The Association owns two sets of handbells that are available on loan for use by members.
The Reeves Handbells
This set of 24 handbells was presented to the Association in 1889 by Harvey Reeves, first editor of “Bell News” and a native and former ringer of Worcester. These bells range in size from 18G to 01D, diatonically, plus 12F, 10A#, 7D#, 5F and 3A# and were all refurbished in 2012 and 2013 by The Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd. These bells are to be used for CHANGE RINGING ONLY and suitable sets are available upon request.
The Ashford Memorial Handbells
This set of 35 bells ranges from 21D to 1C chromatically. They were completely refurbished in 1993 and are available for TUNE RINGING ONLY. These bells replace the set which formerly belonged to the late Bernard C Ashford, one time Northern Branch Secretary, and which were donated to the Association in 1985 by his family in his memory. Having been stolen during a burglary, they were replaced by the present bells through an insurance claim.
Conditions of loan
The bells will be loaned for a period of up to 8 weeks and must be returned to the Archivist (or contact made with the Archivist to extend the loan) by the end of the period.
The member who borrows the bells remains liable for the bells and will be expected to reimburse the Association for any expense incurred such as the Excess on the insurance premium (£50 in 2017), any subsequent loss of ‘no claims bonus’ or similar, and any other costs incurred as a result of the loan, claims, loss or damage, or recovery.
Loan of Handbells
Please contact the association’s archivist to organise the release of the bells from the storage facility, insurance details and transfer.
