Morecambe 2024 - All the right notes but not necessarily in the right order
On Saturday 2nd November the Northwest Region of HRGB gathered at Morecambe for the Autumn Rally.
Although there was a raging battle re-enactment going on outside by Historia Normannis Morecambe, the teams enjoyed a varied programme.
There was more than one family group and an appearance by a Reverberations Cover girl!
Entertainment was in the form of a sneek preview of Bronze Carillon's next appearance. The team introduced themselves and Robert explained the reasons and challenges of ringing so many bells off the table.
Christmas spirit was much in evidence with decorated tables, Christmas jumpers and more than one rendition of
Ding Dong Merrily on High.
Marple had brought their mascot Gusto and Tantony had two handbell ringing Pendelphin Bunnies adorning their table.
Teams represented were Kirby Lonsdale, Kinder Ringers, Marple, Maghull, Bronze Carillon, El’s Bells from Wakefield and Tantony from Egremont, with Roger & Christine Lazenby from the NorthEast, Linda from Bury and Linda McCord from the East Anglian Region.
The First Massed ringing was an arrangement of Away in a Manger conducted by Kate
The first round of team ringing consisted of:
We Three Kings - Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers
O Come All Ye Faithful - Marple URC Handbell Ringers
Angels Merrily on High - El's Bells
See Amid the Winter Snow - Tantony Ringers
Hey Jude - Linda, Beth and Jocie
Ding Dong Merrily on High in a medly with Good King Wenceslas - Kinder Ringers
Bronze Carillon Ensemble introduced themselves as
Robert, Jill, Sarah and Elizabeth (Bert).
The pieces they played are still in rehearsal for the next concert, their rehearsal having been scheduled for the same date as the rally.
They played Aria and Composition Number 8 by Beethoven
They then played a Mallet piece PickleWinner followed by
Pastoral on Forest Green (O Little Town of Bethlehem) and
Caroler's Hoe Down featuring special effects horn ,snap, Swanee whistle, tick tock and jingle bells.
A well deserved lunch was then enjoyed by the assembled.
The Have-a-go session featured, from the Have-a go Collection by Aardvark publishers,
Jingle bells - Sing & Ring which actually sounded quite reasonable once we had agreed on the English bell numbers as it was written with American bell numbers.
Claire de la Lune was a simple tune in highlighted notes.
Bobby Shaftoe was also highlighted and Good King Wenceslas we rang from numbers.
We were then led in the Massed ringing by Beth who conducted Three Shepherds Watched.
This incorporated parts of Ilkley Moor, Winchester Old, Cranbrook and Lygham hymn tunes.
After this we listened to:
Dance of the Icicles - Kinder Ringers
Rocking around the Xmas Tree - Linda,
They rang the 1900 bells which had been purchased from donated funds and are administered by the William Hartley Memorial Fund.
Silent night - Tantony Ringers
Joy to the World - El's Bells
Ding Dong Merrily - Marple URC Handbell Ringers
Ding Dong Merrily - Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers
Roger Lazenby reminded us of the following upcoming events:
2025 HRGB NorthWest 50th Anniversary Summer Rally
HRGB National Rally 11th -13th April 2025 in Milton Keynes
International Symposium 4th - 8th August 2026 in Aberdeen
2027 HRGB Diamond (60) Jubilee
See the photos in the Gallery
