I suppose 2011 had a different start to the year with very low temperatures and snow on the ground. The Chesterfield District hosted the first event of the year. The annual dinner was held at the Fox and Goose at Wigley situated in the hills between Chatsworth and Chesterfield. About 40 hardy souls met to welcome back Rev Martin Daniels as the guest speaker. Bishop Alistair and his wife Caroline also attended and enjoyed learning how to ring hand bells.
For the AGM we gathered in the Central District. During the afternoon we rang at Norbury and Mayfield before going to Ashbourne for the service, tea and meeting. At the meeting Pat Halls stood down as President and Rev Clive Thrower was elected in her stead. Evening ringing continued at Ashbourne.
The summer meeting saw the Association in the Southern District. During a hot afternoon we rang at Foremark and Breedon on the Hill before going to Melbourne for the service tea, meeting and evening ringing.
Finally, we met in the Peak District for the October Meeting and Eight Bell contest. During the afternoon, ringing took place at Bonsall and Stanton in Peak, before meeting at Darley Dale for the service, tea and meeting. The eight bell contest was held there during the afternoon. Graham Hayward was given the job of judging the four teams and placed them in the following order:- first Peak District (Grandsire Triples); second Southern District (Grandsire Triples); third Central District (Plain Bob Triples) and fourth Chesterfield District (Plain Bob Triples).
Competitions
During the year a team representing the Association competed in and won the Tewkesbury Shield Ten Bell Contest, congratulations to the team.
During May we held the Horsley Cup Final at Horsley. Colin and Jane Aked were given the onerous task of judging and placed the teams in the following order:- first Darley Dale 249.5 points; second Derby Cathedral 246 points; third Tideswell 219.5 points; fourth Mugginton 216.5 points and fifth Staveley 208 points.
The Arthur Ashby Cup contest was held at Denby with Graham Hayward given the task of sorting these teams. He placed Etwall first with a score of 214.5 points; second Ashford 210 points; third Belper 209.5points; fourth Overseal 203.5 points; fifth Sawley/Long Eaton 192 points; sixth Hartington 183 points and seventh Old Brampton 182.5 points.
A team from Melbourne representing members from the East Midlands qualified for the National Twelve Bell final held at Leeds. They finished a creditable fifth out of the nine teams, ringing this year's chosen method of Pudsey Surprise Maximus. In 2012 we will welcome the finalists to Melbourne.
The W W Worthington Ten Bell contest was held at Beeston for the first time. This year the method was Lincolnshire Surprise Royal. Congratulations go to the team representing the Association who won with 217 faults; second St Mary’s Redcliffe 274 faults; third York 329 faults; fourth Nottingham 380 faults and fifth Beeston 401 faults. In 2012 the contest returns to Derby.
100th Anniversary of the Ringing World.
The Association embraced this milestone by entering a team to ring in the Ringing World National Youth Contest. Nine other teams entered the call change category where our team finished fifth equal.
Then there was an event masterminded by Linda Pelc and managed with military precision by her team of John Thorpe, Clive Thrower, and Simon Humphrey. The idea was that 100 ringers would ring 100 changes for 100 minutes. This event was held on a Sunday afternoon on Bakewell bells. We made it! The local press and radio also covered the event. Was it a world record? We like to think so.
Condolences
Sadly during the year Tony Wragg from Marchington and Frances Hibbert from Chapel-en-le-Frith both passed away. To their family and friends may I express our condolences and best wishes. Tony only started to ring comparatively late in life. His aim was to be able to ring both Bristol Surprise Major and Stedman, which he achieved. He was always good company. Frances had been a life long member of the Chapel-en-le-Frith band and stalwart of the church.
And finally may I express congratulations to Denis Smedley (Creswell) and Bob Burfitt (Fairfield) on receiving the Bishop’s Badge Award for services to their local Churches. May I also, on behalf of the Association, thank all Incumbents and tower Captains for welcoming us and allowing us to ring on their bells. I am sure that 2012 will bring its own challenges.
Jane Boden
