Peter ALLEN became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers on 14th October 1955 when he very bravely, (for a 10 year old!), approached Mr Sharpe after Church one Sunday morning and asked if he could learn to ring the handbells. Peter was at that time the very angelic leading boy soprano in Launton Church choir and F# was the choir master. The morning service must have gone particularly well from the singing aspect because F# said that ‘Peter would have a go sometime’. That trial run happened a few days later after Peter had had a piano lesson given by Elizabeth Sharpe. Rumour has it, or was it folklore, that F# was quite impressed by the first effort and was a little bit excited that he had found someone who was a ‘naturally gifted’ handbell ringer. Elizabeth did not however say that about his piano playing. After a few weeks of practices Peter made his first team appearance on 10th November 1955 at Great Rollright village hall in rural Oxfordshire and did quite well. F# had to ask Peter’s mother for her consent for him to go to the recital as it would have meant quite a late return home and with school the next morning. Fortunately the answer was yes and Peter’s debut performance took place with him on the treble set of bells, where every newcomer to the team starts their ringing life.
From such early beginnings Peter can now fill in on any set of bells where needed, often having to sight-read a new piece, but safe in the knowledge that there are other talented and reliable ringers around him.
Peter is the only member of the team that has lived in the village of Launton but was ‘banished’ from the village when he decided to get married to an outsider!
Peter, who took up the post of Chairman in 1995, makes sure the team is professional and efficient. He is also the Team Leader, responsible for choosing recital programmes and making them work, and one of the Presenters during recitals, having the ability to ad lib if there is a little space to fill.
He is also the Creative Thinker in the group (according to all those Myers Briggs profiles in his professional life), the Encouragement Officer (we CAN do it; you WILL do it approach!), and the Chief Development Officer (so it’s all down the gym after practice!). He is also the Chief Organiser and Administrator for business and events, never wanting to appear late or disorganised.
From such early beginnings Peter can now fill in on any set of bells where needed, often having to sight-read a new piece, but safe in the knowledge that there are other talented and reliable ringers around him.
Peter is the only member of the team that has lived in the village of Launton but was ‘banished’ from the village when he decided to get married to an outsider!
Peter, who took up the post of Chairman in 1995, makes sure the team is professional and efficient. He is also the Team Leader, responsible for choosing recital programmes and making them work, and one of the Presenters during recitals, having the ability to ad lib if there is a little space to fill.
He is also the Creative Thinker in the group (according to all those Myers Briggs profiles in his professional life), the Encouragement Officer (we CAN do it; you WILL do it approach!), and the Chief Development Officer (so it’s all down the gym after practice!). He is also the Chief Organiser and Administrator for business and events, never wanting to appear late or disorganised.
Joan HARRIS became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers in October 1968 when she was invited by another ringer to ‘come along and see’. Her first introduction and practice was on 4th October in what was affectionally known as ‘the Den’. This was Fred Sharpe’s office / workshop / private retreat where he could always be found when he was not either out and about or having meals with the family. Joan must have made quite an early impact as she was out at her first recital just one week later. It certainly helps to have some musical background when learning to play handbells, and as Joan is a qualified pianist and organist she was able to assimilate the ‘new instrument’ very quickly. However being a musician she did find it strange to start ringing any piece of music after just two beats, irrespective whether it was 4/4 time, or 6/8 time, or any other time measures. The team is of the opinion that she has now cracked it.
Joan’s first recital was on 10th October 1968 at Stoke Row village hall at a meeting organised by the (then) Oxfordshire Rural Community Council network, and as is customary she played a treble set of bells.
Joan has now progressed to ringing the alto set of bells on a regular basis. This is one of the main parts necessary to hear the melodies. She can also play the trebles, and also either of the descant parts and at a push (mostly by the Team leader!) she will play the tenor line.
Joan has been the Secretary of the team since 1983. During this time she has built up presentation albums which include records of when the team first started and is continually adding to them with up to date photos of recitals. She also helps with the day-to-day finances of the Team.
Joan gets very excited at the sight of ‘Sue’s Book’ which gets a reaction similar to the red book on This is Your Life. ‘Sue’s Book’ is the book that is produced with new arrangements or new compositions. Joan thrives on any new challenge especially when it means, as in the case of ‘The Musical Box’ a solo performance where she does not have time to breathe or blink.
