Ringing endorsement for 'happy and friendly' handbell rally in Wick
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Handbell ringers who gathered for a national celebration in Caithness were delighted with the "happy, friendly, inclusive atmosphere".
The Assembly Rooms in Wick was the venue for the Scottish Spring Rally of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (HRGB), marking 25 years of handbell ringing in the county.
Saturday's event was hosted jointly by the Poltney Bell Ringers, from Wick, and the Caithness Handbell Ringers, based in Thurso.
Around 65 handbell ringers took part, coming from many parts of Scotland and as far away as Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire.
The musicians rehearsed under the baton of conductor Susie Dingle before giving an informal public performance.
The concert included a poignant new work entitled Confluence, by Wick High School pupil Blythe Bullen (15). It uses the metaphor of a river to represent the various stages of life.
Originally a piano piece, it was arranged for performance by Caithness Handbell Ringers' musical director Katrina Gordon.
John Elcock, chairman of the Scottish region of HRGB, said: "It was a hugely successful event. The ringers from the north had all put in a huge amount of effort in preparing for the day and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it.
"One of the highlights of the weekend was the happy, friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
"Caithness offered us a hugely friendly welcome. It was a lovely weekend."
John and his wife Valerie are members of Holy Trinity Handbells, from Haddington in East Lothian.
John said everyone attending had been "transfixed" by Blythe's composition.
Valerie added: "It was very inspiring. For somebody that age to have done something as complex as that, it was just fantastic."
Katrina said: "We had a wonderful weekend with our visiting teams.
"Saturday was a very intensive day of rehearsal and rally ringing. Our conductor Susie really brought the best out of all of the musicians and the results were absolutely breathtaking.
"I was particularly proud of our youngest Caithness Handbell Ringers, Peter Hill (9) and Martin Matthews (14), who both rose to the occasion and played brilliantly.
"They were inspired to meet the four young men from the Tintinnabulis team [based in Hereford], who are among the best handbell ringers in the UK.
"Kris, Jason, Tyler and Lewis gave so generously of their time and energy to inspire the next generation. It was heartwarming to watch.
"Blythe was delighted with the Caithness Handbell Ringers’ performance of Confluence and several audience members commented how poignant the ending of the work was."
Katrina added: "Thanks to the generosity of the Wick audience and the visiting bell ringers, we raised £487.97 for Arran’s appeal for Anthony Nolan at the rally. And Tyler, the youngest ringer from the Tintinnabulis team, also signed up to the stem cell register to become a potential stem cell donor."
For the new secretary of HRGB, Judy Gees, who takes up her post next month, it was a memorable event in several ways. Hailing from the Midlands, it was her first time north of Dunblane; it was also her 66th birthday; and the first item performed during the concert was Judy Gees Goes Overseas, which was receiving its world premiere after having been composed in her honour by Katrina Gordon.
It was the first time an HRGB rally had been held in the far north.
