Repairs to Great Malvern Priory’s bell tower have got the green light after securing a lottery fund win. The £200,000 target was met when the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £90,200 to the appeal. Malvern MP Harriett Baldwin welcomed the award and congratulated the appeal team for completing the fund-raising efforts. The MP took a trip up Great Malvern Priory bell tower last year to inspect the bells and the housing which needs urgent repair work. The bells have been rung in Malvern since 1350 but the current wooden frame needs work to improve the support for the historic bells and prevent the whole tower from swinging as the bells are rung. Harriett commented: “This is great news for Great Malvern’s nine-hundred year old spiritual centre. “Like many local people, I have been a supporter of this appeal and I share the joy and gratitude that the target has been met. Work can now be scheduled to ensure the long-term future of the historic bells and a new generation of bell-ringers will be trained to use them.” Malvern Priory Ringer Tower Captain John Clements added: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will enable us to start the Bells project. “Malvern will continue to hear the joyous sound of the Priory’s bells, and new young people will be taught to ring the bells, and so continue the art and tradition of bell ringing.”