Great George to chime for anniversary of University’s Royal Charter

Great George, the nine-and-a-half-ton bell in the tower of the University of Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building, will ring for five minutes at 1 pm on Wednesday 25 May to mark the anniversary of the University’s Royal Charter.
Great George, the nine-and-a-half-ton bell in the tower of the University of Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building, will ring for five minutes at 1 pm on Wednesday 25 May to mark the anniversary of the University’s Royal Charter.

Charter Day marks the date, 24 May 1909, when King Edward VII granted the University its Royal Charter enabling it to confer degrees and formally establishing the University of Bristol.

Huw Lloyd-Jones, Deputy Director of Campaigns & Alumni Relations at the University, said: “It is important to commemorate such a momentous occasion in both the city’s and University’s history. We hope the ringing of Great George will remind people that the Charter has enabled the University to evolve into one of the most sought after academic establishments in the country.

“The University, which has students and staff from over 100 countries, forms an important part of Bristol’s history. The event is a celebration of its shared heritage with the city from which it grew, and the University looks forward to playing a significant role in the region’s future.” 

Great George will be rung by the University of Bristol Society of Change Ringers, led by Matthew Tosh, one of the Society’s alumni members.