Long after practices and recitals have finished Joan can be heard humming the last piece played and that continues well into the journey home. It requires the other ringers in the car to sing something different for her to change tune. But then the new tune takes over....
Joan is also noted for providing marvellous fruit cakes or pavlovas at our social events or meetings.
Joan’s first recital was on 10th October 1968 at Stoke Row village hall at a meeting organised by the (then) Oxfordshire Rural Community Council network, and as is customary she played a treble set of bells.
Joan has now progressed to ringing the alto set of bells on a regular basis. This is one of the main parts necessary to hear the melodies. She can also play the trebles, and also either of the descant parts and at a push (mostly by the Team leader!) she will play the tenor line.
Joan has been the Secretary of the team since 1983. During this time she has built up presentation albums which include records of when the team first started and is continually adding to them with up to date photos of recitals. She also helps with the day-to-day finances of the Team.
Joan gets very excited at the sight of ‘Sue’s Book’ which gets a reaction similar to the red book on This is Your Life. ‘Sue’s Book’ is the book that is produced with new arrangements or new compositions. Joan thrives on any new challenge especially when it means, as in the case of ‘The Musical Box’ a solo performance where she does not have time to breathe or blink.
Long after practices and recitals have finished Joan can be heard humming the last piece played and that continues well into the journey home. It requires the other ringers in the car to sing something different for her to change tune. But then the new tune takes over....
Joan is also noted for providing marvellous fruit cakes or pavlovas at our social events or meetings.
Lucy KINCH became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers in October 1972 when she was invited along to a practice session by another ringer. Her first introduction and practice was on 6th October in ‘the Den’. Having been introduced to the art of tower bell ringing whilst she was at college, she found the numerical notation fairly easy to pick up. Having just started her first full time teaching appointment, handbell practice time was limited but her first recital was in February 1973 when she was one of the left hand side ringers as a treble.
Lucy is now the main treble ringer and is one of those responsible for ensuring that our ‘customers’ can hear the melody. It is often the case that when Lucy misses a note (not often!) then all the other trebles miss the same note, and at the same time. There is probably a ‘law’ for that. She can play any bells that have the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 so can usefully ply her skills to the descant bells, main melody set and the tenor bells. She has yet to learn how to cope with the other numbered bells, but there is still time.
Lucy has a musical background as a folk singer and as a guitar player and often entertains the team with musical ditties, often with very different words! She also has a very extensive repertoire of one-liners and jokes and is able to keep the team amused and conversations light hearted.
Lucy is one of the Presenters during recitals and also takes photographs before and after recitals which go towards our ongoing scrapbook records. She has also been responsible for producing the team frontals in recent years, producing a design in the colours of the uniform that is being worn.
Lucy is now the main treble ringer and is one of those responsible for ensuring that our ‘customers’ can hear the melody. It is often the case that when Lucy misses a note (not often!) then all the other trebles miss the same note, and at the same time. There is probably a ‘law’ for that. She can play any bells that have the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 so can usefully ply her skills to the descant bells, main melody set and the tenor bells. She has yet to learn how to cope with the other numbered bells, but there is still time.
Lucy has a musical background as a folk singer and as a guitar player and often entertains the team with musical ditties, often with very different words! She also has a very extensive repertoire of one-liners and jokes and is able to keep the team amused and conversations light hearted.
Lucy is one of the Presenters during recitals and also takes photographs before and after recitals which go towards our ongoing scrapbook records. She has also been responsible for producing the team frontals in recent years, producing a design in the colours of the uniform that is being worn.
Sue ALLEN became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers on 2nd September 1977. She was introduced to the team by Elizabeth Sharpe at a practice held in Launton. She was already an experienced ringer, having been part of the Lady Spencer-Churchill College team in Wheatley for three years. She had known F# since 1974 when he used to visit the college and teach the students how to ring on the handbells, after he had been subjected to an evening meal at the college! She played with this college team, and was the leader, until she graduated in the summer of 1977. Sue says that the team were desperately in need of men (!), to ring the larger bells, and when a handsome, debonair and talented young man offered to ring with the team for their end of term concert, she jumped at the chance. On leaving Oxford University she was successful in getting a job in Oxford so she was able to continue her involvement with handbell ringing and also with that young man (Peter!) They were married in August 1978.
