Scott Pilkington
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spil030.bsky.social
Scott Pilkington
@spil030.bsky.social
610 followers 260 following 1.1K posts
campanologist, museologist, science communicator, historian, anthropologist, dancer, fibrecrafter, gin drinker, higher ed specialist, bi. he/him/they/ia 🏳️‍🌈🇳🇿

ORCiD: 0000-0001-5497-0393
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spil030.bsky.social
We managed to get some enthusiastic ringing in this morning before the very hot rain arrived. Sadly I lost count of how many ringers we had, but we rang rounds, called changes, Plain Bob Doubles (with 768 behind), and Grandsire Triples.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
Stained glass window beneath the tower at St Matthew-in-the-City casting rainbows on the nearby wall, looking also down the north aisle lit in blue LEDs for Advent season Prayer candles lit on a sculptural candle wall by an artist whose name I've since forgotten (aroha mai forgive me) which is reminiscent of the stylised burning bush the Presbyterians use Looking through pillars at St Matthew-in-the-City across the choir into the south aisle, lit in blue LEDs for Advent, and otherwise overall gently illuminated by soft morning light The tower and peace chapel of St Matthew-in-the-City punching into the sky with a foreground of trees and flowers, a welcome green respite in the concrete & glass city
November 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Another lovely but overcast day of ringing this morning. We had 13 ringers, including some wonderful & much welcome visitors. We rang rounds, Plain Bob Doubles & Triples, Grandsire Doubles, & Reverse Canterbury Doubles.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
November 22, 2025 at 9:18 PM
spil030.bsky.social
Another lovely morning of ringing. We had 12 of us, including a welcome visitor from Melbourne. We rang rounds, Plain Bob Doubles & Triples, and Grandsire Doubles.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from a different place on the street for a change. The white Ōamaru stone tower and the east end are visible poking above the trees. In the foreground, the reason this view is seldom taken, tragic lights.
November 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
spil030.bsky.social
Another lovely morning of service ringing today. We had 9 ringers, although several arriving late 😅 we rang rounds, Plain Bob Doubles, & Grandsire Doubles.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
November 9, 2025 at 7:33 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Today we rang Plain Bob Minor to welcome All Saints Day. Unfortunately our quarter peal failed about 3 mins from the end which was a real shame. More practice needed!

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower punching through the canopy.
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Tuesday night practice was well attended with 12 or 13 of us. We rang a variety of called changes, Plain Bob Doubles & Minor, Reverse Canterbury Doubles, Grandsire Doubles & Triples, and Stedman Doubles.
The bells in the tower. There are 8 large metal bells - totalling about 4000 kg combined - and are faced with their mouths to the ceiling, their clappers resting on one edge of the rim. Each bell also have a large wooden wheel around which the rope coils as the bell rings.
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
spil030.bsky.social
It's been a week, so a quick update on bellringing this week 💕

Sunday we were thin on the ground because of the long weekend. We managed rounds, Plain Bob, and Grandsire Doubles.

Susanne is returned from Deutschland & brought us some wonderful cinnamon treats (one was bell-shaped!)

#campanology
Ā German cinnamon biscuit in the shape of a bell held in someone's hand St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower punching through the canopy
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Some of our ringers will be away this weekend attending the 2025 Ringing Festival in Pōneke, so if you're in Tāmaki Makaurau, we'd love to have you 💕

Also, I think I've found the coolest bellringer: has a tattoo of his first ever peal (5040 changes, ~3 hours): Bristol Surprise Major (why?!!!!!!)
Tattoo of a man's right hand wrist which shows a line schematic diagram for the method of Bristol Surprise Major, wrapping around his wrist so it forms a continuous algorithm. So fucking cool. So fucking hot. Like omfg you have no idea. TJ, if you're reading this, hit me up with how you got it done cos omfg.
October 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
spil030.bsky.social
An outstanding practice night up the tower! 14 ringers, including 3 visitors from Seattle, Katoomba, & Croydon. We worked on rounds & called changes; Reverse Canterbury Doubles; Plain Bob minor; Stedman Triples; and Cambridge Surprise & Plain Bob Major 😵

