Vancouver Report

Winter 2006

Host of the NAGCR AGM 2006

Fall. People still travelling to many points distant. Pam Cooper returned from a wonderful trip to Holland, Italy and England. Alan Ellis was away on his annual pilgrimage to the College Youths Dinner. The Cornwalls returned to Vancouver on their way home to the U.K. just in time to ring a quarter for Madeleine Britnell, Eve and Peter Munns first granddaughter.

Ander Holroyd and Rebecca Woodgate have travelled to England to visit with family and friends at Christmas. Anne Hutton (nee DeGiorgio) is a welcome complement to our band with her return after a hiatus of over 15 years while she raised her family. We hope that Michael Connidis is well enough to return to ringing soon.

With all these comings and goings, we always appreciate the help of visitors and we did manage to fulfill most of our ringing obligations. We rang, when asked by the Serra Club, for a special Mass during their Convention, when the Cathedral organist Denis Bedard and his wife Rachel Alflett held their concert, for two weddings and for the passing of an assistant priest Father Paul Thompson. Along with many other towers throughout the world, we rang for Lord Nelson and the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. We rang for our Veterans on Remembrance Day and two concerts sung in the Cathedral by Musica Intima. If you do plan to visit, check ahead as we did have to cancel practice a couple of times this quarter. The most memorable practice was held mostly by candlelight during a power outage. It was a treat when a sumptuous chocolate Birthday Cake was brought to practice on November 1, compliments of Ander on his 31st. A new learner, Celia has joined our boisterous Saturday morning practices with Jim, James, Ruth and Ralph.

We rang four other quarter peals. One as a birthday compliment to Jeff White, to Dorothy Ellis and to Graham Walters on the tower bells. The fourth and most notable, Plain Bob Minor was rung on handbells by a local band, a first for Omer Angel and for Rebecca as conductor. That distraction of ringing handbells between weddings has proved fruitful.

Christmas has been busy with ringing for Saturday practice in the morning, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. John and Christine Clarke from Victoria were a welcome addition for our holiday schedule. Because of all this ringing, Jeff White and Jim McDowell have kept busy adjusting ropes and with general maintenance.

Our Tower Captain, Eve Munns, always gracious and with a smile, has been adept at juggling these activities. Our Vice Captain, Ander Holroyd, soft spoken and patient has guided us with knowledge. We hope that all towers are as fortunate.

Success with the Simulator! We experimented on it for the first time after our quarterly meeting on October 25. Simulator practices have been held regularly before our usual Tuesday practices. Work is in progress in order to be able to muffle all the bells in time for the NAGCR AGM.

It hasn't all been ringing. One of our newer members, Ruth Albrecht hosted a wonderful Christmas Buffet in her home on December 4. She continues to delight the Saturday morning crowd with a feast of gourmet cheeses, designer flatbreads and tea served in china cups.

A group of 17 ringers and friends continued our tradition of ringing in the New Year and celebrated with refreshments afterwards. We hope that you and yours have had a happy and safe New Year.

Winter, cold but the days are getting longer…. We, of the temperate west coast rainforest endured 28 days of rain and overcast skies in January. A reflection of the sadness we felt at the passing of two good friends of the ringing community, Arthur Izard and Bob Verrey. We rang a quarter to commemorate their passing along with Eduardo Castillo a cousin of Peter Munns. They shall be missed.

A good time to take care of the business of the tower. We held our AGM on February 28. Helen resigned as Secretary. Jim McDowell agreed to fill this vacancy. Otherwise, the executive remains the same. Eve Munns is our Tower Captain, Ander Holroyd is our Vice Captain, Pam Cooper is the Treasurer, Jeff White is the Steeple Keeper and myself as Public Relations.

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Vogl