Sue maintains that she was a little awestruck when she first started ringing with the Launton team. She found the pace was so much quicker than she had been used to with her college team, and the Launton team were so much more polished and professional. In spite of all that she decided to stay, and she made her first public recital appearance at a Harvest Supper in Nether Winchendon on 26th September 1977. She remembers playing the blue set of treble bells and felt that she fitted in reasonably well.
Since those early days in the team Sue has progressed so that she can play the sets of bells down to and including the occasional piece in the tenor range. Sometimes she will ring one bourdon bell in each hand where necessary... and often gets 'volunteered' for a handful of 'odd' bells ...
Sue is the Music Officer in the team, responsible for keeping the music in good repair and the music records up to date. She has also taken on the mantle of Chief Music Arranger and is also a prolific Composer of pieces for the team. She recently achieved her ambition to get the team’s repertoire to over 400 pieces! Sue is also one of the Presenters at recitals, enjoying her time in the limelight with visual aids specially produced for the occasion.
Sue maintains that she was a little awestruck when she first started ringing with the Launton team. She found the pace was so much quicker than she had been used to with her college team, and the Launton team were so much more polished and professional. In spite of all that she decided to stay, and she made her first public recital appearance at a Harvest Supper in Nether Winchendon on 26th September 1977. She remembers playing the blue set of treble bells and felt that she fitted in reasonably well.
Since those early days in the team Sue has progressed so that she can play the sets of bells down to and including the occasional piece in the tenor range. Sometimes she will ring one bourdon bell in each hand where necessary... and often gets 'volunteered' for a handful of 'odd' bells ...
Sue is the Music Officer in the team, responsible for keeping the music in good repair and the music records up to date. She has also taken on the mantle of Chief Music Arranger and is also a prolific Composer of pieces for the team. She recently achieved her ambition to get the team’s repertoire to over 400 pieces! Sue is also one of the Presenters at recitals, enjoying her time in the limelight with visual aids specially produced for the occasion.
Meredith WHILDEN became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers in May 1991. He was invited by a former member of the team to come to a recital being given in Linslade Church on 4th May 1991. He said that he wanted to see what the team was all about, and also he felt that he was probably being given the ‘once-over’ by members of the team to see if he was suitable. He says that he was fascinated by the skill of the ringers and had enjoyed the music so much that he was invited to practice the next week. This practice took place on 10th May at the home of Dick and Mary Lee in Quainton.
As is the custom he started on the treble set of bells and was absolutely terrified. He found it much harder than he was expecting and was totally exhausted by the end of the evening. As a trained pianist he found the different notation and music values somewhat of a challenge. His first public recital was at a Harvest Supper in Great Brickhill on 12th October that year. He remembers ringing the green set of treble bells and that Lucy took him under her motherly wing to make sure he coped. When a vacancy arose on the tenor set of bells he moved down – or round – the circle and in time moved on further to the bass set of bells. As one of the men in the team he remains a fixture on one of the larger sets of bells.
Meredith is the current Maintenance Officer, the person to go to if minor repairs or maintenance needs to be done. He also allows the team to ‘live’ in his house most Thursdays throughout the year as our practice venue.
As is the custom he started on the treble set of bells and was absolutely terrified. He found it much harder than he was expecting and was totally exhausted by the end of the evening. As a trained pianist he found the different notation and music values somewhat of a challenge. His first public recital was at a Harvest Supper in Great Brickhill on 12th October that year. He remembers ringing the green set of treble bells and that Lucy took him under her motherly wing to make sure he coped. When a vacancy arose on the tenor set of bells he moved down – or round – the circle and in time moved on further to the bass set of bells. As one of the men in the team he remains a fixture on one of the larger sets of bells.
Meredith is the current Maintenance Officer, the person to go to if minor repairs or maintenance needs to be done. He also allows the team to ‘live’ in his house most Thursdays throughout the year as our practice venue.
