ABOUT THE BELLS - Edna Hutchinson (a founder member)

HISTORY OF THE ALL SAINTS HANDBELLS

All Saints' Handbell Ringers started in September 1977 and two members of the original group are still ringing with the present team. We started with a set of 12 handbells in the key of G, cast in 1870 at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London and donated to All Saints' Church in 1926 by Mr Hutson of Beeleigh Road, Maldon. (We have a photograph of Mr Hutson and his friends with the handbells, taken about 1890) During the past 21 years the bells have been back to Whitechapel several times for renovation; they still have their original leather caps, although the straps have been replaced and reinforced.

We have raised money to buy extra bells; others have been donated and we now have a total of 41 bells, covering 3½ octaves. We collect regularly for charity and are members of the national organisation, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (HRGB), attending National Rallies in various parts of the country over the past eight years.