Kingswear village celebrated a historic moment as three new bells arrived at St Thomas of Canterbury Church by steam train, thanks to the generosity of Gary and Carmen Lewis. Villagers and supporters gathered to welcome the bells, which symbolise both community spirit and the enduring legacy of the Lewis family.
The new bells – the Platinum Jubilee Bell, the Kingswear-Kittery Coronation Bell, and the Thomas Lewis Memorial Peace Bell – were made possible through the remarkable generosity of Gary and Carmen Lewis. Originally, the church’s fundraising campaign aimed to purchase a single bell to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and the coronation of King Charles III. Their personal donation allowed the church to exceed its goal, acquiring all three bells.
The Thomas Lewis Memorial Peace Bell holds special significance. Sponsored by Gary and Carmen Lewis in memory of Thomas Lewis, Gary’s father, the bell honours his story of resilience as a Second World War evacuee. Thomas was evacuated from London to Kingswear in 1943, where he found safety with wartime parents Harry and Dorothy Battershall. His war experience deeply shaped his values, inspiring him to focus on peace and reconciliation in the post-war years, particularly with former adversaries Germany and Japan.
This message of reconciliation was passed to his son Gary, who built it into the foundations of A1 Pharmaceuticals. When the company began almost 40 years ago, its first trading partners were in Germany and Japan, symbolising a commitment to building bridges through business. Remarkably, A1 Pharmaceuticals’ very first Japanese supplier remains a trusted partner of the company to this day.
Thomas’s guidance encouraged Gary to think globally and to embrace opportunities even with countries the UK had historically had conflicts with. This vision helped A1 Pharmaceuticals grow with a forward-thinking, international approach. Under Gary’s leadership, the company has received multiple awards for international trade, while Carmen has been equally instrumental in supporting both the company’s success and its philanthropic commitments.
The church tower, originally designed to house six bells, had remained incomplete since 1939 when plans to add three additional bells were halted by the outbreak of war. Thanks to the generosity of Gary and Carmen Lewis, that vision was finally fulfilled. A special dedication ceremony was carried out on 8 May 2025, led by the Bishop of Plymouth, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Through this heartfelt contribution, Gary and Carmen Lewis have left an enduring mark on Kingswear. The bells are not only a celebration of community spirit but also a tribute to the memory of Thomas Lewis and the values of resilience, reconciliation, and international cooperation that continue to shape his family’s legacy.
A short documentary about the arrival of the bells and the dedication event can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXEsJsy8zpg