Welcome!
Our Region
The North West Region is part of Handbell Ringers of Great Britain, whose aim is to promote tune ringing on handbells by organising activities and providing support and advice for its members.
The Region covers Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, parts of Derbyshire and West Yorkshire, North Wales, the Isle of Man and Ireland.
Our activities are organised for members of the Region, but there’s a warm welcome for prospective members so if you would like to try out one of our events, contact our Secretary, Irene Merson.
The Region also has a Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1223433977844693/
Ringing in the North West Region
Lostock Hall - Golden Jubilee Saturday 10th May 2025
Lostock Hall School,
Preston PR5 5AS -
Saturday 10th May 2025
Invitations will soon be coming out for our 50 years celebration at Lostock Hall Community School near Preston.
Look out for details of Fun activities, cake competition, massed ringing and much more!
Maghull Movies & Musicals Concert 2025
Maghull Concert -
Saturday 1st March 2025
On a sunny spring day in March a large audience enjoyed a marvellous concert at Maghull by Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers.
On display were many different techniques which added to the texture and diversity of the programme of
Movies and Musicals Music.
Leading up to the concert, Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers were unfortunately moved out of their regular practice room, the Remy Room, as Maghull Council had to use it whilst repairs were being carried out on their Town Hall. Fortunately the dance class in the hall agreed to alter their sessions so that handbell practices could take place in the hall.
The programme consisted of :
The Pirates of the Caribbean Theme
Favourite Things from the Sound of Music
Theme from The Lord of the Rings
Lion King Medley
Phantom of the Opera
Hallelujah from Shrek
The Muppets Theme
A Medley of Les Misérables music
Beth explained how the money raised would go towards replacing a cracked "E" bell.
She thanked past members and conductor, Judith Barker who had helped set up the team.
In the interval, refreshments were served on the stage even though the tea room was out of action.
A raffle was held and Jocie and Issie performed an excellent double act drawing out the numbers. A challenging Movie Quiz also taxed the audience’s memory and set the mood for the concert.
Afterwards, people were invited up to look at the bells and the music and ask questions.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Kinder Ringers at Hayfield WI
Kinder Ringers' Concert for Hayfield WI
Kinder Ringers were invited to Hayfield and District WI to play at their March meeting.
Fortunately the milage was low as they meet a few hundred yards from where we practice.
Some of the comments made afterwards were "It was a fantastic evening, I really enjoyed your performance" and "That was lovely! I was helping with the refreshments so couldn't come over and find out more but the music was so relaxing and interesting to see how the bells are played". Others commented on the variety of music played and the different sounds produced.
Bolton GatheRing 2025
Bolton Saturday 15th March 2025
On a bright sunny day in Spring the NorthWest Region of HRGB met at St Augustine’s church , Tonge Moor for their AGM and rally. The venue, being very familiar to the Chair, Linda, had easy level access and convenient parking across the road at the Medical Centre.
St John’s, Flixton Bellringers, recently reformed, had brought some new ringers including youngsters working on their Duke of Edinburgh Award Skill Section. Interesting, improvised mallets of corks and either chopstick or knitting needles were employed. Teams had each brought between 14 and 35 bells to ring their party pieces and massed ringing.
The first session of team ringing consisted of:
Llandudno - Aura Lee
Mini minims (Beth & Josie) - Dancing through life - Wicked
St John’s Flixton - Ode to Joy
Marple URC - Rustic Wedding
Kinder - Caribbean Carnival
Norbury - St Anthony’s chorale
There was a table of Others including guests, technically from the North East Region.
The workshops introduced us to Weaving as practiced by Bronze Carillon and
Off-table ringing as practiced by the larger northern teams such as Ecclesfield, Beverley and Saddleworth. Marple URC mascot Gusto found it all too much and had to have a lie down.
The first massed ringing was Men of Harlech, conducted by Irene, an interesting arrangement including the characteristic William Gordon variations.
Sandra Winter’s Twinkle Twinkle massed ringing was conducted by Beth incorporating changes in speed and volume to add interest.
This was the music rung for the second session of team ringing :
Mini Minims - Six from the Musical Six
Marple URC - Shepherds Hey
Flixton - Singing in the Rain
Norbury - Lord of the Dance
Kinder - You are my sunshine
Finally we reprised “Men of Harlech” with revived Gusto.
See the photos in the Gallery - 2025 Bolton
Dino
Dino Handbell Ringer
"Even this chap can do it with his teeny tiny arms"
Who knew handbell ringing was so old!
AJ Bell TV advert
Movies & Musicals Concert 2025
Saturday 1st March
Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers will be entertaining with a Movies and Musicals Themed Concert.
This will take place at Maghull Parish Hall, Damfield Lane, Maghull, Liverpool L31 6DB
from 3pm on Saturday 1st March 2025.
Admission is free but donations will be collected.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or see Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers on Facebook
Christmas 2024
Christmas Ringing at Kinder
Having been inspired by our Ding Dong Merrily Christmas Rally at Morecambe, Kinder Ringers and Kinder Quartet were busy adding to the Festive spirit and joining in various celebrations around the Region.
The Quartet were able to play at the smaller venues such as Stoneswood, Delph in Oldham where they met some real reindeer! We had our annual invitation to play for the residents at Clayton Manor Care Home in Congleton, managed by our greatest fan, Richard. The residents and staff were very vocal joining in our participation item, The Twelve Days of Christmas and even added some cheeky actions of their own.
We played a lovely Christmas Concert with the Voices in Achord choir. They had made their own percussion instruments to accompany Jingle Bells which finished with rather less Jingle Bells than it started with.
We joined Failsworth WI as they held their Christmas Meal and Fair and were treated to another local version of The Twelve Days of Christmas featuring Sausage Rolls, Pints of lager, Pies, Soccer Pitches, Startax Taxis, Fish and Chips, Failsworth Hats, Luncheon Clubs, Eight Bells a Ringing, Twelve Morrisons More Cards and a Pigeon on the Failsworth Pole. This song was apparently from their legendary WI pantomime which had recently triumphed.
We were lucky to have completed all our engagements before the real Wintry Weather set in as the Kinder area is known for it's beautiful but treacherous winter conditions.
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
A flurry of Christmas Concerts
Christmas 2024
Our local teams will be busy entertaining folk over the festive season. Kinder Ringers are to join with Voices in Achord choir for a one-off Christmas Concert at Heaton Chapel, Stockport on Saturday 21st December at 4pm.
Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers will be with Deo Gratias choir at Hoole, Chester, a lovely church where the Northern Bell Orchestra have been known to perform.
