Composer upset over bells curfew

Mr Decio wrote the symphony in tribute to the cathedral

A noise curfew has dashed the hopes of a composer who wanted the bells of Gloucester Cathedral to sound during the premiere of his new symphony.

Colin Decio, 48, intended to have the chimes ringing during the performance of his work at the city's cathedral.

He said officials had shown a "lack of foresight" by refusing to relax the 2100 BST curfew.

The Rev Canon Celia Thomson said there would be "a lot of complaints" if the bye-law was broken.

'Let down'

Mr Decio, a graduate of Birmingham College of Music, said: "It's such a shame the bells won't be heard because the piece was written in tribute to the cathedral and to celebrate the new millennium in Gloucester.

"I hope it will also help people forget the floods that struck the county 12 months ago.

"The bells would have been the icing on the cake, but the curfew has stopped that.

I'm sorry because we do everything we can to help people but there are some things we can't do. Rev Canon Celia Thomson

"We have hand chimes now, which are wonderful but they are not the same. I do feel let down, and I think there is a lack of foresight there."

Ms Thomson said: "As far as I know there is a bye-law saying that bells cannot ring after 9pm.

"I think there would a lot of complaints otherwise.

"I'm sorry because we do everything we can to help people but there are some things we can't do. Our bell-ringers are very obliging.

"I have heard one of Mr Decio's string quartets before and I'm sure I will like the symphony too - even without the bells."

The Gloucester Symphony was being performed at the cathedral on Saturday night.