In 1919 Loughborough in Leicestershire commissioned a war memorial to the men who gave their lives in the service of their country.  The memorial, which was completed in 1923, took the form of a 46 metre high tower which housed a carillon and is known as the Carillon Tower.  Elgar, who was greatly moved by events during the Great War, was commissioned to write a piece for the carillon entitled “Memorial Chimes”, 

To mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the memorial, a Civic Thanksgiving Service was held on Saturday 22 July 2023 at which a new work, “Silent Chimes”, by local composer Pip Greasley, was performed by Carillonneur, Caroline Sharpe.  The title of the new piece reflects the fact that the carillon has two levers which do not sound.  They are used as a symbolic gesture that serves to remind us of the sacrifices made by families and children caught up in the Great War and in subsequent conflicts.  

The ceremony was attended by Chairman Stuart Freed, pictured here with Cllr. Margaret Smidowicz, Mayor of Charnwood and composer Pip Greasley.