As the lockdown due to Coronavirus casts its shadow over communities up and down the country, the Isle of Cumbrae has found a special way of saying 'Thank you' to the NHS.


For the last three Thursday evenings at 8pm, the Cathedral of The Isles steeple bells have rung out a joyous song in praise of the NHS and key workers helping to protect us from this deadly virus.
Local musician and historian, Alastair Chisholm BEM has been scaling the lofty heights of the bell tower to ring all eight bells. 
Hymns and folk tunes ranging from Alleluia, Sing to Jesus! to The Skye Boat Song are but two of the melodies you can hear.
Although there are now eight bells, this was not always the case. In 1995, the existing three bells were sent to Whitechapel Foundry, London (now sadly closed) to be recast and re-tuned. In addition a further five bells were cast. 
All eight bells returned to The Cathedral and were re-hung and set up to be played using the Ellacombe method.
Unlike the traditional method, this allows for one bell ringer only.
The bells will continue to ring out every Thursdays at 8pm and Sunday mornings at 11am during the current lockdown.
Retired island 'News' correspondent Mary Currie said it was 'wonderful to hear' the uplifting ringing of bells when people were out on the streets clapping our NHS heroes.
Alastair John Chisholm was awarded the BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2016 for Services to Music and Culture on the Isle of Cumbrae.