The Inn Ringers - Latest News
September 2023
We would like to thank our friends at the 'A Little Bit of Stone web site for their continued support. They recently featured an article on the team in a bid to attract new members to our team. You can read the article here:-
The Inn Ringers, chime up about recent concert and appeal for new members > A Little Bit of Stone
August 2023
It seemed only yesterday that we went to the Inn Ringers’ Xmas Concert. Here we were again but this time, it was hot and sunny for their Summer one. Three of us from Gnosall Handbells arrived and it was an introduction to seeing an amazing band for one of our new ringers who had only been with us a few weeks. Again, warm greetings from our old friends were received as we chose our table and seats. Lovely fresh flowers were on each table!
Without preamble, the ringers launched into their first exciting piece being the famous stately Mexican march, Zactacas. It was crisp and snappy, very fast and made good use of the bass bells which at times, took the tune. Great presentation and lead into the concert and a piece that the Inn Ringers have been playing on and off since they started in 1977.
Paul conducted and compered the show and as usual, his wit and warmth won the hearts of the audience. He told some great jokes and said that Shirley was always ‘the butt of the joke’ but he gave her a rest and another member was the subject this time! He revealed that the content of the afternoon’s programme was a challenging one!
Following the march came a change of timing to a 6/8 being the iconic Theme from a Summer Place. This is so suited to bells particularly for the repeated treble notes and then repetition from bass with expert softness throughout and a touch variation of plucking. The piece is complex and recognised as one of the most memorable love themes in film history.
A few more jokes from Paul and then he kept us in suspense for the next one saying that the performer had been the backing for Dorothy Squires, Gracie Fields and many more celebrities. The music was China Tea, composed by Trevor H. (Herbert) Stanford which is the real name for the wonderful honky-tonk pianist and composer, Russ Conway. The ringers really made this swing at the highest level.
This year Paul announced that it is the Inn Ringers forty-sixth anniversary and over that time, there have been ninety members. This is amazing as twelve ringers are required to complete their full band and Paul reminisced their greatest times such as 2008 ringing at the Barbican and the wonderful Xmas of 2008 to name but a few.
With four pieces into the concert, they reminded me greatly of my childhood being that they were around the late 1950’s and 60’s. I could picture the following artist, Winifred Atwell, 'The Amazing Miss A' and her most popular ragtime piano playing. The ringers played her Ragtime Dance with its great jaunty rhythm and frequent syncopation. The ‘rhythm’ table at one point took the tune and Paul, who was conducting, plus the bass, did a wonderful clicking with their fingers in another section. The speed quickened to a fast pace towards the end. Wonderful!
After a few very amusing witticisms from Paul, another march was underway; the nostalgic Bary Gray’s Thunderbirds! Never really took much notice of this piece as a youngster but realised when the ringers started that it was a perfect item for the handbells and amongst the most perfectly-crafted music of any tv series. Wow! So much drama with great middle table section playing. Superb!
Rowena arranged the next music, Leroy Anderson’s Forgotten Dreams and this melancholy slow piece was played very delicately but with great movement. This showcased their ability to control the sentimental phrases which is very hard to achieve. Although written in Connecticut, it became Leroy’s most popular song in England in 1957.
When Paul mentions that his ‘Bell Ears’ have been at work’, Rowena is in dread! This means that he has heard a tune that would go down well on the bells, so she is set to work. Arranging music to slot into the structure of the bells, which are asymmetric and not in chromatic order, is quite a feat! The tune in question for her to arrange was the closing theme on the TV for Wimbledon by Arnold Steck. Another 6/8 time ‘Sporting Occasion’. Fantastic and we heard it in its entirety which you don’t on TV; only a few bars.
