“What a wonderful way to start the day,” Reverend David Hill whispered as the bells of St John’s Anglican Church tolled at dawn to celebrate the birth of the future king of England (and Australia).
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The new “His Royal Highness [name] of Cambridge” aka Baby Cambridge, who is now third in line to the throne, was welcomed into the world shortly after 5.30am AEST on Tuesday.
As congratulations flooded in from the Prime Minster Kevin Rudd, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and the Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Canberra was gently woken by maestro campanologist Matthew Stokoe, who began playing the eight bells at the Reid Church shortly after 7am.
It had been 53 years since the bells at St Johns rang out to signify the birth of a new monarch, a tradition which started with Reverend Hill’s father, Archdeacon Fred M. Hill, but died when the family left Canberra.
“I remember the Canberra Times calling the house at around 2am asking if we were going to ring the bells now that Prince Andrew was born. It had been tradition for many years to ring the bells at the church when a royal baby was born,” Reverend Hill said.
Mr Hill Jnr has since returned to Canberra as the minister of the church and is keen to reinstate the stately tradition at the historic Church, which is the chapel of choice for the Queen when she visits Canberra.
As Canberra’s youngest bell ringer, Matthew, is also keen to keep the tradition of ringing in the news of a royal birth. On Tuesday morning he arduously tolled for more than 30 minutes and also had the chance to practice his best Big Ben inspired bell movements by chiming in the 7.30am and 8am time call.
“I look forward to the next little one coming along,” Rev. Hill said.
“At least we’ll all get a bit of break now, for nine months at least.”
The Carillion is set to stage a similar spectacle to commemorate the royal baby during working hours on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the National Capital Authority said Canberrans can expect a "special flashmob type recital".
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the ACT will be sending a congratulatory gift to the newest royal.
“It’s great to hear of the safe arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son and have today written to the couple to offer my congratulations,” she said.
“On behalf of the people of Canberra the ACT government will be gifting a commemorative Canberra Centenary Medallion to the baby.”
The gift puts the new Prince in a special league of newborns, as he joins Canberra's Centenary babies who were all congratulated with the same gift for making their entrance into the world on Canberra's 100th birthday earlier this year.
with Hamish Boland-Rudder
