Celebration at Marple
Autumn Rally 10th October 2026 All Saints Church Hall, Marple
Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the First National Rally at Norbury, Stockport.
There was an impressive collection of photos and documents from the Norbury Archives.
These prompted many happy memories of the history of the region and the team.
Norbury played “Waltz La Sarabande” a piece which was played at the first rally by the Norbury Team. They finished off the team ringing with “Home Sweet Home” arranged by William Gordon of Stockport.
Llandudno Handbell Ringers played “The Barren Rocks of Eden” Pipe Tune and “Sheep May Safely Graze”.
Marple URC Handbell Team played Angela Jones’ arrangement of “All Through the Night” and “A Little Dance” while Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers played a piece they had discovered at the International Symposium in Aberdeen in August, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and the piece they had played at the International Symposium Evening Concert, “Meditation on Blaenwern” arranged by Malcolm Wilson. It had been arranged for the Wedding Anniversary of two of Maghull’s Founders, Simon and Molly Rennie who unfortunately could not be with us.
Kinder Ringers played “Moon River” and “Cheek to Cheek” with Karen managing to play two parts.
Meanwhile Josie was busy taking photos for the next edition of Oyez.
At Lunch there was plenty of time to view the cake and the archives and try the Raffle and the 1966 themed Quiz.
The Celebration cake was cut by Alan Hartley who had not been at the first rally, as he had just gone to University, but had been involved in the organising and Kate Worthington, the current Chair of the Northwest HRGB region. Jeff Robinson an early member of the HRGB was also present.
Kate said how proud she was that the first National Rally took place in the NorthWest.
The massed ringing was based on the programme from the first rally.
First was The Trumpet Voluntary by John Stanley. John Stanley had been blind from the age of 2 and was Organist at Covent Garden, London in the 18th Century when he wrote this piece for the organ.
It had been played by Ealing Handbell Ringers at the first rally. Not to be confused with The Trumpet Voluntary by Jerimiah Clarke which is often played at weddings. Beth Mc Cord kindly conducted.
We played an arrangement by Sandra Winter. The beginning of the rally coincided with the HRGB Executive Committee ZOOM meeting so Kate Worthington had to be our representative there.
The Minuet and Trio by Mozart from the 39th symphony was also played by Norbury at the First Rally.
The committee choice was “Minuets from The Royal Fireworks” by Handel arranged by Jason Walker which had been arranged for this year’s national rally at Moreton-In-Marsh. Isaac Wan kindly conducted both “minuets” pieces. The final massed ring of the Fireworks music had a very rousing finale fitting for such an awesome celebration.
Some comments after the rally from ringers who attended “Please would you pass on the thanks of Kinder Ringers for a really successful rally yesterday. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. The choice and ringing of the massed pieces was excellent and it was good to have plenty of time to socialise and look at your fascinating collection of archive material. It was a fitting commemoration of such a momentous original event. And all the cakes were fantastic!”
Thank you for your hard work today. Please pass our thanks on to the rest of your team.
Thanks Beth McCord and Isaac for the great conducting
Agreed, thank you very much Norbury team & conductors!
Hear hear! It was a lovely day! Great job Norbury!
Norbury Handbell Ringers and HRGB NorthWest Committee are grateful to all who came celebrate with us.
We are also very grateful to All Saints Church, Marple for the use of their hall and to the
conductors and arrangers of massed ringing music used at this event.
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