Whitechapel Guild's Bell-Ringers Remember

Earlier this year NCS asked alumnae who served in the Whitechapel Guild to share their memories with Quilla Roth ‘66, for a story about the Guild for NCS Magazine. The resulting feature, “The Whitechapel Guild: Ringing through the Decades,” appears in the Fall 2010 NCS Magazine (issue mailed in early December).

Quilla received many delightful replies, too many to be printed in full in the magazine, but also too good not to share—so we are doing so here, online. Whether you were in the Whitechapel Guild or not, we think you will enjoy these memories of a singular NCS experience.

Ann Gardner Martin ’66
The bells were actually put in while I was living in Germany, where my father had been stationed, but they were not dedicated until I returned in 10th grade. I was immediately intrigued by the notion of change-ringing. I remember that Mr. (Wayne) Dirksen, who prepared us to sing the hymns for Friday chapel, introduced it to us and I wrote my first Plain Hunt on the back of a set of yellow bus tickets. We used to go up in groups of four to be taught by Mr. Fred Price of Bournemouth, who had something like 80 pupils. He would serve us tea. I remember some of the advice we received: "Don't grip the sally as if it were a serpent," and "Don't look up, there's no help for you there."

There was great cameraderie among us and great nervousness as the date approached when our second teacher, Mr. (Rick) Dirksen, had to select a certain number of us, because he couldn't teach us all; for some reason, we ended up with 19. Once the selection was made, I recall making a list of members on a sheet of paper soaked in tea to look ancient. I also had a little notebook in which I listed all the quotations in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations which were about bells. We were presented with a set of handbells at the very beginning by the ringers who rang the first peal, a select band of Englishmen. Those handbells (after various epic struggles between the Music Department and the Whitechapel Guild as to whose bells they were) are still in regular use.

In those early years the Whitechapel Guild was the backbone of Cathedral ringing. We were quick learners and there were lots of us. We used to laugh at the notation at the end of the service bulletin "bells rung by the men and boys of Washington Cathedral." There were St. Alban's boys at the beginning, but they tended to drop out. At that time everyone at NCS could contribute to their team's total points by doing "curric," or an extracurricular physical activity, and it was decreed that ringing satisfied this requirement.

Because of the nature of the Exercise, as change ringing is called, one often bumps into old Whitechapel girls in ringing chambers all over the world, and I am still a close friend of many of those girls who learned to ring back at the very beginning. It is exciting that members of those early bands are now teaching a new generation of Whitechapel ringers.

I met my husband as a result of Whitechapel membership. For our first assignment in senior year, our English teacher Miss Hicks asked us to write about anything that interested us, so of course I wrote about ringing. She liked the essay and showed it to Dean Sayre. Eventually some of it was read out at graduation and it was also published in the Ringing World, the official journal of change ringers. (Their publication criteria were not too rigorous!) I received a bunch of letters after its publication, one from my future husband, a ringer in Leicestershire. You can never be too careful about your English assignments.

Anne Matthews ‘77
I started ringing on handbells, and was then taught to ring tower bells at Tuesday night practice by Ann Martin. So I didn't initially learn from Rick Dirksen, but did join the Guild for my junior and senior years. Living very near the Cathedral as I did, it was easy for me to attend Tuesday night practice with the Ringing Society, along with the Whitechapel Guild practices after school. It was thrilling to have the run of the tower as we did then; I wonder if this is still allowed in these more vigilant and litigious times. While waiting our turn at a rope, we'd go up and watch the change ringing bells (from a safe distance) and or go down to the silent carillon and stand under the Bourdon bell. On warm nights we'd go out on the balconies, admire the view of the city, and feel the tower moving in the wind and with the motion of the bells, or so we imagined. It seems incredible to me now that I would spring up on those bell frames, with the bells up, to put the ting-tangs in. I also always relished the privilege of walking through the vast, silent, and darkened cathedral on the way out of evening practice. But most importantly, ringing was a chance for me to get to know people of all ages and to experience the joys of dedication to a common pursuit where everyone's contribution is equally vital to the result. I took this all for granted at the time, as teenagers will, but I came to see what a profound experience this was. The physical experience was a revelation for me as well. I'd never been athletic, to say the least, but ringing helped me develop mind and body coordination in addition to strength, and this also improved my confidence.

Ringing also changed the course of my life. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of you [Quilla Roth], Ann and Eddie Martin, and the others who were willing to chauffeur and chaperone me and the other teens, I was able to go to the AGM of 1976. It was my first time in Boston and I fell in love with the place—even at 17 I knew I wanted to live here, and so I have. I went to college here and just never left, and it's now been 33 years.

