On Thursday, Feb 26, a milestone was reached: the first quarter peal rung in our tower entirely by PCRG ringers. The quarter peal of 1320 Plain Bob Doubles was conducted by Nick Rossi (also a first) ringing the 5th place bell. The other ringers were (1) Ross Finbow, (2) Elizabeth Boyd, (3) Mary Bragdon, and (4) John Lingley. One week later, the first locally rung quarter of minor was rung. Ross conducted Elizabeth, Mary, Nick, Rich and John in a 1260 of Plain Bob minor.
Southminster Tower hosted the Mid-Atlantic Area Meeting. Featured methods during the three days were St Simon's & St Clement's, and Cassiobury Surprise for advanced ringers. A highlight of the weekend was the maintenance workshop conducted by Alan Hughes from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England. The workshop consisted of a two and a half-hour lecture on Saturday morning, followed by a hands-on demonstration in the bell tower after lunch. On Sunday, Alan gave a seminar on rope-splicing.
About 25 ringers attended from Philadelphia, NY area, Washington, Chicago, Seattle, Victoria, BC and other places as well. On Saturday evening, an enjoyable dinner was held at the Grand Concourse. An area meeting record of sorts was achieved by a member of the Washington contingent, who not only downed 5 22-oz margaritas, but was able to walk unaided afterwards.
Thanks to Bruce and Eileen Butler for organizing the maintenance workshop, and to RM Ross for organizing the ringing.
Following Thanksgiving, our tower held a training weekend at Southminster. Four accomplished ringers kindly offered to spend a few days in Pittsburgh and help us further our skills. Don Trumpler (Philadelphia), Derek Sawyer (Toronto), Roy Latham (Washington) and Lynn Kudrich (Brewster) patiently worked us through plain courses and touches of Plain Bob and Grandsire. The weekend culminated in the first quarter-peal to be rung at Southminster, which included PCRG ringers Elizabeth Boyd and Nick Rossi. Graciously conceding first honors, Rich Pinkerton and John Lingley joined our visitors for a second quarter-peal immediately following. Congratulations to all!
Less experienced ringers also had a chance to further their skills. Clara, Claire, Erika and Frances all enjoyed several sessions during the weekend.
In fact, no one was safe. Kathy, an innocent bystander who stopped by to deliver coffee, had to take her turn as well.
Thanks again to Don, Derek, Lynn and Roy. Thanks also to our RM Ross, who organized this weekend for us.
The annual meeting was held Nov 4, 2003. Election (all by acclamation) of new officers was held, see below for new contact information. The membership clarified the responsibilities of each position. The treasurer, steeple keeper and ringing master each reviewed the status of their respective areas of responsibilities ("we're solvent," "ropes are okay but we need to look ahead," "can't we ever get bobs and singles in our heads, for goodness sakes, and the striking....don't ask me about the striking...."). Members presented engraved pitcher and mugs to Ringing Master-elect Ross Finbow for his leading us to double first places in the NAGCR striking competition. Ross reluctantly and under pressure admitted that the band has displayed small modicum of progress.
The Pittsburgh Change Ringing Guild has just hosted the annual NAGCR striking competition. Nearly 50 ringers from the US and Canada attended. This was the first time that the event was held in Pittsburgh and in fact, the first time that Pittsburgh has competed. There were 3 teams entered in both the 6-bell and 8-bell call change category, and in the methods category, there were 8 teams in the 6-bell competition, and 9 teams in the 8-bell. We had ringers from Boston, Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Marietta, Atlanta and Toronto.
We were fortunate to have Alan Regin, who currently rings in London, act as judge. At the dinner following the competition, the Pittsburgh team was awarded first place in both the 6 and 8 bell call change categories, and the Marietta/Atlanta team won first place in both the 6 and 8 bell methods competition. Alan has forwarded the final tabulation of the scoring, as well as his perspicacious comments. NAGCRS's Education Secretary, Eileeen Butler, has written a complete report of the weekend as well. Brett Wormley has provided some excellent photos as well.Thanks to you all.
The Pittsburgh Change Ringing Guild would also like to thank all the participants. It was truly an enjoyable experience, and we look forward to defending our title in next year's competition in Raleigh, NC. Our continued appreciation to Southminster as well, for their support.
(We heard a few requests for PCRG shirts. If anyone would like to order one, please e-mail .)
Ringing in Pittsburgh continues to improve both in method complexity and striking quality although, it must be said, it does not always exhibit both commodities in equal measure. We have an enthusiastic and relatively young band of about 8 or 9 regular attendees, and are hoping to add to that number before too long.
We had a good turn out to the ringing course and AGM, with 5 attendees to the course and 4 to the AGM. The experience served not only as very helpful in the technical sense, but also seemed to buoy general enthusiasm, which has always been plentiful. Of those who stayed for the AGM, both Mary Bragdon and Elizabeth Boyd rang their first quarters covering, and Nick Rossi rang his first quarter away from cover, trebling for Plain Bob Triples and Doubles.
We continue to work on Plain Bob Minor (now progressed to touches) and plain courses of Grandsire doubles, but have recently added plain courses of Stedman doubles to our repertoire. This was facilitated in large part by a visit from Roy Latham returning to DC after a stint working in Grand Rapids, MI. We spent much of the weekend working on Stedman with his help, for which we are most grateful.
We’ve had a few changes of personnel over the summer. Kurt and Katy Brungrabber have left Pittsburgh to take up residence in York, PA. We wish them all the best and thank Kurt for his service as area rep. Until we can press gang--whoops, sorry--elect a permanent replacement for Kurt, Nick Rossi has assumed an interim placement for this position.
In non-tower but nonetheless change-ringing related activity, our tower instructor and brewmeister, Ross Finbow, has just laid down a keg in anticipation of Pittsburgh’s upcoming hosting of the annual NAGCR Striking Competition on October 11. We’re all looking forward to both the competition and the results of Ross’s efforts.
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