20/6/03  The Rt. Worshipful the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Betty Campbell, hosted a reception for Hillsborough ringers at the City Council offices. She paid tribute to the tower's successes, gave us a guided tour of the Council Chamber then presented tower captain, Simon Walker, with a plaque bearing the City Council coat of arms.  

11/8/03   The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths rang a peal of Stedman Caters. On a fine sunny morning it was a special treat for the village and its tourist visitors. 

25/8/03 The Exonian Society paid a visit and treated the village to a quarter peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal.

05/10/03  The official opening of the 'Downshire Centre'; a new complex of halls near the church. Guests included our former rector, Canon John Barry, and the 8th Marquis of Downshire. A quarter peal of PB triples was rung after the dedication ceremony.

29/12/03  A peal of Grandsire Doubles was rung which must have carried well over the village in the sub zero temperatures of the day. Certainly Stan Scott, Alan King, Simon Walker, Jean Jeffery, Don McLean & Edmund White felt the Arctic draughts that ensured no-one was going to break into a sweat !

11/1/04 We rang a quarter peal of PB Doubles to mark the death, on 18th Dec., of Arthur Robin Ian Hill, 8th Marquis of Downshire.

24/5/04 The St James Guild visited and rang the first ever peal of Hillsborough Delight Royal; truly a delight to listen to on a glorious sunny day.   

07/8/04  Society of Royal Cumberland Youths rang a peal of London Royal No3.

16/6/05  The Lancashire Association rang a peal of Bristol Surprise Royal.

22/6/05.  At last!  The steeple jacks have removed the scaffolding and we can see a 'refreshed' tower and listen again to the carillon & chimes marking out the days for us.    

03/12/05  Our tower featured this morning on the BBC Radio Ulster 'Your Place & Mine' programme. A snatch of ringing and brief chats with Simon, Alistair, Norman & Stan were an eloquent reminder to the province of the human 'story' behind the sound of church bells.

15/3/06   With deep regret and sadness we announce the death of our esteemed member Jonathan Hanna. We will particularly miss his infectious spirit and optimism.

19/3/06  We rang the 10 bells half muffled this morning; stopping half way through for a minute's silence as a mark of respect for our departed colleague.

20/3/06   Band of Ancient Society of College Youths rang a peal of Grandsire Caters here.  It was rung half muffled and dedicated to the memory of Jonathan Hanna. 

24/3/06  The funeral this afternoon saw a packed church celebrate the life of our departed friend Jonathan. The sadness of hundreds was tinged with humour as the RM, paying a moving tribute to his longtime friend, challenged the congregation  to remember JH for his qualities, fortitude and humour; above all his zest for life.  Burial took place in the adjoining churchyard; very close to the tower.  Future competition teams may be depleted but his enthusiastic spirit will remain with us.  Twenty five ringers took part in the ringing -- with others present -- and over eleven towers were represented. We were pleased that IACR President, Ian McCullagh, was able to join us.   

09/4/06  We rang a quarter peal of PB Doubles this evening to commemorate the life of Jonathan Hanna (1971-2006), a ringer of 17yrs at this tower.

20/4/06  At the 2005 AGM our RM expressed concern about getting more recruits. Yesterday saw a reaction to that concern when Lauren White 'tied the knot' with the man she recruited to the tower, Sean Wilson. The 10 bells rang out before and after the ceremony and all later adjourned to the reception where food and craic saw a further enhancement of 'band bonding' !

22/4/06 A further request of the RM at that AGM was that we acquired something more to use silver polish on. Today we visited Ballymena and brought home the Cunningham Cup and a 'ticket' to the Murphy Cup in Kilkenny. A fitting tribute to the memory of our late colleague Jonathan.

21/5/06  3 years & 3 days later we have managed to bring the Murphy Cup back to Hillsborough. Success at St Canice's Cathedral yesterday was the highlight of a very enjoyable trip to Kilkenny for the band and 'support group' and our captain, dedicated the win to the memory of Jonathan Hanna. We all stayed the night in Kilkenny and "the craic was mighty" at a 'late' gathering!  

20/09/06  With deep sadness we record the death this evening of our former rector and ringer, Rev. Canon John Barry; a life member of the IACR.  Our sympathy is extended to Eileen and the extended family. For 57 years we have been the beneficiaries of his support; his leadership, guidance and friendship. Much will be written; much will be remembered; not least of his great zest for life and challenges. In our sorrow it is our time to be glad for him.    

30/09/06  We said our farewells today to John Barry; our longtime rector, friend and supporter of bellringing. Aided by friends from other towers we had 21 ringers in action at the funeral service. Also ringing were our two veterans (in their mid 80's) G.White and N Johnston.  We rang the unmuffled 10 for an hour beforehand; preceded by prayers and marked halfway by a short period of silent remembrance. Instead of the tenor, the 2 was used for the ' 5 minute bell '... the bell inscribed "I am John".  Despite pouring rain hundreds attended a moving service which paid due tribute to our departed friend; incl. clergy and bishops and His Grace, the Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, Dr Robin Eames. Ringers were amongst those who bore the coffin from the church to the adjoining graveyard. Not for a few, the Canon's passing truly marks the end of an era.  

6/10/06  Some of our ringers went to Liverpool as part of a 22 strong band on a tour of 6 Liverpool bell towers.We rang at the Anglican Cathedral, Pier Head, Tuebrook, Garston, Everton & Childwall; enjoyed the bells, the exercise and the craic... and our RM got to ring the heaviest bell in the highest tower on the tour !   

30/11/06  Thanks to fast work by the Hayward Mills team our 'suspension of ringing' is -- at last -- suspended: Wheels on and bell frame looking like new.  Coupled with long  needed refurbishment of the stone stairway our tower situation is much improved.

30/12/06  A quarter peal of PB Doubles was rung today in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of the late Canon John Barry (1915-2006); rector from 1949 to1983.  

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