Redditch sailor helps ring in London 2012

Buy photos » Commodore Mike Mansergh (left) prepares for the bell to be rung by Jake Byford, whilst Leading Physical Trainer Stevie Kennedy prepares to time the event. (s)

A REDDITCH sailor helped mark the start of London 2012 by ringing the ship's bell at his naval training base for an unprecedented three minutes.

Jake Byford was selected to ring the bell of HMS Collingwood in Fareham along with commanding officer Commodore Mike Mansergh CBE as he was the youngest trainee at the base at the time of the event.

The bell ringing was part of a national project called 'All the Bells' which involved ringing as many bells of differing types as possible, simultaneously at 8.12am today (Friday) in locations across the country to celebrate the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The former Arrow Vale High School pupil only joined the navy in April and is still undergoing his professional career training as an engineering technician (weapon engineer) at HMS Collingwood. He will spend five months there before going to sea on board a warship to put his training into practice.

"It was an honour to be selected to take part in the bell ringing ceremony," he said.

"The hosting of the Olympics is a momentous occasion for our country and to be part of it, no matter how small, is an amazing and humbling experience."

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