Norbury Handbell Ringers

History 

Norbury Handbell Ringers were the first team registered with the HRGB which gives them a special place in the organisation’s history.
Having started in the Church School at Norbury and then having moved base from Norbury to Poynton and now to
a Methodist Church near Marple, their 140 plus bells and cupboard are well travelled.

The Norbury handbell ringers were formed, as far as we can tell, in the 1800’s, although the team’s current records only go back to 1935. There are reports in the Stockport Advertiser of 1881 and 1865 of Norbury handbell ringers performing at the Stockport Town Hall,
the latter under the conductor, Mr Samuel Penny, a well-known Hazel Grove musician
(who played “see the conquering hero comes” on his Euphonium on the occasion of the first train into Hazel Grove station).
The team now has a set of 166 Whitechapel handbells, 164 of them manufactured in 1910, and sold to Lepton Handbell Ringers.
  They were purchased from the Trustees of Lepton Handbell ringers in 1938, but were in a poor condition, and were subsequently
sent to be overhauled by the bell foundry in the 1950’s, after WW2. Prior to the purchase of this larger set, pre & post WW1,
the team consisted of 5 or 6 ringers and used a set of handbells owned by one of the ringers, Mr James Fearnley. 
When the larger set were obtained the number of ringers increased and by 1966 there were 11 ringers.
  The bells were returned to the bell foundry again in 1966 for retuning after the first get-together at Norbury when they were found to be a semi-tone adrift from all the other sets of handbells in the room; they had been manufactured to the old concert pitch. 
Only 142 of the set were retuned, but the opportunity was taken to purchase the “big” B28 & C29 to extend the range from C29 to A03, with the tuned set having duplicates, triplicates and even quadruplicates in the mid-range.
The team ring in the “off the table” method and use a variety of music of staff notation, with arrangements from William Gordon,
the HRGB scheme and arranged by various individuals.
  They are a mixture of either individual music for the playing position or full score arrangements.

The team continue to practice each week and play carols, hymns, marches and classical music at concerts
and for gatherings such as WI groups and to entertain elderly folk in residential homes at Christmas.
The team have even played on-board a narrow boat at Marple Locks Festival!
Much of the music was arranged by a local music dealer, William Gordon, who had a shop in Lower Hillgate, Stockport.
Norbury Handbell Ringers also collaborate with Walthew House, the deaf/blind centre at Shaw Heath,
who have their own set of bells.

For more about handbell ringing click here

Interview with Jon Published in National Handbell Magazine "Reverberations" September 2020

When did you start Handbell Ringing? 1960
How did you first learn about Handbell Ringing? School started a Handbell Team using a 2 ½ Octave set
from Pettit & Fritzen that were bought that year

Do you play any other musical instruments? Cello & a bit of Piano
Did you learn to read music? Yes

Has the music in Handbell Ringing changed over time as you progressed? No. 
Still in staff notation, sometimes just the ringers bells, and sometimes full score

Which style do you use to ring (Off-shoulder, Off-table etc.) and why? 4 in hand at school,
because that was the way the master taught us. 
Off the table at Norbury, because they have always rung off the table.

How do you manage to cover all of the bells? (if few ringers or if a ringer is sick)  Chose a piece using less ringers. 
The smallest number we can sensibly manage with is 6.

What do you do if there are too many ringers? Duplicate, or, less occasionally, sit out, but we have pieces arranged for up to 10 ringers, so only occasionally would be an issue.

What is your favourite piece of music to ring?  All ringers have different favourites. 
Mine used to be Doll Dance when I was happy swinging “5 bags of sugar” (big C), but now is probably The Bellflower Quadrille.

Which techniques do you use to ring this?  Off the table

What is your experience of International Handbell events including symposiums? 
Went to the one in Brisbane when I was in Australia for work.

How are you involved in National Rallies? Not now.

What were rallies like in the early days of your ringing? Were they different than they are today? 
Yes, they were cheaper!

Do you ring with a Regional Team? Are you involved in any other way e.g. conducting or on the committee?
No, but Jeanette, a team member is on the local NW committee.

Which Local Teams do you ring with? I only ring with Norbury, but other members ring with different teams.
How did the team used to fund its activity?  How does it do so now? 
The same.   Fees and Concerts.

What's been the biggest change from the time you started ringing to now? 
Age and the ease of ringing the larger bells.

Why do you think there are more women than men ringing?
Don’t know, but it might be, if they are at home looking after children,
that it is a hobby that they can do in the evening whilst their husband looks after the kids.

Do you know of any sets of bells that are not being used? No, but I think team members might.
What can HRGB do to attract new members? Publicity on Social media?

How are you involved with this? School ringing/teaching, ringing in the region?
Not actively, but the newer ringers have come for a variety of reasons.

Where do you see Handbell Ringing in the future? Continuing.
Where would you like to see Handbell Ringing in the future? Continuing.
What is the best thing a team can do for each other when ringing? Help when someone is lost.