I continued to ring at Advent and Old North in college and for about five years afterward. I participated in a number of peals, as well as a Boston group peal tour of Leicester, England, in 1983.

I have also always been an avid choral singer, inspired by another great NCS/STA teacher, Richard Roeckelein, and was able to pursue both that and ringing through college and beyond. But as the demands of work and home increased, eventually I just couldn't give both the time they deserved, and singing won out. The last time I rang was at Grace Church in Charleston, SC, in 2004. I had no idea the church had a ring, but I happened to be at a wedding there, and of course the ringing chamber there is easy to see from the ground.
Though it had been many years since I'd rung, I remembered how friendly ringers always were to guests in any tower I'd been to, and so I knocked on the door. Sure enough the band there made me very welcome; I was invited to come to practice the next night and then—of course—out to the pub afterwards. Most recently, I gave a presentation on change-ringing for a technical writing class this past spring, and it reminded me how fun it is to tell people about change ringing who had never heard of it. Looking at the North American Guild of Change Ringers website, I am amazed and delighted to see how many more bell towers have appeared in the U.S. since the 197's. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the unique fellowship of change ringers, and I certainly would like to ring again someday.

Sara Meyers Lewis ‘81
The bell-ringing experience was challenging and exhilarating! I was by no means one of the stronger ringers in our group, but that was OK. Rick Dirksen was someone that I admired tremendously—he made ringing look smooth and effortless—a far cry from what I experienced! I have fond memories of our trip to England after my junior year—terrific host families welcomed us into their homes as we rang in small churches across the English countryside. One night, while sleeping aboard a canal boat, we were awakened to find ourselves removed from our mooring, apparently by some mischievous locals. Rick saved the day and we all laughed about it shortly thereafter.

Beth Sinclair ’81
I loved that we were able to knock around the Cathedral while it was still under construction—walk around the clerestory, look at the graffiti in the lead roofs (from the construction workers and visitors in the early years), see all of the stones on the East side waiting to be installed, watch the stone masons do their work. More specifically, my recollection is one of a private club—we had the keys to the castle and got to go up there all the time.

Not to mention the uniform dresses (in all of their pastel glory)—they were not good at all for ringing. If they didn't rise high when we rang, the armholes would tear out instead. Pretty much a no-win situation.

Also Rick. What a curious role he assumed, mentoring and working with a bunch of teenagers who all thought they were wise beyond their years. I suspect a substantial portion of the Guild members had at least a minor crush on him as well. (I'm sad that I didn't get to see him before he fled). Since I babysat for the boys (who the first night I sat tried to convince me I had their names all mixed up, which I did not), I felt a link beyond Whitechapel.

I think there is a continuity in Whitechapel that is not available in any other part of the school. I think part of it is everyone has done EXACTLY the same thing—technique, rounds, call changes, plain hunt, etc. Somehow it's a different connection (to me) than being on the field hockey team.

Finally, I have very fond memories of the Whitechapel trip that Rick and Libby chaperoned to England in 1980. We were at Whitechapel for a casting and I found it easily when Mark and I were in London together in spring 2009. All the miscellaneous towers, bells, locales. Libby saying that when Cathy and I went to the pub one night (from the barge we were staying on) that we could drink as long as we did not have to lie for it. Those were definitely different times.

Susan Cummings ‘83
Living in the shadow of the Cathedral and still getting a ride Friday mornings with Catherine Toulmin and Cathy O'Neil to Friday morning practice. I am sure it took longer to drive than it would have to walk. But that wasn't the point.

Sprawling out on the heated Cathedral floor by the entrance to the tower to wait for Rick. Underfloor heating was a rarity then and we did think it was great.

Climbing on Paul Bunyan's chair on one of our trips to New England.

Going for a college interview and discovering that the interviewer had been in the Whitechapel Guild when Rick was first teaching ringing. Most of the interview was trading stories about Rick. I got accepted.

As for today, after 19 years not ringing, I took up ringing at our local church (St Mary's) in Putney, London, in 2002. My first day ringing happened to be the day Rick was coming to ring at my local tower with a group of NCSers. What a surprise! It has been a regular part of my life here in London ever since and introduced me to a great group of people. We don't go to the Zebra Room, but we do wander to our local pub after Monday-night practices. And, as you know, I have met up with Rick a couple more times when he has come over to London with Whitechapel groups. I have even finally made some progress with method ringing—though not much. 

Mostly, it is just a lot of fun.

Karen Strassman ‘84
I still have such wonderful memories of winding though all the back passageways and up hidden elevators early Friday mornings to reach the tower, and that sense of being part of something rather magic and rare…I don't have the opportunity to ring where I live in Los Angeles, but I would happily welcome the opportunity to ring again sometime.

