Lancaster Golden Jubilee Rally Saturday 7^th October 2017

17 handbell teams attended the Golden Jubilee Rally to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the formation of the HRGB.

The University of Lancaster LICA building (Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts) was a spacious and airy hall with plenty of room for extracurricular activities. Bishops School pupils kindly guided us into the parking bays and the day set off with a Master Class in “Eleanor Rigby” conducted by Kate Sawallisch. Although it was a difficult piece to play with lots of tied notes and off-beat rhythms it set the tone for the 60s theme.

Four people who had attended the original rally were also able to make it, with the first event having been held in the Northwest.

The North West Committee had organised quizzes and games to join in with, including Heads and Tails, which really got us in a spin, and a variation on Beetle using Bear parts. There was a mingling game and a 60s quiz plus a raffle and £50 in pound coins to be won. In the refreshment hall there was a display of photos of ringers with the Jubilee Bears, Norbury and Ashton and some historic photo albums.

The Rally session took place in the afternoon with lots of loose connections to the theme of Gold, Birthdays or the Sixties. The Muppets Theme and Silent Night!   Dean Ringers played “Puppet on a String” the Eurovision winner from 1967. Norbury, being the first registered team, played the Euterpe Mazurka from the original arrangement by William Gordon of Stockport. There was also lots of 60s themed dress and much Gold in evidence.  

Walthew House blind bellringers from Stockport amazed everyone with their Nursery Chimes and joining in the familiar Old-time Medley, Three for the Road.

Original HRGB member, John Partington, cut the celebration cake and made a short speech.

The pieces written specially for the Anniversary, “Polaris and the Northern Lights” and “Dance Suite for Bells” were played as massed ringing. These were reprised at the end. The event concluded with the ringing and singing of “Let there be Peace” and a toast to another 50 years of handbell ringing.