Rosemary ROBINSON became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers on 10th October 1999. A work colleague told her about this amazing handbell team.. A quick trial ring in the foyer of the office where she worked was enough to convince her that she wanted to join.
Rosemary’s first introduction to the team proper was at a practice held at Peter and Sue’s house in King’s Sutton. Rosemary had a background of being taught the piano and could read music. This music looked so different, the sound was absolutely superb and the whole team seemed to be having great fun.
Her first recital was on 19th May 2000 in Oxford at the HQ of the Oxford Federation of Women’s Institutes ringing one of the treble sets of bells.
Rosemary is now able to play the main melody treble bells and also the smaller descant treble and alto bells.
Rosemary says that playing in this fantastic team has brought music back into her life when she least expected it. She finds the music challenging and we have a vast selection of pieces. It gives everyone a real buzz.
Rosemary is responsible for keeping records of each of the team's recitals so that if we go back again to the same organisation we research what was played before to avoid repetition.
Rosemary’s first introduction to the team proper was at a practice held at Peter and Sue’s house in King’s Sutton. Rosemary had a background of being taught the piano and could read music. This music looked so different, the sound was absolutely superb and the whole team seemed to be having great fun.
Her first recital was on 19th May 2000 in Oxford at the HQ of the Oxford Federation of Women’s Institutes ringing one of the treble sets of bells.
Rosemary is now able to play the main melody treble bells and also the smaller descant treble and alto bells.
Rosemary says that playing in this fantastic team has brought music back into her life when she least expected it. She finds the music challenging and we have a vast selection of pieces. It gives everyone a real buzz.
Rosemary is responsible for keeping records of each of the team's recitals so that if we go back again to the same organisation we research what was played before to avoid repetition.
Mary LOCK became a member of the Launton Handbell Ringers in May 2002. She heard that the team was looking for new members from Gill’s husband when being driven to work one day. After some discussion she decided that she had nothing to lose by going along and seeing what this activity was that Gill had become involved in. Her first introduction to the bells was at Lucy’s house on 3rd May 2002 at a practice session. She felt completely useless but everyone was so friendly and encouraging that she decided to persevere. Her first recital was Devon Lodge Retirement Home in Woburn Sands on 14th December that year during the Christmas season. She felt that she had not let the team down and after that started to enjoy it.
Mary can play either of the two descant parts and also either of the two main melody parts. She has also just been persuaded/encouraged/cajoled to try out a few pieces on the tenor range of bells. This she can now do in recitals but not yet for the whole recital. She is undertaking hand stretching exercises to enable her to cope with the bigger bells better.
Mary is the minute taker at team meetings and at the Annual meeting and, once she has unravelled all her shorthand notes and doodles, produces accurate records of discussions that have taken place and decisions made.
Mary can play either of the two descant parts and also either of the two main melody parts. She has also just been persuaded/encouraged/cajoled to try out a few pieces on the tenor range of bells. This she can now do in recitals but not yet for the whole recital. She is undertaking hand stretching exercises to enable her to cope with the bigger bells better.
Mary is the minute taker at team meetings and at the Annual meeting and, once she has unravelled all her shorthand notes and doodles, produces accurate records of discussions that have taken place and decisions made.
Aeron GOLDBY has been playing with the Launton Handbell Ringers
since 4th October 2013. She had been looking for an outside interest
and went along to an open evening in Launton Parish Hall. It looked like
something she'd enjoy so she started going to the practices. The first time
she was let loose in a real recital was a Bellfest at Weston Turville on 29th
March 2014. She was interested in hearing how other teams played and
how they were all different to each other.
Aeron found it quite hard at first playing the bells, mainly trying to remember which bells were which but surprisingly quickly she got used to it and has improved steadily. There are many pieces to get to grips with but she welcomes a challenge and hopes one day to be able to master the fast runs. She really enjoys it and recommends it to anybody reading this to try it.
Catherine PREECE has lived overseas for many years. On her return to the UK in February 2016, she settled in Buckingham and was looking for a new hobby. She had always been interested in music, and wanted to become part of an ensemble again.
Having searched around on the internet she decided to have a go at handbell ringing. Her first session with the group in Buckingham was great fun and it was not long before she realised that this was the new musical hobby she was looking for. After several months of ringing and looking for more of a challenge she came across Launton Handbell Ringers.
