In 2006, Mr Laith Reynolds was bestowed the prestigious position as Patron of the Bell Tower, Home of the Swan Bells, a position Mr Reynolds still holds today.

Appointed by the then Minister for Culture and the Arts, the title was given in recognition of his outstanding support and commitment to the Tower, the ancient art of change ringing, and in ensuring the creation of the world’s first dedicated change-ringing centre.

There is nowhere else in the world where people; participants or viewers, can experience change-ringing as they can at the Bell Tower in Perth.

Mr Reynolds has donated numerous items to the Towers extensive bell and clock collection including what is regarded as arguably the largest collection of bell related books in Australia, if not the world.  This remarkable collection includes books dating back to the 1800’s.

Through his travels Mr Reynolds continues to collect bells, clocks, books and artefacts from around the world to augment the outstanding collection and exhibits at The Bell Tower.

The Bell Tower Foundation is proud to have such a passionate advocate as Mr Laith Reynolds as their Patron and looks forward to continuing the relationship long into the future.

Brad Elborough is a freelance journalist and marketer, based in Western Australia.

He plies his trade in several industries, including sport (you can read his weekly AFL match coverage in the Fairfax media), real estate, hospitality and travel and tourism.

Born in South Australia, he moved to WA very early in his life as an Army Brat and went on to graduate from Balcatta High School and Edith Cowan University.

He has also worked in Melbourne and London (as well as spending a year in Bunbury as sport editor of the South Western Times), but he has always managed to find his way back to Perth, which he considers ‘home’.

Brad spent eight years working at The Sunday Times, in several roles, including sub-editor for sport and assistant editor of its travel section, Escape.

While he decided to venture out into the world as a freelancer almost four years ago, his work is still sometimes published in Escape; and he is also a regular contributor to Have a Go News.

“I’m a massive believer in the ‘Bigger Picture’ aspects that we’re seeing being developed in and around Perth right now and am extremely excited by it,” Brad said.

“The Bell Tower was the first piece of a massive puzzle that is still taking shape and sits proudly at Elizabeth Quay.   “Western Australians should be both proud and excited about everything that has been and still is being created.   “Embrace it, celebrate it, brag about it to everyone you know who lives elsewhere, and enjoy it whenever you get the chance.”

Christine Layton is the Mornings Announcer for ABC Great Southern, based in Albany.

Christine who hails from Noranda, studied at Mercy College to make the most of their music program under the direction of Bobby Gallo. She went on to study jazz clarinet at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and was also a member of the Western Australian Youth Chorale and the Perth Concert Band. Christine now uses her love for jazz as a swing dancing instructor and has been teaching 1930’s lindy hop to dancers around Perth for the last 4 years.

Christine spent nearly 10 years working for Main Roads WA in a number of roles including Communications Officer (issuing staff with brick sized mobile phones), Land Acquisition Officer (taking land for the Forrest Highway and Great Eastern Highway widening projects) before finally finding her love for radio in her role as Public Affairs Co-ordinator at the Traffic Operations Centre. Should you break down in the Northbridge Tunnel, it’s Christine’s dulcet tones that will gently ask that you move into the emergency lane!

98five poached her from there, first as Breakfast Announcer with Paul Morrison (chaplain of the West Coast Eagles) then as solo Drive Announcer. Christine’s favourite segment during her time there was with our very own Deputy Chair of the Bells and Executive Director of Heritage Perth, Richard Offen (pictured left with no shoes on).

Christine also used to come to the Bell Tower to ring the bells with her late father John. He was the only person in the family strong enough to get the bells to move! It will always have a special place in her heart and she’s thrilled to be an ambassador.

Lisa Barnes, 6PR’s News Director is a passionate journalist and reporter. A Pilbara girl at heart, Lisa has embraced all things Perth since moving down here more than 10-years ago.   She loves summer days, running and taking ‘selfies’ with her 3-year old American Staffordshire Thor.    On accepting the invitation as Ambassador for the Bell Tower Lisa said, “I cannot wait to start taking selfies with the Bell Tower during my time as ambassador!”.

William Hames is the Executive Chairman of Hames Sharley, and its founding father. He is a qualified Architect, Urban Designer and Land Economist with high level skills in retail and commercial property development, including land development.
He has considerable international experience, particularly in SE Asia, where he has been responsible for a number of major retail, resort and residential developments. His forte is placing urban design into a practical, commercial realm as well as the creation of vibrant civic spaces.
His expertise in Urban Design and City Planning is recognized in the Design Advisory committees he serves on for the City of Perth and the City of South Perth.

