It was a very worthwhile experience playing the 12 bells at the home today but quite challenging at times!

When we arrived at 1.15 pm the staff weren’t really ready for us, as the residents were still eating lunch in the dining room where we were meant to be setting up for our handbell performance.

When we had unpacked our bells and equipment the nursing home carer in charge asked us if we would go upstairs and play to a few of the residents who were confined to their beds. There was an option of a lift as well as the stairs to those of us who were carrying music stands or handbells etc.

One of our team members got her mobility stool stuck in the closing door of the lift as she was trying to pull it out, on reaching the next floor up, luckily she managed to manoeuvre it out just in time before the lift moved on up! She remarked afterwards that her newly adjusted contraption needed a rethink!

We played handbell tunes to some severely disabled residents, lying in their beds, who needed a great deal of care from the staff working in the home. They were very grateful for our visit and all our efforts, which hopefully lifted the spirits of these poor souls.

We were eventually taken to the main room, where we set up in order to play to a group of residents, who seemed to really enjoy our music, they sang along to some of the tunes they recognised. They loved the last night of the proms music!

It was one lady’s birthday yesterday, so we played Happy Birthday to her and then we all gave her a clap, she was smiling at us!

After we had packed up all our equipment we went into one of the lounges to sit and have a drink of cordial and discussed our experience.

It was an interesting afternoon though and the staff were very welcoming! We also felt pleased that we had made the effort to entertain the residents for a few hours to brighten up their day.

Jean Reilly 15.3.23

Many thanks to all the people that attended our Christmas Concert, gave donations so generously, bought raffle tickets and took part in the whisky roll. The final sum raised and given to Dougie Mac was a magnificent total of £775.10.  As well as a fund raising event, it proved to be a great relaxed social evening for our audience and all the ringers.

On Tuesday 20th December, the team of 7 rang 3 x 30 minute 12-bell sessions, at Chatsworth,
donning Santa hats and full of Christmas cheer!
We arrived in plenty of time to dry off the seats (thanks Alan!) and have a wander around the shop
before starting ringing at 12.00 Whilst the sun didn't quite make it round to us, luckily Jack Frost
stayed away so it wasn't as cold as it could have been!
Being in the courtyard, there was an interesting mix of smells from the smoke from the fire to toast
the marshmallows, the bratwurst stand and wafts of mulled wine from the bar. 

In between the ringing we had a couple of breaks to warm our hands with a coffee and snaffle some snacks.
We quickly learnt the usefulness of pegs when a stray gust of wind turned over the Silent Night music
just as our part was coming up... cue actual silence for a couple of bars as we caught up again! 

People were milling about the courtyard and there were children who were happy to join in
with Jingle Bells and others humming along to Away in a Manger, Deck the Halls and of course
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (although no one produced a figgy pudding for us!).

Becky Ward

Over the last few days, different teams of six ringers, ringing twelve bells have provided a feeling of Christmas at several venues, playing Christmas Carols and Christmas songs. The venues have included St Georges Hospital in Stafford. The Bulls Head in Alton, Brookfields Nursing Home in Derby, Hilderstone Hall Care Home, Denstone Farm Shop and Chatsworth. It is great to visit places at Christmas as they are all decorated with lights, baubles, imitation bells and of course, the centre piece of all decorations, the obligatory Christmas Tree. It is very rewarding playing at these venues to see so many happy smiling faces and hearing people singing along to the Carols. Wendy our Leader, works very hard getting teams of six together at such a busy time of the year for everyone. At all the events Wendy conducts and on some occasions plays as well. At the time of writing a 12bell team have one more concert before the end of 2022 with a return visit to Chatsworth on 30th December.  Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year.