"The Kilwhang Ringers" were established last September, and already they are taking their newly learned skills and talents out into the community to share with others. The driving force of the group is their leader and teacher Catherine Walker, Director of Music and Church organist at Dunnottar Parish Church.
The ladies performed a selection of hymns and Scottish tunes for their appreciative Clashfarquhar audience. Many of the tunes were very familiar indeed, and the listeners greatly enjoyed a lovely mixture played with the beautiful and gentle sounds of the hand bells and musical mix which included "Glencoe, "The Queen's Marys", "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" , "Amazing Grace" and even "Cooter's Candy".
The performance was particularily special as Mrs Elspeth Richmond, a resident of Clashfarquhar House was in the audience, having just celebrated her 91st birthday a day earlier. Mrs Richmond and her husband, the late Reverend Robin Richmond of South Church, Stonehaven, brought with them a set of Whitechapel English handbells to Stonehaven after moving here from Port Patrick. The bells were used at South Church over 25 years ago, but have not been in use since then, and have been in the care of Christine Hunter, Keeper of the Bells at South Church.
By a stroke of chance, when Catherine Walker attended a hand bell convention at Dunblane Cathedral, some months ago, she happened to meet some bellringers there who knew that there was a set of handbells in Stonehaven, and they told her she should contact a local hairdresser in Stonehaven, who took care of them. Catherine made contact with Christine Hunter, and eventually it was arranged, with Mrs Richmond's blessing, that the bells should be used again and the result was the start of the Kilwhang Ringers - Named after the ancient name for Stonehaven.
Since then another set of American handbells have been generously gifted to the group from a parishioner at Dunnottar Church, and these are now being played in conjunction with the Whitechapel bells by the Kilwhang Ringers.
It was a great thrill for Mrs Richmond to hear her bells being played once again after such a long period of silence and made a wonderful end to her birthday celebrations .
The Kilwhang ladies have to wear white cotton gloves when they play the handbells to protect the instruments as the oils in their skin can have a detrimental affect on the tone of the bells.
Leader Catherine Walker said: " Our group now plan to have a handbell ringing event next Spring at Dunnottar to be called ' A Day To Ring and Pray'. Hopefully this will become an annual event in our calendar. We will use the local setting and facilities to make an event that is special to this place. Some of our ringers are preparing a "Prayer walk" through Dunnottar woods, and I have been charged to write three new pieces of music for hand bells for the occasion. The event will be for everyone to come along to take part, whether experienced or not. There will be something for everyone, and hopefully hand bell ringers from other areas will join us too. I want to help people to experience and enjoy music as part of a spiritual life. The more I can facilitate that, the happier I am."
The group practise every week upstairs in Dunnottar Church on Monday mornings from 10-11.30am . An open invitation is extended to anyone who is interested in learning to play the handbells and join the Kilwhang Ringers group.