The Carmen Overture was a piece that the band had not played for a long time but Paul said that it is on their 1997 CD. He told us that they went to Ingestre Hall; a Grade II 17th-century Jacobean mansion for the recording but were plagued by the creaky floor boards. To counteract this, they raided the students vacant bedrooms and placed mattresses on the floor. This long piece was very difficult for the band to play with many changes of rhythms, plucking from the middle rhythm table and bass! The Inn Ringers are such great players with stamina! Part of the piece reminded me of the TV advert for Happy Motoring, Toreador! Well done!
A well earned rest for the performers now as there was an interlude and we were treated to a huge range of delicious cakes of every description plus refreshments. The raffle was pulled and I am very pleased to say that the second ticket was mine and I had a bottle of tropical gin to take home with me!! Very nice. We also shopped at the bric a brac table which was laden with all sorts.
We were into the second half now with the wonderful Leroy Anderson’s Buglers Holiday. Gosh, such joy and an all time pops favourite. This flew off with great gusto and maintained to the very end. Lots of arpeggios; middle table lots of runs and so too for the treble with a great bass. This was such an exhilarating and zesty piece! Well done again.
I have to say that the audience were going mad with excitement and this increased with each number. I shan’t expect the performers really noticed as they were too busy with their music!
The proceeds for this concerts were donated to Headway House in North Staffordshire. Jason and Sam represented this local charity and gave us a brief account of what it provides. Jason declared that every twenty seconds, someone sustains a brain injury; in 2020, there were 37000. The centre helps casualties to live the best they can with rehabilitation and provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language, counselling and a huge list of activities. They are encouraged to be active and have for example armchair boogie The NHS only provide 25% of funding; the rest is members and charity financial aid. The centre does some amazing work.
Back on course again, the ringers set in motion the wonderful Glen Miller’s Sun Valley Serenade, Characacha Choodu composed in 1941 This is a big band swing tune and 1&2&3&4 timing so well suited to the bells, particularly the rhythm for bass. By now, the audience was making nearly as much noise as the ringers as they bobbed in their seats; the men crooning and the ladies singing at the top of their voices. Don’t think I am exaggerating, I kid you not!
Paul conducted all the music today and it really brings home to me how valuable this is, Unlike other instruments where notes flow, each note has to be counted by the ringers and picked up individually. It is difficult to all stay in sync but Paul directs the ringers and keeps them well on track.
Another nostalgic tune for me, Feed the Birds from the film Mary Poppins. This was beautifully slow and as I have said before, sometimes it is harder to achieve accuracy with such an exposed piece or rather, it is better described as any wrong note blatantly shows up. So this ¾ piece demonstrated their great skill and as a lullaby, it ticked all the boxes. There was even plucking in the main tune.
The haunting melody of Strangers on the Shore was written in 1961 and many artists recorded it in many varied forms. The arrangement by the Inn Ringers was individual and required precision as the tune contained double notes. Their bells were turned to a mellow soft; this was distinctive, so beautifully played and smooth.
Paul talked to us about the amazing arrangers known to our handbell world in bygone years. He quoted arrangers for the then named Stone Handbell Ringers, Thurlstone Bell Orchestra (from Yorkshire) and John Morgan from Gnosall Handbell Ringers and maybe some more. However, he now considers that their own arranger, Rowena Dawson is up there with the big names. She and Paul have put their heads together and arranged many new pieces. The following piece was a lively medley from My Fair Lady:- I Could Have Danced All Night; On the Street Where You Live; Wouldn’t It Be Loverly: I’m Getting Married in the Morning; with a finale mixture of the first and last pieces in one! It was an extraordinary achievement, displaying upbeat boldness and skill! The ringers did it proud!
The Seekers from Australia were very popular in the 1960’s producing many memorable songs, one being Georgy Girl. Another super one for the handbells particularly with the lovely introduction before the song actually begins and great use of the bass. I think there was also a change of key in the middle.
Now Liberty Bell by John Sousa is a great favourite and super workout for the bass section; composed almost 80 years before it was used as a signature tune for Monty Python's Flying Circus. It is a great American March which the ringers played with gusto and enthusiasm.
