#  A J Pitman 50th Anniversary 

 

   Details    Written by: webmaster    Category: [News](/news)     Published: 23 August 2016     Created: 23 August 2016     Last Updated: 17 December 2017     Hits: 6089 ![](/images/CategoryIcons/LM_Logo_75-75.webp?i=230)Saturday 20th August 2016 saw the 50th Anniversary of the Funeral of Albert J Pitman. He was one of the Association's most famous and respected ringers, well-known for his compositions of Spliced Surprise Major, many of which are still rung (and prized amongst Peal-ringers) to this day. The Anniversary was marked by a gathering of the Pitman family at St Catharine's Church, Baglan, where AJP was laid to rest.

Members of the Association rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles at the graveside ([Video: 52.9MB](/images/News/AJPitman2016/PitmanHBells.mp4)) before a Peal was rung on the very fine (and rare-for-Peals) tower bells.

The family saved some of the buffet lunch for the Peal band which was washed down with very welcome cups of tea.

The ringing was much-appreciated by the family and members of St Catharine's Church, with hopefully no too many (if any) adverse comments from the nearby residents.

[A Wikipedia page dedicated to A J Pitman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_J_Pitman) has been updated since the Peal was rung.

**Peal details:**

**Llandaff & Monmouth Diocesan Association**  
Baglan, Neath Port Talbot  
St Catharine  
Saturday, 20 August 2016 in 2h.47m (12)  
 ***5040 Grandsire Doubles***  
Being One 240 (by A J Pitman) and 40 six-scores  
1\. Matthew S Turner  
2\. Andrew C John  
3\. Robert E Hardy  
4\. David F Moore  
5\. Alwyn R Lewis (C)  
6\. John A Vesey  
Rung in memory of Albert John Pitman on the 50th anniversary of his funeral  
and burial at this Church, where he first learned to ring. The peal coincided  
with a family reunion of his descendants at the nearby Church hall.

**Photo: Albert J Pitman's Grave at St Catharine's Church, Baglan:**  
 ![](/images/News/AJPitman2016/GraveAJP.jpg?i=762)

**Photo: Gathered ringers, including the Peal band plus ringers from St Mary's, Aberavon and St Catharine's, Baglan:**  
 ![](/images/News/AJPitman2016/PrePealRingers.jpg?i=141)

**Photo: 1966 Peal Board in the ringing room at Baglan:**  
 ![](/images/News/AJPitman2016/Peal1966.jpg?i=461)

**Photo: The Peal Band with Geoff Henderson (in the middle wearing cap), grandson of A J Pitman who organised the family reunion:**  
 ![](/images/News/AJPitman2016/BandPostPeal.jpg?i=633)

[Video (52.9MB)](/images/News/AJPitman2016/PitmanHBells.mp4): Bob Hardy, Matthew Turner and David Moore ringing handbells at A J Pitman's graveside.

 

 

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