Stop Press – Solihull to Host the Robert B Smith Trophy Striking Competition, 26 September 2026
The sound of church bells is something we all take for granted. For some it conjures up a quintessentially English summer’s day. Bellringing is an ancient art, going back many centuries, but while it retains its history, it continues to develop. This September there will be the opportunity to hear a high standard of bellringing when Solihull Parish Church will host this year’s Robert B Smith Trophy competition on Saturday 26 September 2026, welcoming 8, 12‑bell teams from across the country for a day of friendly competition, good ringing, and community involvement. Their ringing will be judged for its precision, rhythm and teamwork.
The Robert B Smith Trophy is intentionally a less formal and more developmental competition, offering an opportunity for bands who may not regularly compete at the highest level, to gain experience ringing on unfamiliar bells, ringing together in a supportive environment. The teams will be using all their concentration as they navigate the prescribed test piece and will need to ring with confidence. The ringing will be heard from late morning, well into the afternoon after which the results will be announced in church.
Tim Peverrett the Trophy Coordinator said “The Robert B Smith Trophy was first held in 2018 at Melbourne, Derbyshire. Our 8th competition sees the return of inaugural winners St Oulton’s, Little Eaton. We also welcome the Higher Numbers band, competing for the first time, a team that practice at Solihull. I’m looking forward to an excellent day with great organisation by the local Solihull ringers and helpers.”
A Supportive and Enjoyable Ringing Day
The RBS Trophy is known for its relaxed atmosphere, where ringers, supporters, and visitors can enjoy high‑quality ringing without the pressure associated with major national contests. The event attracts around 100 ringers, including those volunteering to run the event. Many of the bands joining us will use the competition as a stepping‑stone toward more formal striking contests. Judging will be supported by Hawkear, the audio‑analysis system widely used in ringing competitions to provide clear and objective feedback on striking accuracy.
Solihull’s Welcome
Solihull Parish Church is preparing to offer a warm welcome to visiting teams, with proceeds supporting churchyard improvements and the church’s bell fund. Anyone is welcome to come and hear skilled ringing on Solihull’s fine ring of twelve bells in a friendly, welcoming setting. Rev. Nick Parker, our Rector said, “We are delighted to welcome visiting ringers from across the country to ensure a bright future in which bells continue to ring out in celebration and in calling God’s people to worship.”
St Alphege Bellringers
We have an active group of Church Bellringers regularly ringing for Sunday Services. We currently ring on Sundays before the 10.30am or after the 9.15am, check the website for service times. We also ring from 4 o’clock for evensong but when we can, we make this a quarter peal. If we’re successful, we dedicate this more notable ringing to something special, it can be anything from a national or local event to a celebration of a birthday or other personal occasion. (Have something in mind for a dedication? Give us a shout 😊.)
We have a practice night on Tuesdays between 7.30pm and 9.00pm except in Holy Week and you’re welcome to join us. We also ring for special services like weddings, Remembrance Day, New Years Eve, Christmas Midnight Mass, Eastertide and more.
Want to know more?
We’re always keen to share our passion for ringing and the fun we have, with new recruits! It is a team activity and requires those taking part to have one bell per person. Our Ringers come from all walks of life in the community. Once you have mastered the bell and ability to be confident within the art, you become welcomed in many of the active towers throughout the UK and the world! A readymade friendship group wherever you go!
We pass on the art of bellringing through a hands-on approach. To learn the very basics of this age-old pastime can take between 10 and 16 hours. Near enough all people can learn, if they are fit enough to climb the 50+ steps to the ringing room and have the stature to physically control the bell rope. We get younger members from around the first year of secondary school through to those with time to enjoy life and try a new activity.
Try this link to the Central Council of Bell Ringers Site for more information:-
Social Activities
Each year we organise social activities which include a Holy Week gathering, a Ringers Ramble, an Annual Dinner and a Ringing Outing, when we take a day together to go and ring at other towers around the country.
We’re also affiliated to the St Martin’s Guild of Church Bell Ringers and their website is worth a look too:- https://stmartinsguild.org/
Our Bells
We are very lucky to have a ring of 12 bells at St Alphege, a highly regarded ring of historic bells. We have an additional 13th bell in a note that gives us flexibility when ringing on smaller numbers. The combination of bells that we have means that parts of musical octaves can be created through the use of 6, 8, 10 or all 12 bells and we also have the option of lighter 6 and 8 bell combinations. You can see the details of our bells here:-
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?tower=11354
If you’d like any further information, want to come and visit us or think you might want to learn to ring, please contact Sand Cooper via sand.cooper@outlook.com . You’ll be made most welcome, we love seeing visitors and better still, making new friends.