Bell group to get a new name to reflect activities in Grantham

A popular handbell ringers group has changed its name to reflect the wide range of activities it takes part in.

From tomorrow, The St Wulfram’s Handbell Ringers will be known as Grantham Town Handbell Ringers.

The group, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, was first formed in 1967 when
four members of the St Wulfram’s Society of Change Ringers formed a handbell team and rang tunes on a set of bells owned by another member of the society.

When that member emigrated to Canada, taking the bells with him, the head teacher of St Wulfram’s Secondary School, Grantham, allowed the team to ring on a set of 15 handbells owned by the school.

The team went on to visit Germany, The Isle of Man, Jersey and Scotland and appeared on radio and television.

John Heald and his wife Jane took over as musical directors in 2007, following the death of their previous musical director Vaughan Evans.

John said: “There are eight members altogether who come from Grantham, Colsterworth, Long Bennington and Claypole, but we would love to welcome more. No experience is necessary. We often find that once you’ve had a go, you quickly get hooked.”

The group regularly performs at residential homes across town. The ringers have also performed at weddings, the Hospice, Burghley House and regularly perform at Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Rutland, on Christmas Eve and Belvoir by Candlelight at Belvoir Castle.

They also take part in regional rallies three times a year in the East Midlands division.

But it’s not all hard work.

John, who joined the ringers in 2001, added: “There is a lot of camaraderie within the group. We work hard but we have a lot of fun.”

The group meet every Wednesday evening at 7pm for practice at ChristChurch, Finkin Street. If you would like some more information, contact John on 01400 272445.