On Wednesday 30th June, the bells of St. Mary’s Church in Banbury are going to ring out a three hour peal between 6 and 9pm, to celebrate the deliverance of the town and the surrounding area from the downgrading of services at the Horton General Hospital and to celebrate the fact that the Horton will remain a General Hospital with more consultants and enhanced services.

The peal of bells has been arranged by local MP Tony Baldry

“I think it is very appropriate that a public and sustained peal of bells should ring out over Banbury to celebrate all that has been achieved over a seven year long campaign to “Keep the Horton General” .

It was in St. Mary’s Church that the previous leadership of the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust unsuccessfully tried to convince the local community to accept downgrading of services at the Horton.

We were having none of it.

Traditionally, church bells have rung to mark joyous celebration and I am very glad that the Linda Green, the Vicar of St. Mary’s, the Church Warden and the Tower Captain have all agreed for this special Peal of Bells to ring out over Banbury to mark the town’s deliverance from downgrading of services and to celebrate the enhancement of services at the Horton General Hospital.

In due course, a Peal Board will be made and erected in St. Marys’ – wood, painted black, with gold lettering, marking the occasion, setting out the names of the bell ringers, the date and the occasion it commemorates.”