Brewster/Kent Area meeting focuses on Plain Major

How can one improve ona perfect fall weekend in the midst of beautiful deciduous woodlands? Perhaps by gathering about twenty goodfriends together for a day of eight-bell ringing with a focus on Plain andLittle Bob, St. Clement’s, and Double Norwich. That idea worked out very well at our Brewster/Kent area meeting lastSaturday, Oct. 26.

Visitors from Boston (GeoffDavies, Laura Dickerson, and Arthur Lewbel), Philadelphia (Don and ElisabethTrumpler), Rochester (Sue De Vuyst), and New York City (Tony Furnivall, LynnKodrich, Duncan Large, Jenny Mackley, and Martha Partridge) joined forces with ourregular band members (Matt Bogen, Chris Colon, Elaine, Mark, and Emma Gosden,Jenny Hinsman, Tom Holcombe, Bill Roll, David Westmoreland, and Paul, MaryCatherine, and Paul Windels). Jenny H.and Bill performed Herculean labors preparing the tower and dining room forvisitors and bringing food (special kudos to Jenny’s ginger-cake!), especiallygiven that their opportunity to ring was curtailed by other commitments andtheir children’s schedules. Our deepthanks to you both, and a friendly note from your Ringing Master that you arevery much entitled – if not owed – plenty of rope time!

Ringing-wise, wecarried out our program. Thanks to thoughtfuladvice on the overall program from Trinity friends Tim Barnes, Mike Harrison,and John Hitchings, we started with an achievable, but distinctive, plan. Publishing notice of our program on the NAG websiteand directly notifying the Trinity, Boston, and Philadelphia ringers translatedinto people coming well prepared. Everyonewho attempted a method managed to ring at least one successful course of that method. Those attempting a new method always hadsomeone experienced to stand with them. Bythe end of the morning, we had introduced a number of friends to the pleasureof ringing Double Norwich and at least some of the unique music it gives whenwell-struck. Rounds with our Junior Band– assisted by some of our distinguished guests -- completed the morning, buthardly gave it an anticlimax. As ourchildren build appreciation for the willing help they have received from outstandingringers from all over, they will, we hope, some day in turn pass it on to yetanother generation.

The afternoon at Kentproved just as pleasant. Tom Holcombewelcomed a quorum of eight adults, who took full advantage of as much rope timeas they wanted. We managed a touch ofGrandsire Triples plus Cambridge, Plain Bob, Little Bob, and St. Clement’sMinor before adjourning.

Our thanks to everyonewho came. We welcome comments andsuggestions and look forward to seeing many of our friends at our upcoming 40thanniversary next January.