Author: reaper

Highlights of 2007: With so many events over the past few years it was time to take a break from performing and work at developing our skills, which constant preparation for performance doesn’t allow us to do. So the first six months of 2007 were a quiet time for the handbell team. The only event…

Ann McHale gives a ringer’s perspective… At 11 o’clock skaters whirl and twirl, slip, slide, fall over and pick themselves up. Reindeer shuffle in their pen, and a festive horse and carriage carries children and grown-ups alike to see the sights – Its Christmas again at Kew. After the excitement of the cold, it is…

The Christmas Season is always our busiest time of year, and 2006 was no exception. A typical day at the weekend during December comprised ringing for 2 hours at Kew in the Orangery at Lunch time, a run back down to the Chobham area for a performance at a retirement home during the afternoon, followed…

Events of 2006 (in reverse chronological order): Christmas ringing 2006

August 2006, some of us visited Brisbane, Australia (with our bells!) for that year’s International Handbell Symposium.

Events of 2005: 2005 was another active and successful year for the team. Our year began, as always, by reviewing our repertoire in order to achieve an exciting and entertaining range of music, both for audiences and for ourselves. Once again we retained some favourite pieces and added some new ones, and the range of…

Events of 2004 (in reverse chronological order): 2004 was an active and successful year for the team, beginning on St Valentine’s day, 14th February, by hosting a very successful rally for handbell teams from all over the South East Region. Further details of our activities may be found on our website (http://handbells.chobham.org/) and here we…

August 2004, we made a tour to Ohio, USA, and Ontario and Quebec in Canada, taking in the International Handbell Symposium at Toronto.

Our first major event of 2003 was the national handbell rally at York in April. Teams from around the country gave impressive performances, while we were all very gratified at the tumultuous applause the Chobham team received for our medley of selections from “Les Miserables”. The summer was a time of change and sadness for…

Moving large and heavy boxes full of bells on a long journey is no joke, not to mention our specially modified tables and padding to avoid damage to the bells when playing. Despite a series of unexpected challenges it was an interesting experience, and we had the opportunity to perform in some novel locations. We…