Scotch College

Bell tolls for a new generation of Scotch boys

The Memorial Hall bell that once summoned generations of Old Scotch boys to classes, and – much more welcome – told them the school day was over, has been lovingly restored and placed back in its original position.

Removed from its spot on the Memorial Hall’s western wall many years ago, the bell had been safely stored in the School’s maintenance department. Funds generously provided by the class of 2006 have paid for the refurbishment, and with the help of Jim Derham (’56), the original bell and support structure have now been lovingly restored. Barry Gale Engineers designed the internal backing plates and tie rods used to secure the support structure through four courses of brickwork, braced back to the large oregon roof trusses.

Installation was coordinated and undertaken by staff from our own Maintenance Department: Greg McMahon (Maintenance Supervisor) and Colin White (Electrician/2IC), with help from Anthony Bakes.

To facilitate access into the roof space a nine-metre scaffold was erected inside the Memorial Hall at the mezzanine level. Externally a 40-metre, 20 tonne elevated work platform was required to hoist staff and the bell into position. Six new 25-millimetre-diameter bolt holes were core drilled through 460-millimetre-thick brickwork, and the support frame was bolted to the new backing plate. Extreme weather conditions (high winds) on the day tested some nerves, but determination prevailed.

The refurbished bell was safely reinstated to its original position on the Memorial Hall’s outer western wall on Friday 22 September, and now rings out proudly as in days of yore.

Bill Sciarretta