A TRAVELLING trio of friends who are touring the county to find people to teach them all a skill have visited Pewsey and Milton Lilbourne to learn a few things from their temporary tutors.

Matthew Bowen, 28, who is originally from Malmesbury, with his two friends Alice Albery, 28, from Salisbury, and Nick Street, 29, from Poole, who all live in Westby Road, Bournemouth, were contacted about a couple of lessons in the Marlborough area on Tuesday (October 11).

Mr Bowen, a freelance writer, said: “The tour is going really well, we have been to Sussex, London and now Wiltshire. Wiltshire has been lovely, it is a wonderful part of the country, but we still have a few counties left.”

After launching an appeal in the Gazette & Herald, as well as online, the trio found themselves invited to St Peter’s Church in Milton Lilbourne to learn how to ring church bells.

Miss Albery, a speech therapist, said: “The day went really well, I was really surprised by how fun the bell ringing was. Chris Wardell at the church was very helpful and friendly and was very eager to show us how to ring the bells. It is a lot more dangerous than you think it is, it has to be very well timed too.”

After visiting the church in The Street, the trio rushed off to The Swan in Enford, Pewsey, to learn the tricks of the trade from owner Pete Jefferies.

Mr Street, a photographer, said: “It was a fascinating pub, we were taught how to pull a pint, how to clean the tubes and how to tell if an ale has been sitting in the barrel for too long. Pete really knew his stuff and he was very passionate about his work.”

The team has now finished its Wiltshire leg of the tour, but hope to return to Milton Lilbourne to revisit the church.

Mr Bowen added: “In a couple of weeks it would be nice to go back to St Peter’s, just to say thank you and see if we can have another go. If anyone would like to know more about ringing the bells at Milton Lilbourne, please contact Chris Wardell on 07887 663663 or chris@thewardells.com, learners always very welcome.”