Kerri Richardson Redding [would have been Class of ‘89]
I was at NCS 7th- 9th grades. I do recall handbells in 8th grade, but also one”performance” from high in the Cathedral: it was magical. That experience is something I still talk about fondly today when I recount my positive memories of NCS and the impact of those years in my life.

Anne Samuel ‘94
One of my favorite quotes still is from Mr. Dirksen (aka Mr. D.), after a practice, probably in response to someone saying how hard ringing was: "If it were easy, it would be boring."

My senior year, Princess Alexandra of Kent came to visit the Cathedral and watch us ring. We were supposed to remember to dress nicely for her visit. I completely forgot (I was the only one) and met her in shorts and a T-shirt. Oops. There was even a photographer there from a paper and later Mr. D. gave me a beautiful shot of me shaking her hand... Suffice it to say, that picture never made the paper.

Joining the Britain trip my junior year in college on the Bell Pull in Bath where we all wore our Virgin Airlines socks and helped pull a bell through the streets.

Just yesterday I was wearing a Whitechapel Guild trip T-shirt—yes I still have it!

Meri Gotts reading a trashy romance to us girls and Mr. D. on our New England bell-ringing trip.

One of the New England bell towers rocking so much when the bells were ringing that we felt the need to steady ourselves on the walls.

On one of the England trips, don't remember exactly where, the woman bringing us to the tower said, as we stood at the base of the centuries old tower steps, "Count to 378 and you'll be there." (I forget the exact number, but it was really high!)

The infamous story of Laura Brenneman hitting the ceiling in Scotland/Ireland (?) I'm sure you remember that well. I do too, though I wasn't even there.

Being able to skip out on the beginning of Cathedral every Friday because we were closing the bells after ringing.

Learning how to tie fancy rope knots from our British counterparts.

Quilla (you!) being the first woman to be allowed to ring at St. Paul's was it? In London? We were all really proud of you!

Learning how to ring tower bells gave me an instant and ongoing international family. When I studied abroad, I rang with a group in Cardiff, Wales and still have friends from that time. Also in college, Jean Galbraith and I met up in Cambridge and after punting on the Thames, followed our ears to a nearby church where we wandered up to the bell tower and joined in the ringing with the local band! And of course, being able to come back every year and ring in the New Year, a very special tradition and one that my whole family enjoys.

Over the years trying to explain to friends and relations the basics of campinology, using one hand as a bell and my pointer finger on my other had sticking up like a stay and then trying to twist my wrist back and forth 360 degrees. It doesn't really work very well!

No one ever wanting to ring the 6 (or was it the 5?) because it was so difficult to make it stand.

Trying to beat the elevator by running up the circular stairs to the ringing room. We had a reporter come visit us one time and the elevator got stuck with her, Mr. D. and several other girls in it. I vaguely remember something about having to fit a screwdriver through a tiny space to help them get out.

At various times throughout the years, getting to walk down from the tower through otherwise off-limits parts of the Cathedral; clerestory, roof, all over—so cool.

Blisters! And being told over and over not to pull so hard!

Abby (Trooboff) Goldman ‘96
I was a bell ringer with Mr. Dirksen’s Whitechapel Guild from 1992-1996. We had exciting times together – took a tour of bell tours in Britain, including seeing the bells of St. Paul’s, and also some tiny bells hung in a garage. We watched in horror when Laura Brenneman rang a broken bell, refused to let go of the rope, flew to the ceiling hanging on for dear life, and fell. Thank goodness she was okay. I loved the long haul upward to the Cathedral bells, the view of the nave from above, the long hallways and secret passageways, and yes, skipping out of Cathedral services early in order to go ring bells. I am now married to a Conservative Rabbi, and live in an active and observant Jewish community in White Plains NY. I love knowing that I have a skill that probably no other rabbi’s wife has! And my rabbi friends get a great kick out of this part of my past. Whitechapel Guild was great fun, and Mr. Dirksen made us feel competent and able and strong—all very good things for adolescent girls!

Vanessa Countryman ‘96
I have wonderful memories of ringing at NCS. Probably one of the best things to come out of it, actually, was afterwards: I went to Oxford for graduate school after college and I rang with the Oxford University Society and made friends with people I never would otherwise have met. I am not sure what kind of reminiscences you want for the article, but I would be more than happy to share. My memories of ringing are some of my warmest from NCS and my fondness for Mr. Dirksen CANNOT be overstated.

Haley Barnett ‘97
My longest-lasting Whitechapel Guild memories are of Rick making me realize I could do something I didn't think I could do. Whether it was combining the two strokes for the first time, or ringing Stedman Doubles unaided, I remember feeling like I wasn't up to the task at hand. Rick had me step up to ring anyway, and, as he knew was going to happen, I could do whatever was required. Knowing that an expert in this (somewhat) wacky field believed I could do things gave many boosts to my confidence through the years.