She joined her first practice on 13th October 2016, and was made to feel very welcome. A challenge it certainly was, playing four in hand!!! She was delighted , a few weeks later, to be asked to choose the colour of her polo shirt to join the team in their new uniform. She wasn't sure that she shared the confidence that the team had in her ability.
Her first recital with the team was at Bartlett House on 6th December 2016 on a set of treble bells which is at the lighter (weight) end of the set, and there she was in her raspberry coloured polo shirt. On that occasion it was a very small team of just 5 ringers, and she felt her inexperience was very much on show. The weekly practices are great fun and with more ringers more exciting pieces can be played, thanks Sue. This has given more opportunity to try out different bells. She has recently started playing the tenor bells, which she has enjoyed very much, and might soon be enrolling at the gym to build up some strength and stamina to cope with these heavier bells!!!
Catherine PREECE has lived overseas for many years. On her return to the UK in February 2016, she settled in Buckingham and was looking for a new hobby. She had always been interested in music, and wanted to become part of an ensemble again.
Having searched around on the internet she decided to have a go at handbell ringing. Her first session with the group in Buckingham was great fun and it was not long before she realised that this was the new musical hobby she was looking for. After several months of ringing and looking for more of a challenge she came across Launton Handbell Ringers.
She joined her first practice on 13th October 2016, and was made to feel very welcome. A challenge it certainly was, playing four in hand!!! She was delighted , a few weeks later, to be asked to choose the colour of her polo shirt to join the team in their new uniform. She wasn't sure that she shared the confidence that the team had in her ability.
Her first recital with the team was at Bartlett House on 6th December 2016 on a set of treble bells which is at the lighter (weight) end of the set, and there she was in her raspberry coloured polo shirt. On that occasion it was a very small team of just 5 ringers, and she felt her inexperience was very much on show. The weekly practices are great fun and with more ringers more exciting pieces can be played, thanks Sue. This has given more opportunity to try out different bells. She has recently started playing the tenor bells, which she has enjoyed very much, and might soon be enrolling at the gym to build up some strength and stamina to cope with these heavier bells!!!
Lindsay DUNHAM has long been a fan of handbell ringing, having first heard Launton Handbell Ringers and others playing on the 'Enchanted Carols' LP many years ago.
Having rung with Buckingham U3A Handbells since 2011, Lindsay had heard Launton ring at several BellFests, but never imagined that one day she would join this talented team.
However, in November 2016, she was offered the opportunity to try four in hand ringing at Launton and, keen to accept the challenge, attended her first practice on November 24th. This was a daunting but enjoyable experience, the team made her very welcome and forgave her inevitable mistakes. On December 8th she was asked to join the team in a recital at Hambledon W.I., a real vote of confidence (or perhaps they were just short of ringers.) She survived the experience, thanks to the encouragement of other team members, and has since become a regular member of the team.
Lindsay began by ringing treble bells, but has since tried altos and occasionally the descant bells. She still sometimes rings two bells at once, but hopes this will improve with practice. She relishes the ongoing challenge of four in hand ringing and the opportunity to help perform complex and beautiful music.
Lindsay DUNHAM has long been a fan of handbell ringing, having first heard Launton Handbell Ringers and others playing on the 'Enchanted Carols' LP many years ago.
Having rung with Buckingham U3A Handbells since 2011, Lindsay had heard Launton ring at several BellFests, but never imagined that one day she would join this talented team.
However, in November 2016, she was offered the opportunity to try four in hand ringing at Launton and, keen to accept the challenge, attended her first practice on November 24th. This was a daunting but enjoyable experience, the team made her very welcome and forgave her inevitable mistakes. On December 8th she was asked to join the team in a recital at Hambledon W.I., a real vote of confidence (or perhaps they were just short of ringers.) She survived the experience, thanks to the encouragement of other team members, and has since become a regular member of the team.
Lindsay began by ringing treble bells, but has since tried altos and occasionally the descant bells. She still sometimes rings two bells at once, but hopes this will improve with practice. She relishes the ongoing challenge of four in hand ringing and the opportunity to help perform complex and beautiful music.
