REGULAR contributor to both Looking Back and Memories of Old Bridport Facebook page Sydney Rowsell has been joining in a debate about the raising the bell from HMS Hood and its display at Portsmouth.

The bell was hoisted from the bottom of the Denmark Strait, between Greenland and Iceland, by US philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft Paul G Allen last month.

The HMS Hood was the pride of the British navy in WW2.

But when she was sunk by the Bismarck in May 1941 it was the worst loss of life suffered by a British warship.

Now the ship's bell has been rescued from the wreckage in the north Atlantic in time to mark the 75th anniversary of the ship's loss.

The 18-inch high bell, which was cast for the previous battleship of the same name, will now be restored and displayed at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.

A letter in the daily Mail from Margaret Parker, whose dad died with the ship went down in 1941, said she was happy it had been recovered from the seabed after 74 years.

She said: "I remember going on board the battlecruiser before the war and seeing the bell, I was not allowed to touch it, so I do hope to have the chance see it again."

Bur Mr Rowsell - and many of his fellow contributors to Memories of Bridport - would have preferred the bell to remain where it was.

Mr Rowsell said: "I also suffered the loss of my 17-year-old brother on his first operation voyage.

More than 1,400 brave men and boys lie within this wreck, a designated war grave which should not be disturbed in any way.

"I certainly would not received any comfort seeing the bell on display.

"Viewing the list on the Southsea Naval Memorial is painful enough.

"I think the bell which regulated life on board should remain with the wreck forever."