into South Petherwin, where they arrived to a tumultuous welcome from all the children and teachers of the village school, their parents, and dozens of villagers.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.