Monday, July 1 was a musical event for members. After the usual meeting we were entertained by Alton Handbell Ringers who gave us a talk on its history interspersed with some relaxing renditions of traditional English folk songs and a few modern and classical ones as well.
The group were first formed in 1991 and two of the six playing were in the original group. They explained that bells are very expensive and the ones they play were bought as a second hand set and are over 50 years old. They need to be regularly refurbished and retuned. Bells were originally made in Whitechapel but are now made mainly in a foundry in Loughborough. The bells are made from bronze. They ring up to 46 bells but only 12 on small occasions and they wear gloves to protect the bells.
