44th Annual Lamerton Handbell Festival
The Lamerton Handbell Festival started in 1973 to raise funds for the church, with just 4 teams attending: Lamerton, Whitchurch, Lifton and Stoke Damerel. Up to 1994 the festivals were held in Lamerton Church but since then the event has grown too large and now takes place in the Village Hall. The festival is very popular and draws teams, large and small, from all over Devon and Cornwall, with the Lamerton teams, senior and junior, taking part and acting as hosts to all the visiting teams. The standard of ringing is always high, and although there is a competitive element to the event with six cups to be won, this is not mandatory - the emphasis is on encouraging people to take part and perform in front of an audience in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Lamerton Handbell Ringers was started in 1963 by Geoff Hill and has been run ever since by Geoff and his wife, Valerie. In 2013 over a hundred people celebrated the group’s Golden Anniversary, including many previous members who had belonged to the group over the years. Lamerton Handbell Ringers has belonged to ‘Handbell Ringers of Great Britain’ (HRGB) since 1969 and this international organisation founded in 1967 is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. The HRGB National Rally was held in the South West in April at the University of Exeter and Geoff, as a founder member, and Valerie were invited to attend a dinner in the Great Hall which was of course followed by a handbell concert.
The 44th Annual Handbell Festival takes place at 7:00pm in Lamerton Village Hall – entrance is free and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information contact Geoff and Valerie Hill on 01822 614319. Funds raised last year were donated to Devon Air Ambulance – funds raised this year will again be donated to charity.