Guernsey Vale Church steeple keeper looking for someone to takeover

The 84-year-old is looking for someone to take on the role as he's knees can't handle the climb anymore

A steeple keeper is looking for someone to take over his role due to having "bad knees".

John David said he had been in the role at The Vale Church in Guernsey for between 30 and 40 years.

The 84-year-old moved back to Guernsey in 1977 and said his passion for bell ringing began at university.

Mr David said his wife, Nicky, goes up and down the bell frames with him to help with repairs and other jobs.

He said: "Starting from the top, there is a clock. Further down there are seven bells, six ringing bells and a chiming bell that we use for occasional service."

"My knees won't let me climb up and down bell frames and ladders with ease any longer. I don't want to get stuck up there because I got down in the bell piece and can't get out."

John David said whoever takes over from him will need to be good with heights

Mr David said the role involves going up the bell frames once a month to monitor the bell ropes, and to change them if necessary, among many other jobs.

He also said the clock hammers and wires "go wrong more often than anything else".

Although Mr David said someone with bell ringing experience would be a good match, it could also be someone who is "mechanically able".

"They need to remember these are big bells, so the hammer is going to be a reasonable weight," he said.

"You need to be able to climb ladders, the outside one has 20-something rungs and is open to the elements."