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower punching through the canopy
October 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
spil030.bsky.social
Amazing evening bring able to support the fabulous Professor Ngarino Ellis in her inaugural lecture as the world's sole Professor of Māori Art History, based at Waipapa Taumata Rau @aucklanduni.bsky.social
Ngarino at the lectern in front of a packed room of whānau, colleagues, and supporters. There is a presentation on the screen behind her, detail of which is in the next image. Holding slide for the inaugural lecture of Professor Ngarino Ellis, Professor of Māori Art History at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland. The talk is entitled ki wiki, ki wawa - Taonga and the power of Māori Art History
October 15, 2025 at 7:29 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Super productive ringing practice last night, with 12 ringers, including Dylan up from the capital. We rang rounds, called changes, plain hunt; Plain Bob Doubles & Minor, Stedman Doubles, Reverse Canterbury Doubles, and Cambridge Minor.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City at night taken from the street with light reflecting off city ambient light & the SkyTower flood lights
October 15, 2025 at 5:54 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Ringing on Sunday went well, with this glorious break in the weather. We had a 7 ringers, and rang rounds, and Plain Bob, Grandsire, & Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower punching through the foliage
October 15, 2025 at 5:44 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Lovely practice last night. We had 9, and rang a lot of Plain Bob Doubles & Triples; Grandsire Doubles & Triples, Stedman Doubles, and Reverse Canterbury Doubles.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew-in-the-City at night lit by the ambient light of the city, it's white Ōamaru stone tower punching through the frame of the subtropical garden
October 8, 2025 at 10:10 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Aroha mai for the potato quality image (taken from a moving car), but is it appropriate for what appears to be a current fire engine (rural fire) to be parked up on a prominent street corner covered on all sides with political ads? Google suggests the truck might not be from Auckland?
Fire engine on Te Irirangi Dr covered with "vote C&R" placards
October 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
spil030.bsky.social
It's a sunny morning but we're all a little tired from day light savings! It's a feast day in the church as the congregation celebrate St Matthew's Day which was last week. We had 7 this morning, and rang rounds, called changes, and Doubles of Plain Bob & Grandsire.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing
Church interior splashed with a rainbow of colour from the morning light streaming in through a stained glass window. You can see down the left aisle and wall, highlighted in a wash of red LED light which contrasts with the warm white stone and the slight blue effect of the sunlight Ā sculpture and candle holder for people to light candles & leave prayers. Yesterday was my nana's birth - she would've been 110 - and this week will be the 1 year anniversary of dad's death, so I lit candles for each of them and also for the genocide in Palestine which our current government are being cunts about and only parroting the foreign policy of the USA instead of listening to the people who voted them in. The exterior of the church (St Matthew-in-the-City) a white Ōamaru stone neo gothic church. The tower punches through the garden. The garden is starting to flower with spring and pinks and reds are visible against 50 shades of green. The north face of the tower is illuminated in bright yellow sunlight. Behind the tower is a bright blue sky with little patches of white clouds.
September 28, 2025 at 12:41 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Today we had the honour to toll 79 times to recognise one of the church's parishioners ahead of her funeral & magenta themed celebration of life. Vale Lyn 💕
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
spil030.bsky.social
Despite the weather, ā great turn out at practice last night: 16 including a visitor from the UK! We rang rounds and called changes; Grandsire Doubles, Stedman Doubles, Reverse Canterbury Doubles; Plain Bob Minor, and Cambridge Minor.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at the White Ōamaru stone church tower, at night.
September 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Happy St Matthew's Day! We often miss our patron saint day, but this year I planned ahead / actually remembered 🤣 Tonight we successfully rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Triples in 44 mins. It was John & Theresa's 1st QP in the southern hemisphere, & Connor's 1st QP on 8 bells.

🥰 #campanology
Tired but happy ringers posing in the ringing room. L-R Connor, Theresa, Mike, Scott, John, Tony, Robbie, Adrian.
September 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
spil030.bsky.social
We've rung rounds & called changes; Plain Hunt; Plain Bob Minimus, Doubles, & Minor; Grandsire Doubles & Triples; Stedman Doubles & Triples; Reverse Canterbury Doubles; and Cambridge Surprise Minor.
St Matthew-in-the-City from the street. The Ōamaru stone church is surrounded by green trees against a blue sky
September 21, 2025 at 9:21 AM
spil030.bsky.social
We've had a busy couple of weeks lately, with practice, Sunday service, a wedding, & a funeral (unrelated). Our busiest night had 15 ringers, and our quietest Sunday had 5.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
Interior of St Matthew-in-the-City with the wall lit by rainbow lights from the stained glass window Church candle surrounded by a pro Palestine shawl
September 21, 2025 at 9:21 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Another great practice night last night. Our learners made good progress on called changes, and everyone else worked through Stedman Doubles & Triples, Plain Bob Minor, and Grandsire Triples.

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
Potato quality pic of St Matthew-in-the-City Bell tower at night.
September 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Because Transactions published many more articles a year overall, I compared average number of pages devoted to ornithology, and you can see the impact of Buller. Hutton was prolific too.

When Buller got back he published a series of articles: "Things I saw from the deck of a boat near X"
Line graph showing the average number of pages per article written about Aotearoa birds in the journals Ibis and Transactions of the New Zealand Institute (later renamed Royal Society of New Zealand and then Royal Society Te Apārangi). The graph covers 1862 to 1900, and tracks average publications with buller in blue, and without buller in red. For many of the years the two lines are in sync, indicating Buller was not contributing much, but for many of the years, particularly 1867-1871, 1872-1879, and 1888-1898, there is a large gap between them, suggesting that Buller was doing the bulk of research + writing during this period, particularly 1875-1878 where publications without Buller are near zero.
September 1, 2025 at 6:36 AM
spil030.bsky.social
Shocker of a day today (weather-wise), but we got some good bellringing in this morning. Plain Bob Doubles, Stedman Doubles, Grandsire Triples, with a slightly dubious service touch of Plain Bob Triples. We know what's flagged for practice night!

🥰 #campanology #bellringing #changeringing
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up at the bell tower. In the foreground is the church garden, traffic lights, and the top of an Outer Link bus. The sky is angry and dark, the wind is strong, and the photographer is soaked already.
August 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
spil030.bsky.social
Looks like his LinkedIn got hacked too
Screenshot of Thomas Newman's LinkedIn page. The industry tag says "would not say no to a hug", his previous organisations are Hobson's Pledge & University of Otago, and his personal tags are "bringing the Profession into Disrepute [clown emoji]", "tikanga is not law [sunglasses emoji?] and "all views my own [emoji]"
August 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
spil030.bsky.social
This week we had a great practice night, with 11 in the tower, including a visitor on her way home. We made good progress in Grandsire Doubles & Triples, Stedman & St Simons Doubles, and Plain Bob & Cambridge Minors. Connor & Scott inadvertently ended up wearing the same shirt 😂

🥰 #campanology
St Matthew in the City taken from the street looking up through the tropical garden at night Scott & Connor standing in the ringing room. Scott is in red & Connor in blue. Their shirts both have a picture of a bell and the words "the ultimate heavy metal"
August 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM