Ringing in 40th birthday
Anniversary for handbell group
Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ensembles celebrated their 40th anniversary this month with a special commemorative event in Dunblane’s Victoria Hall.
About 100 guests, among them representatives from organisations, politicians, representatives of the national handbell society as well as businesses and donors, joined handbell musicians from the current 40-strong group to mark the milestone.
Specially-designed banners and a full colour book as well as a video combined to illustrate highlights of achievements of the group over the past four decades.
Short speeches were given by Magnus Peterson, who began the group in 1977, Lysbeth Wilson and Malcolm Wilson, the only two members who have been in the group from the beginning.
Lysbeth took over the running of the group from Magnus after the first year and ran it for nine years, with Malcolm as depute, before both swapped roles. Malcolm has been in charge for the past 30 years. Judith Frye took on depute role in 2005.
Since its formation, the group has made 17 television appearances and 22 radio broadcasts making them one of the country’s most often-broadcast handbell groups.
They have travelled throughout the UK to give over 1200 performances, from Exeter to Inverness, won the only UK-wide competition open to all 1000 handbell groups in the UK, shared stages with over 30 orchestras, bands or choirs, performed in nine different countries, and produced three commercial recordings. The group has also helped raise thousands of pounds for numerous charities.
Malcolm said: “The group has been privileged to have seen many hundreds of children and adults be a part of their groups over these past 40 years and they look forward to welcoming many more in the years ahead so they can continue to bring their music to ever wider audiences.”