Adam Barnard is the owner and Managing Director of ADAMS Perth’s leading provider of Bus and Coach Transportation.

Upon completing high school in 1992, Perth born Adam joined The Australian Army where he served for 8 years. After leaving the army, Adam found work as a tour guide working predominantly in the North West of WA. In 2003 Adam commenced work as an operations manager for Nightcruiser Party Buses.

While working for Nightcruiser, Adam helped expand the operation from a fleet of two buses to 18. Following this success, Adam realized that this was an industry with endless opportunities and decided to launch his own bus and coach business.

ADAMS started from humble beginnings in September of 2005. Quickly gaining a reputation for friendly reliable service, business grew and as a result of this strong demand in December 2005, Adam and his wife Nadine purchased Atkinson Coachlines as a going concern. With this acquisition came several large Eastern States tours and customers that were impressed the high standard of service. The company grew again in 2008 when they purchased Swan Gold Tour’s at the time Swan Gold Tours were the largest charter operator in Western Australia.

The final and largest acquisition came in December 2012 with the purchase of the iconic Australian Pinnacle Tours. Today in 2016 the company is now the largest Tourism operator in the state employing in excess of 140 staff and operating a fleet of more than 50 vehicles”.

In November 2015 ADAMS was awarded a ten year contract on Rottnest Island to operate the Tours and Transport offerings on the island completing the tourism triangle of Broome, Rottnest Island and Perth.

Recently ADAMS were awarded Gold in the 2015 WA Tourism awards for the categories of Major Tour/Transport operator and Excellence in Chinese Tourism. ADAMS has also been awarded the industry’s highest honour; being named the 2010 ABCUA Australian National Bus Operator of the Year.

Adam is a great supporter of the Bell Tower and has said, “With the redevelopment of the Barrack Square precinct now complete if you haven’t been you really don’t know what you are missing”.

Jeff is an American ex pat, who migrated to Australia from California in 1998.

First settling in the Sydney suburb Potts Point to establish his permanent residency.

After five years living on the east coast, Jeff was offered an opportunity to relocate to Perth and has he has never looked back.

Living in Bayswater for the last 12 years, he travels extensively and proudly boasts that “Perth is the best place to come home to”.

Jeff has been working in Digital Media for the last 15 years, starting his career at Fairfax in Sydney, followed by nine years with The West Australian and has recently embarked on an amazing role in the private sector.
Jeff started working with The Bell Tower in 2010 while at The West Australian and was instrumental in creating the annual Photo Competition and it’s accompanying digital platform.

He has served as an Ambassador since 2013.

Stephen Scourfield is Travel Editor of The West Australian and Seven West Travel Club and has twice been named Australia’s best travel writer. He is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction books.

His new book is Don’t Forget to Write – stories from his travels, but also including a novella. It also contains scripts from his word performances with composers, musicians and dancers.

He currently has five books in publication – the travel essay book Beautiful Witness, the novels Other County and As the River Runs, both set in against the powerful landscape of the Kimberley region of northern Australia.

Unaccountable Hours: Three Novellas, follows the fortunes of a maker of musical instruments, the ethical dilemma of a biologist, and the romantic friendship between a young man and aged woman. All are set in the Australian landscape.

Stephen Scourfield is a recipient of a United Nations Media Award for fairness in publishing.

He says: “I am delighted to be an Ambassador for the Bell Tower and Swan Bells.

“They are precious and we are very fortunate to have them here.

“Just imagine… they rang over Trafalgar Square for nearly 300 years for England’s victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 for the homecoming of Captain James Cook after his voyage of discovery.”

Graeme is a ‘true blue’ born and bred West Australian who has resided in Perth’s northern coastal suburbs most of his life. In 2007, Graeme’s career took him to the east coast of Australia living in Sydney for six months until he succumbed to his long held attachment to Perth and happily returned.

Having worked in the photographic industry his entire career, the last 11 years as WA State Manager for Canon Australia, Perth has been an ideal canvas for his pursuits in the art of photography and film making. Combining both his passion for photography and expertise in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Graeme has taken up a position as Sales Manager for Haefeli-Lysnar, providing geospatial positioning solutions for professionals in surveying, mining, engineering, building construction, environment, agriculture and any industry that requires high quality geospatial solutions in WA.

Graeme’s keen interest in West Australian history bolstered by his love of the Perth coast and the Swan River provides him with a passion to promote his home state as the ideal tourism destination and is a proud Ambassador of The Bell Tower.