2011 was a less busy year at the Centre with fewer than thirty training events taking place.  The fact that Hazel and I were involved with the National Census early in the year and in the autumn had a month in the USA had a large bearing on this.  However there were some notable events.  Following a number of dedicated training sessions I was pleased to be able to conduct Dorothy and Tom Randall’s Golden wedding quarter peal in early September.  In June the Centre hosted a National Ringing Centres’ seminar attended by a good representation of the recognised Ringing Centres together with some delegates interested in finding out more about how a centre operates.  During November Hazel & I represented the Centre at the Wellesbourne conference organised by the Central Council Education Committee and the Ringing Foundation.  There were the normal two Association training events as well as three Whiting Society events, a Chesterfield Young Ringers event and our monthly Plain Methods practices.  We again had a number of individual ringers, both from within the DDA and also from father afield, receiving individual sessions on handling and more.

Following the Wellesbourne Conference there has been much discussion about the way forward with training and recruitment.  We have a facility at Eckington, which is the envy of many, but I feel our own Association is not taking full advantage.  Perhaps we can look this year to contributing towards the Integrated Teacher Training Scheme (ITTS) and maybe host a course at our Centre.  But this will need input from more than just the Eckington team to make it worthwhile.  Give this some thought and contact me if you are interested in becoming involved.

We have a number of bookings for 2012 and already one tower is using the Centre to train a band for their soon to be refurbished ring of bells.  If you have any training needs that we may be able to help with or just wish to hold a tower training event of your own at the Centre get in contact, we look forward to hearing from you.  It’s your Centre use it! 

Website: www.gordonhallscentre.org.uk