Front Cover: Once upon a time in America – or An Erin start by Jeremy C. Bates
On December 20th 2008, a peal of Erin Cinques was rung at Trinity Church in New York. This was the first peal at Trinity by an all-local band, and it took place barely two years after Trinity’s bells were installed. It was the first peal for three ringers in the band, including myself. I had first put my hands on the end of a rope in July 2007.
So Trinity built an all-local Cinques band in less than two years. How did Trinity do this? What strategies did Trinity use? And what was it like to learn to ring on 12 bells?

Reflections on the record peals of Stedman Cinques by Mark Regan (part 3 of 3)
By the 1960s Birmingham was re-established as a leading centre of ringing. The Cathedral’s Thursday night peals became an institution and a finishing school for many ringers. So it is not surprising that an attempt would be made to set a new record. Another feature of long peal ringing is the need for a critical mass of like-minded ringers. Certainly the ringers in the 1966 record were the leading ringers of the decade.

A Ringer’s Scrapbook: Hubert Scrivens – Painswick
Hubert was a member of the band who rang a record length of 13,001 changes of Grandsire Cinques on the 14th February 1920, in 8 hours and 45 minutes at St Mary the Virgin, Painswick.

From the E-Lists A round-up from the internet compiled by John Camp
Andrew Davey wanted an explanation of the name of the method known in short as ‘Penultimus’. Fred Bone responded cursorily, Don Morrison at length, and Jonathan Stevens succinctly.

Obituary
Ernest F Willcox

Turret clock forum
The British Horological Institute is taking an active role helping to preserve the country’s wonderful heritage of turret clocks those clocks that are found in church towers, town halls and the like. A specialist Forum will be held in September that will provide the means for experts to exchange information and discuss key issues.

Tail Ends
Once it was common, but it’s not a sight I see often nowadays. I was on my way home on the train when I saw a woman knitting. Purl and plain, the needles moving quickly and seemingly effortlessly, rather like a good bell handler.

Thought for the week
Writing in the New Year’s Eve Times, Richard Watson, an advisor on ‘future trends’, listed 10 shifts of focus for the future and specifically for 2009, much of which will be influenced by the Credit Crunch knock-on effects.

Revd Barry Fry
Following our report last week we are happy to report that the Police have now completed their investigations and have concluded that there are no grounds for taking the matter any further.