UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CHANGE RINGING The Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation Memorial Bells CONTACT: Rebecca Woodgate (Tower Captain) woodgate@apl.washington.edu  Tel: 206-221-3268 or rebeccawoodgate@yahoo.com Part of the UW School of Music

Ringing Events - Ringing times - Practice times - How to find us - Ringing Calendar

The UW Bells - History of our bells (UW history site) - Details of our bells (from Dove) - Ringing records - Photo album

What is Change Ringing? - History and theory of change ringing - North American Guild of Change Ringers - Ringing links News - Current Sale of a 10cwt Ring of 8 - 2012 Anniversary Weekend  set for 9th June (details to follow)

Want to know more? - Learning to ring - Video of the Dedication (by International Artists Cresendo!) - Press releases

      In early summer 2008, the first set of change ringing bells on the west coast of the USA were installed on the University of Washington's Seattle campus. The installation is a gift of the Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation. The set of 8 bells, cast by Royal Eisjbouts Bell Foundry in the Netherlands, tenor weight  6 cwt, tenor note B, are hung for full-circle "change" ringing in the tower of Gerberding Hall, on the UW's Red Square.  Change ringing - in which a trained team of ringers (the "band") ring the bells in continuously varying patterns (not tunes) - originated in the UK in the 17th century.  There are now over 5000 ringing towers in the UK, but only about 40 in the USA (and 8 in Canada), with our nearest ringing neighbours being Vancouver and Victoria in Canada, and Chicago and Abilene (TX) in the USA. 
      The UW bells will be rung (see here for dates and times) to celebrate university, state and national events by a band of volunteer ringers from the UW and the Seattle area.  Ringing visitors are always welcome.  Those wanting to learn to ring should read on, and contact us.  

RINGING EVENTS

Ringing Times  Generally, the bells may be heard on Friday evenings between 8:30 - 9pm.  Out of term, the bells may also ring on Monday nights between 8:30 -9pm. We also sometimes ring quarter peals on Saturday or Sunday, between 10am and 1pm. Special event: In honor of UW Emeritus Professor Norbert Untersteiner, the bells will be rung half muffled between 8 and 9pm on Friday 13th April 2012 For our regular practices, see calendar.  We also ring for special events. Upcoming events will be listed here and on the calendar. Red Square is an excellent location from which to hear them.  Eventually, we will have a webcam on the bells. Throughout the year, the bells will be rung to celebrate university, state, and national events.  To request ringing for an event, please contact the tower captain.

Practice Times Our usual practice times are:        Monday and Friday  7-9 pm   Visiting Ringers are very welcome - please contact the tower captain (at both email addresses) in advance.  Currently, for most practices the bells will not be heard outside the tower, although the bells are most likely to be heard 8:30-9pm during the Friday evening practice. Unfortunately, practices are not generally open to non-ringing visitors, although you will be able to see the bells on the webcam (once installed).  If you are interested in learning to ring, see below.

Finding us Gerberding Hall is on the south side of UW's Red Square in the central UW campus, just next to Suzzallo Library. See here for map.  We will meet at the southeast corner of the square before practices.  As the building is locked, late comers will likely experience considerable delays, but may contact the ringers by cell phone (number provided on request).  Travel to UW: UW is well served by local METRO buses to NE Campus Parkway, the HUB, and Montlake. (Google maps is a good way of finding out about the buses). Click here for walking routes from the bus stops to the tower. Pay-parking is available from UW, or on meters on local streets (free after 8pm).

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Learning to Ring Ringing requires about as much coordination as riding a bike.  It is a stimulating mental and physical exercise, practised worldwide by an eclectic group of volunteers of all ages. Physical requirements are mostly an ability to climb steep ladders, exert some force with your arms above your head, and some degree of rhythm.   We will run weekend and evening taster courses for those interested in learning to ring. Dates and times will be announced here and in email.  Please contact the tower captain for more details, or to join the email list.  (If you have contacted us already and not had any reply, it is likely due to a spam filter - please try again!). So far, we have many more potential learners than we have teachers. All our teachers are volunteers - we appreciate your patience as we work through this.

Contacts (please contact the tower captain for attendance) All enquiries about the Bells should be addressed to the Tower Captain     Rebecca Woodgate     Email: woodgate@apl.washington.edu     2nd Email:  rebeccawoodgate@yahoo.com     Tel: 206-221-3268

Press releases - UW's UWeek (February 2008) announcing the installation - UW's UWeek (1st May 2008) with slides of the bells being lifted in to the tower - UW Marketing (1st May 2008) movie of the bells being lifted in to the tower - UW's UWeek ( 8th May 2008) about the UK bell hanger installing the bells, Bob Smith, of Taylors Eayre and Smith - UW's UWeek (22nd May 2008) about the upcoming dedication