2 O'Clock Bells History
The 2 O'Clock Bells had their first practice on Monday 3rd March 1997. We met in Sandra's house and apart from Sandra no-one had played handbells before. We needed a name for the newly formed team and after some deliberation decided that since we met for our regular practice at 2 o'clock on a Monday afternoon, that should be our name. We've been rehearsing at 2 on a Monday every since.
We began playing from numbers, but after several years we felt confident enough to play from music which allowed a much greater range of pieces of music to choose from.
Highlights over the years have included the acquisition of our own set of handbells - three octaves at first and then another half octave when we'd saved up enough for some more bass bells. And in 2008 we were delighted to acquire a set of hand chimes, especially bought in memory of Ann's mother. We have now added to these with extra bass and treble handchimes, and have our own set of music stands for playing without tables, and stands and risers for holding our music when we play with tables for all the bells and bell techniques.
Most of us are members of the congregation at All Saints' Church, Sanderstead and when the team grew too large for Sandra's dining table, we moved into the vestry of the church and later into St Catherine's Aisle in the main body of the church, which was much lighter and more spacious.
Please click the links to find out more about our practice sessions, and the all important tea rota.
Members have come and gone but there is still a core of members who were present at the first rehearsal.
We regularly perfom in the local community. We play music in church and in old people's homes and for other groups in the area. We have performed at the Croydon Music Festival and in 2005 and 2008 were delighted to win first prize in our category. The team regularly join many others at the Guildford Festival Service in Guildford Cathedral. We have played in St Paul's Cathedral and in Southwark Cathedral, in the Queen's Chapel of the the Savoy and in Croydon Minster. We have entertained Chelsea Pensioners and International Rotarians. Individual members of the team also belong to other handbell teams and two members are solo ringers.