Last but by no means least, Old Comrades! This exercised all components with whooping from the rhythm section, runs from all sides and the bass at one point taking the tune! It was magnificent and we were so proud to show our new recruit just what this fantastic band could achieve!
After thanks for all concerned from Paul, with the left over cakes being sold and proceeds going towards the Headway charity, it was the end of an exhausting programme for the ringers and conductor. I hope they went home as happy as we were because it was one astonishing and breath-taking afternoon. Very well done!
July 2023
At our practice night on 19th July we were joined by representatives from the charity Headway North Staffs. They were presented with a cheque for £700 - the proceeds from our charity concert held at the end of June.
February 2023
The Inn Ringers are always open to invitations to perform full concerts for local organisations and groups - if you would like to book the team for a wonderful evening of entertainment please contact us (booking information and contact details are here on our web site).
Sunday, 11th December 2022 was arriving and I was so looking forward to meeting up with Pam Willis and Janet Carr to make our way to Meir Heath, Stoke on Trent to attend The Inn Ringers Christmas Concert.
To my dismay, as I looked out of the window that morning, the ground was covered with snow. Oh no, not another occasion when we were going to miss this wonderful show! I personally missed it last year because I had Covid, the previous year or two, we had restrictions because of Covid and I do believe I missed it in 2019 because of snow!
Pam and I exchanged text messages throughout the morning and the weather was getting worse by the minute. It had started also in Gnosall and the forecast for Stoke was no better. Let’s do it! I braved my way from Telford to Gnosall where we met up and things were looking better. Hardly a sprinkling there and so we made it to Stoke on Trent. What a relief as we gingerly walked up the path and were met by our old ringing friends. The hall was wonderfully warm and inviting. The ringing tables looked so festive with decoration and everyone was friendly and happy!
Paul, as usual, warmed up the audience with his very amusing jokes and as we relaxed, the concert commenced with ‘Carol of the Bells’. This piece of music is a Christmas staple from Ukraine It started as “Shchedryk,” a song about a little bird that was first performed in the United States in 1922. So this year it was performed one hundred years later and The Inn Ringers arrangement was exquisite. So very beautiful! The next piece was ‘Winter Waltz’ A new piece for the band written by the Japanese New Age musician and composer Kitaro. It is no wonder that the performers love to play this because it is full of hidden gems. Quite appropriate with the weather outside and a sensitive piece to follow ‘Carol of the Bells’. It accentuated the different groups in the band from the trebles, rhythm section, to the bass; each showing their own skills and then coming together for the pulsating and vibrant passages. Really fulfilling material showcasing the band’s skills.
The ever popular Andy Williams’ song ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ gave way to lots of foot tapping and singing from the audience. This Christmas song was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, recorded and released that year by the pop singer for his first Christmas album.
"Somewhere in My Memory" from the 1990 soundtract film Home Alone is performed in many Christmas concerts in schools or professional orchestras and choirs alike across the globe. However, the arrangement on The Inn Ringers bells displayed at the beginning an airy and gentle sound and then the harmonies joined together which created a feeling of togetherness. So beautiful! Paul said that he often hears music and contacts Rowena telling her that he has had his ‘bells ears working’. Together, they arrange these wonderful pieces. The audience was foot tapping on the next piece, ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree’. Brenda Lee was just 13 years old when she first recorded this in 1958. The song has gone on to be recorded by hundreds of artists, making it one of the most successful Christmas songs of all time and was amazing on the bells.
Now most people associate ‘Walking In the Air’ with Aled Jones. Evidently not one of Paul’s favourite artists! However, it was originally sung by St. Paul's Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty at the tender age of 13. It is a song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film ‘The Snowman’ based on Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book. Such a beautiful simple piece of music which there again, was played to perfection by the bell performers. The audience participated with ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ which has been largely associated with Harry Belafonte. This is a very popular Christmas calypso but has also been recorded by many other artists including Tom Jones. The Inn Ringers gave it some welly with the first half of the concert finishing on ‘Jingle Bells Brass Band’. This was another arrangement from one of Paul’s ‘bell ears’ episodes which he and Rowena arranged. It was excellent!!!.
