Introducing the Jubilee Bears - Norbury and Ashton

You may have read in ‘Reverberations’ about the teddy bears which are to visit each Region of HRGB during this Golden Jubilee year.  We now have two bears in the Region, named Norbury and Ashton, and we hope that one of them will be making its way to you at some point over the next few months.

The names were chosen as the first registered team of the HRGB was Norbury and the first National Handbell Rally was held at Ashton Grammar School.

This is what we would like you to do with your fluffy golden visitor.

The aim is that between them, the teddies will visit every team and independent member in the Region, and be photographed taking part in an activity – a performance, a practice, some other occasion – the choice is yours.

When you have your photographs, please select one and email it to Jeanette Jenkins, our webmaster, who has kindly agreed to collate them and put them on the Region’s website.  Please don’t send more than one photograph – Jeanette is the collator, not the decision-maker!

Jeanette’s email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  When you send the photograph please include the team / member’s name and brief details.  Please also show your bear’s mileage while it is with you - we would like to total up their ‘Bear miles’ on their tours around the Region.

Members of the Committee will be mainly responsible for getting the bears around the Region, but if you know that you can pass your bear on to another team or independent member personally, please contact one of the Committee members – any help will be gratefully received! 

SOME HINTS ABOUT BEAR CARE:

·         Do not feed them anything sticky / messy / highly coloured.  Or anything at all, really.

·         Feel free to dress them up for their photograph, but please don’t sew things onto them – bears don’t like needles.

·         Don’t rely on them as substitutes for team members, especially at performances – bears are not good at counting and are rubbish at turning pages.  This may mean they’ll fit in well, but even so …

·         Don’t let them conduct – it will feed their egos and the last thing we want is a couple of little furry divas wandering around the Region.

·         ON NO ACCOUNT MUST THE BEARS BE CONNECTED TO A MAINS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.  It makes them smell funny.

See the Jubilee Bears Gallery