Update: We’ve already hit our target for Graham’s bell, with huge thanks to all those who have contributed already. The response has been incredible! If you’d still like to leave a message and a contribution then please do - we’ve increased the target, and any extra funds we raise will go towards some more bell mallets and other bits and pieces on our percussion shopping list for the Orchestra. All in Graham’s honour! Graham will be delighted to see your name and message there. Many thanks!

Graham Johns will be retiring from his role as Section Leader Percussion in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the summer of 2023, after 40 years of dedicated service.

His timpani and percussion colleagues have been looking for a suitable way to pay tribute to him and to thank him for the incredible work he has done to further the art of percussion, not only here in Liverpool but all over the world. 

Almost everyone who knows Graham will have heard about his ‘Forever Bells’ project at Liverpool Philharmonic. He has worked tirelessly since 2018 to raise funds and facilitate the purchase of what is now the largest collection of church bells of any orchestra in the UK. The bells are not only an asset to us here in Liverpool but are available to hire to orchestras around the country, generating income for the Orchestra, and allowing other orchestras to benefit from the opportunity to perform on these magnificent instruments. This has, without doubt, changed the approach to countless pieces of repertoire in this country forever.

We believe that there is nothing that would make Graham happier than to have a Forever Bell dedicated to him to mark his retirement. Our plan is to crowdfund the purchase of an A-flat church bell for the Orchestra, which will be inscribed with a dedication to Graham, so – in the spirit of the Forever Bells project – his name will remain a part of our Orchestra… ‘Forever’! Future generations of players and future descendants of Graham’s will be able to see his name on the bell and it will continue to ‘ring out’ through the ages: The Graham C. Johns Bell.

The A-flat is used in Mahler’s 8th Symphony, Puccini’s Tosca and Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Age of Anxiety’, amongst others, and as with the rest of the collection, will be available to hire. The bell will be cast by the Royal Eijsbouts Foundry in the Netherlands, with whom Graham has worked closely since 2018, when he first came up with the idea of the Forever Bells.

We need to raise £5,700 to cover the cost of the bell, flight case, stand and shipping. We have a big target to aim for, but knowing how many people Graham has influenced, inspired and entertained over the years with his great expertise, generosity of spirit and infectious enthusiasm, we’re confident we can get there. If anyone has taught us all to aim high, it’s Graham! 

We need to have the funds in place by the end of January to make sure it’s here in time. Here’s what we’re looking for:

10 gifts of £100

20 gifts of £50

70 gifts of £30

60 gifts of £20

40 gifts of £10

We plan to present the bell to Graham, together with a framed photograph of it and a list of everyone who contributed, at his last concert in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, on 8 July 2023. He’d love to see as many of you there as possible so please come along if you can! Click here for more details.

Graham has truly put Liverpool on the map in the percussion world, and we’re sure you’ll agree that he has been a tremendous force for good in our industry. We are going to miss him enormously, and we know that he will be absolutely bowled over by this! 

Please remember to leave a message for Graham when you make your contribution - we’ll collate them all and present them to him with the bell. And please pass this on to anyone you can think of who might like to be involved.

Most importantly - please help us to KEEP IT A SECRET from him! 

Thank you for your generosity.

Click here to read more about Graham’s career.

Click here to read more information about the Forever Bells in an article from 2019.

You can also find the Forever Bells on Twitter: @TheForeverBells