Albert J. Pitman

Described as 'perhaps the greatest of all time' in the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers biography of him, An Unassuming Genius, he was an extraordinary talent in the field of peal composition.

[1] Born in Bridgend, Glamorgan in 1887, two years later he moved with his family some twenty miles west, to Baglan, Neath Port Talbot.

He learned to ring bells the year he left school, probably from his father, who was a member of the bell-ringing band at St Catharine's Church, Baglan.

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers[9] estimate the number of his published compositions to be ‘over a hundred’ [10] with many more unpublished, some of which he sent directly to conductors he felt could ‘do justice’ to the piece.

[11] To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, members of the Llandaff and Monmouth DACBR[12][13] rang his composition of Grandsire Doubles,[14] as was rung on the same bells at St Catharine's Church, Baglan, immediately after his funeral.

He explained that in 1995 he was inspired to suggest that the then resident members of the Association should ring A J Pitman’s "all the work" compositions of Spliced Surprise Major in four to nine methods.

Following Andrew’s welcome and introduction the boards were dedicated by the Fr Miles Pateman, Priest-in-Charge, himself a ringer, who led the group in appropriate prayers.