To mark the beginning of the 800th anniversary year of the University, on Saturday, 17 January 2009, the Vice-Chancellor, in Mumbai, rang a handbell which heralded commemorative bellringing worldwide.
Touches of 800 changes, based on the method Cambridge Surprise, were rung at the following Cambridge churches during the evening: the University Church of St Mary the Great, St Andrew the Great, St Bene't's, and St Edward King and Martyr.
Other local commemorative ringing took place in: Cambridge (12 Victoria Street), Chesterton, Great Shelford, Little Eversden, Swavesey, Trumpington, and West Wratting.
Further afield, there was commemorative ringing in: Basingstoke, Brighton, Darlington, Guildford, Hexham, Market Deeping, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Stoke-on-Trent, Weaverham, and Wokingham.
Overseas, there was commemorative ringing in: Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) and USA (Boston, New York, and Seattle).
There was miscellaneous commemorative ringing on single bells and on handbells in: Cambridge (Jesus College), Eversden (Village Hall), India (Bangalore, Kolkata, and New Delhi), and Romania (Campulung).