Contact the adviser, Hilary

I joined Bedford u3a eleven years ago; newly retired and only recently moved into the area.

There were many interest groups on offer and I was keen to rediscover some of the hobbies I had neglecting when working life and family had priority, but I also wanted to learn something new. I always loved music and played various instruments as a teenager so was pleased to find that Bedford u3a had a Handbell group and even more pleased to find they had a vacancy.

I had never played Handbells, in fact I had never even heard them, but within weeks I was hooked. For me, playing Handbells is not just a hobby, it’s a passion that I want to share with others. I am still playing every week with Bedford u3a’s handbell group but I now also play with another team in the area, with the East Anglian Regional Handbell Team and also am an active member of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain. 

Any form of music we know has a positive impact upon our lives, both mentally and physically.  Handbells are one of the world’s oldest musical instruments and are relatively easy to learn.  You don’t need to be a musician to begin to play bells but you will become a musician once you have mastered the instrument and its techniques. If you can count, know your left from your right and have a sense of rhythm then you can learn to play Handbells.  Whilst, if you read music  you will learn more quickly, you do not need a deep understanding of music theory as you will pick up what you need as you go along. 

• By providing support and guidance for members wanting to set up a handbell group
• By providing help and support to existing group leaders/convenors who are looking to expand or develop their group
• By facilitating knowledge sharing
• By providing links between u3a handbell groups
• By providing links to the wider handbell community in the UK