Bells mark time for students

The segments get longer on each quarter

The Parkinson chimes at Leeds University are 50 years old.

They have been providing a musical backdrop every quarter of an hour to students and staff since 14 May 1953.

The original tune, called the Leeds Quarters, was composed by the then Professor of Music James Denny.

He tested the tune on his colleagues in the School of Music by using bottles or tumblers part filled with water, on which he blew to create the different notes.

The Leeds Quarters is a more complex composition than the better-known Westminster chimes.

Longer segments

Historical musicologist Dr Richard Rastall said: "The Parkinson chimes have five notes in each segment to Westminster's four.

"Like Westminster's chimes, each quarter the segment gets longer, without repeating the previous segment."

Electrical student Chris Nicholson has researched the bells' history.

He said: "The bells were funded through a donation by Mr G W Chapman, given specifically for a luxury which the university authorities could not otherwise afford.

"Senior officers made visits to various churches in Leeds to compare the bells, as it was felt the Leeds bells should be of a large enough size to convey a dignity appropriate for the university."