What marvellous hosts the ringers were. Each table had a display of flowers and nibbles. This was half time and they came to the tables placing on each a tray of sandwiches, selection of hot Indian snacks, cakes and crisps. The hot mulled wine went down a treat followed by other refreshments. All served to us at the tables! To raise more funds, there was a large table selling jams, chutneys, produce and knick knacks plus of course, The Inn Ringers CD’s. I hope they did well with these. Also, there was a raffle.
I just adore Paul compering and he used Shirley as a prop for some of his jokes. She takes them very well and it looks as though she is never quite sure what he is going to say next! He makes a very difficult skill look professional.
The second half saw the performers wearing Xmas hats and decorations. I was so pleased to see Sarah’s daughter Aviaana now ringing. I’ve watched her grow from when she was four years old and so pleased that she finds her mum’s hobby something in which she wants to join too! Young people are a premium these days in the handbell and tower bell ringing tradition. Well done Avianna! So the next half started with a bang. ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ followed by the gentle carol, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’. Next, ‘I believe in Father Christmas’, was almost as if written for the bells. In fact, it is categorised as a Christmas song but was written by Peter Sinfield in protest at the commercialisation of Christmas. The Inn Ringers arrangement and performance was spot on.
‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ was absolutely divine! Originally written as a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti but later two pieces of music were composed. This was superbly played by the Inn Ringers and certainly sent shivers up and down my spine.
The next and final pieces really got the audience going with ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘White Christmas’, ‘Sleigh Ride’ and the iconic ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’. The latter reached number one in the UK in 1985, claiming that year's Christmas number one and giving Shakey his fourth chart-topper. Well it was a real ‘topper’ on the bells but the only thing was that it meant the concert was over!
There were lots of tributes, thanks and presies given to all who had helped make the day so special and a huge thanks to Paul who conducted, compered and as usual, inspires us all to continue ringing our bells. We really had a wonderful afternoon and I have to say that never have I heard The Inn Ringers play so well. Content, harmony, dynamics, texture were all superb and technically first class. Well done to Paul and The Inn Ringers for their stunning performance.
June 2022
The Inn Ringers were back in action on 12th June with their first full concert in more than two and a half years. The concert was a sell out and raised £650 for their chosen charity for this year, the Macari Foundation - the Stoke-on-Trent based organisation set up to help the homeless people of the city. It was attended by the founder of the charity Lou Macari the former manager of Stoke City football club.
January 2022
The Inn Ringers are now back to their regular Monday evening rehearsal sessions. During the last couple of months they have welcomed four new ringers and are now looking forward to putting together a concert programme for their charity concert in June.
November 2021
The Inn Ringers got back to their practice sessions in Mid August. After some 73 weeks away from their regular Monday night ringing sessions the team returned. Being low in numbers the team undertook some publicity activites in order to generate an bit of interest in the team and hopefully gain some new recruits. Articles appeared on the web site 'a little bit of Stone' and in the local magazine 'The Stone Gazette'. As a result of this publicity the team have welcomed three new ringers and a former ringer has returned.
There will be no annual Christmas concert this year, instead the team are organising a Christmas get together for family, friends and other local ringers.
The team will be back in action next year and hope to stage their annual charity concert in May 2022!!
October 2020
The Inn Ringers have not been able to get together to practise since 9th March due to the actions being taken in relation to Covid-19. The team are disappointed to announce their Annual Christmas Concert has now had to be cancelled,
The team are hoping to be back in their rehearsal room in the not too distant future and that it won't be too long before they are entertaining their audiences again,