After-school club has a certain ring to it

LOOK this way . . . Carys Lomax (centre)

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CHILDREN at a Lees primary school are among just a handful in Oldham learning the ancient skills of handbell ringing.

They will be showing off their new found musical talents to parents and other visitors when they play together at St Agnes CE Primary School's Christmas carol service at the church tonight (7pm).

The handbell ringers ­- one of St Agnes' after-school clubs ­- started in September with children rehearsing for the carol concert ever since. Twelve of them were involved this year and taught by pianist and assistant head Sarah Butterworth.

The club started in 2007 and the bells are thought to have originally been passed down from St Agnes Church.

Reward

"The children very much enjoy the classes," said Miss Butterworth. "It is an instant reward because when the bells are played together they sound lovely. They are not that difficult to play but the children learn about rhythm and timing and learning handbell ringing helps them understand pitch too. It is something different for them to play. I don't think many schools teach handbell ringing."

The first tuned handbells date back to the 17th century. They were developed by brothers Robert and William Cor in Wiltshire between 1696 and 1724.

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