As a student ringer, and as an adult ringer, I've always valued the fact that arriving in the tower represents a separation from whatever else is happening in my life. Regardless of how things were going in school, or how they are going in work and my personal life, I can come to practice and block out everything else while focusing on playing my part in the band.

When I studied in London, I met up with a Whitechapel Guild alumna who live there with her family. While we met first in a tower, she stayed in touch with me and welcomed me to some of her family events. I was far away from my own family at the time, and being welcomed in as an NCS alumna and Guild member meant a lot to me.

As a resident of Washington, D.C. and a regular member of the bands at the Cathedral and the Old Post Office, I see several other NCS alumnae on a weekly basis. If not for ringing, we might only have met in passing at alumnae events, and I would have missed out on the chance to make the lasting friendships I have with them.

Lisa Bedell Clive ‘97
I have such great memories of the two trips I made to the UK with the Whitechapel Guild (in 1995 and 1997). It was such a wonderful way to explore the English (and Scottish, Welsh, and Irish) countryside, and improve our bell-ringing skills along the way. And in fact, I have been living in London for the past six years, so I think of the Whitechapel Guild whenever I hear church bells!

Diana Greenwold ‘01
I was a 2001 graduate of NCS and I had a wonderful time as part of Guild, particularly on our trip to England on what Mr. Dirkson deemed the group's "Ultimate Millennium Tour." Not only was it a fabulous opportunity to visit some of Britain's great bell towers and meet dedicated ringers across England, but it was also a bonding experience for those of us who were lucky enough to go. Together we navigated the London tube system and cautiously sampled all variety of pub food while learning how to ring as a group. In the towers of tiny parish churches to St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, we discovered the tradition of British change ringing together. It's an opportunity I very much appreciate NCS and the Guild providing.

Jennah Dirksen ‘02
Whitechapel Guild was not only an opportunity to do something unique and different, but for me, also a chance to be a part of something that my Dad has been involved with since its inception at the Cathedral. Beyond that, this special group of people continues to offer a welcoming community regardless of how far or inactive I've been as a ringer.

Helen Snodgrass ‘04
I was in it [theWhitechapel Guild] all four years of high school and loved every minute of it! Living just a few blocks from the Cathedral, I grew up hearing the bells ring every week and was so excited to be able to try out in 9th grade to be one of the ringers! I remember how amazing it was to go up to the bell tower for the first time, actually see the giant bells, attempt to ring one without losing complete control, and go all the way back down the shaky spiral staircase. I loved learning how complex change ringing is and seeing myself improve each week.

There were no change bells in my area while I was in college, but I was excited to get to ring again last year before Lessons and Carols. I was surprised how easily the skill came back to me! I have just moved to Houston, and there are actually three change ringing towers here, so hopefully I will be brave and go join their practices!

Liz Banks ‘05
The girls in my class that did Whitechapel Guild and I still talk about ringing whenever we get together. But I think since I've been ringing on Tuesdays, it has been really great to see Alex [Taft], who I rung with at NCS,and meet some of the younger girls who I sort of knew, and who come back to ring every once in awhile. I've also gotten to know you and all the other NCS alumnae, which has been really great. I also love Lessons and Carols when a lot of the alumnae come back to ring with the current Guild, and I think that is a great way that the Guild helps alumnae make connections (and it is in part spiritual, which fits with the theme of the evening).

Caroline Bartman ‘07
I received a message that we should write to you with memories about the Whitechapel Guild at NCS. I loved being in the Guild in high school, and the trip to England was a definite highlight. I remember we rang at so many churches that when we tried to go to sleep we would still hear the bells plain hunting! Watching all twelve bells ring at St. Paul's, being able to be in the loft with the actual bells was also amazing, as was ringing a miniature tower in one English ringer's backyard! Of course, we never could have done any of it without you [Quilla Roth] and Mr. Dirksen—he was a great teacher and his enthusiasm really helped me get interested in bell-ringing!

Kathleen Barker ‘09
I like having something specific to come back to on the Close. If you are going for spirituality as well, Whitechapel Guild definitely strengthened my relationship to the Cathedral (as well as to NCS) which now being away from DC is important to me. I definitely have the sense of wanting to go back to the Cathedral when I am home, which I might not have had otherwise.

Betsy Proctor Jennings ‘67, Sarah Irwin ‘67, Rachel Pasch Grossman ‘75, Neville Withington ’76 and Julia Heald ‘06 also wrote to say they’d been part of the Guild.

Our thanks to everyone who responded!  A quarter peal in your honor!