We try all sorts of new adventures in Girlguiding, some more unusual than others! At Girlguiding Leeds we own a set of handbells with a long history that is being continued today by an enthusiastic group of volunteers.
Our set of handbells comprises 37 bells (3 chromatic octaves) and was purchased in 1939 by Miss Phyllis Holmes, an active Guider in what was then known as Yorkshire Central County (today’s Girlguiding Leeds). The bells were cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry – the only place in the country to produce handbells – and cost Phyllis £39.00. Today, these bells are worth in the region of £17,000.
Volunteers Marjorie and Judith Emsley first came across the bells at an Arts Camp at Bretton Hall in the mid 1960s, at a session run by Phyllis Holmes and another Guider from Yorkshire Central, Miss Mary Weatherall. Phyllis and Mary had received an invitation from the English Folk Dance and Song Society to play the bells during a break from dancing at their May Ball, due to be held in the Victoria Hall at Leeds Town Hall. Knowing how much Marjorie and Judith had enjoyed the sessions at camp, Phyllis and Mary asked them to form a team to attend the Ball.
They continued to operate as a team for a short time until both Mary and Judith moved away. Meanwhile Marjorie, keen to teach her Guides to play handbells, advertised in the Exchange and Mart and The Dalesman for a set of bells. In response, Phyllis contacted Marjorie to say she could borrow hers.
The Guides learnt to play and, tested by Phyllis, passed their Bellringer Badge. With Phyllis’s permission Marjorie continued to borrow the bells on a regular basis, eventually agreeing to keep them on permanent loan whilst Marjorie had an active team of bellringers. The rest is part of Girlguiding Leeds history!
Sadly, Phyllis died several years ago, but in her will she left the set of handbells to Girlguiding Leeds on condition that Marjorie and Judith continue to take care of the bells, play them and introduce new generations of Guides to them.
In 2010, Marjorie and Judith took the bells to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for refurbishing. This foundry has since closed, leaving just one bell foundry in the country at Loughborough, which only produces church bells. So, with nowhere left in the UK producing or refurbishing handbells, we have to take very special care that no damage is caused to them.
However, we still enjoy our handbells and are looking to the future to ensure the county’s set of handbells continues to bring pleasure to those who play or listen to them. Marjorie, Judith and another former Guider, Barbara, are still actively playing the bells both to entertain at events and to teach people to play.
Recently, they advertised for volunteers to attend a special workshop (no experience necessary!) Altogether, fourteen volunteers and two Rangers came along to try their hand at handbell ringing. They had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Even when a power cut caused all the lights to go out, in true Girlguiding style they found torches and continued playing. The group met for the second time this January and, with some trepidation, were introduced to playing from sheet music.
Their enthusiasm and enjoyment from playing the bells mean we hope that, with practice, we’ll have another team who will also be able to introduce the bells to others and continue this wonderful part of Girlguiding Leeds history.
