In previous years this analysis and report has been based solely upon quarter peals published in the Ringing World between 1st February and 31st January. As a result any quarter peals that were published late would be recorded in the report for the subsequent year. On this occasion, with the advent of the Ringing World’s BellBoard I have been able to search for quarter peals that may not otherwise have been included, and as a result, this year’s analysis includes quarter peals submitted to Campanophile and BellBoard under the headings Derbyshire and Derbys and is now limited to quarter peals in which at least half of the ringers are members of the DDA that are published in the Ringing World or on BellBoard and rung in 2012 in Derby Diocese and at any non-diocesan towers that I have found. To see details of any performance visit www.bb.ringingworld.co.uk and click on search, you will find boxes that enable you to limit your search by date, place, method and length. In 2012 there were lots of excuses for people to ring in celebration of various events. In April, in appreciation of the life of Gordon Halls and to mark the tenth anniversary of his death, his contribution as our Diocesan Bell Consultant was celebrated at a number of towers where he had been a significant influence. During the summer months the jubilee year was marked by ringing at all levels and by many bands throughout the Diocese and several quarter peals were achieved. As the Olympic torch progressed around the county several bands rang to mark the occasion and at the Cathedral quarter peals were rung on each day that the sportsmen and women competing for Great Britain during the Olympics and Paralympics won gold medals, adding considerably to the Cathedral’s usual high annual total. Despite all of these opportunities the total number of DDA quarter peals for the year showed a fall of 7 ½% from last year. Several date touches were rung during the year, 2012 Minor at St Peter’s Derby on 1st January, 1312 Minor at the same place on 1st March 2012, 2012 Major at the Cathedral on 20th December 2012 and 2012 Minor at St Peter’s Derby on the same date. Amongst the notable achievements in the year were quarter peals in seven previously unrung and unnamed methods, details of which appear later in this report, and the astonishing handbell quarter peal of seventeen Surprise Major methods spliced, at Melbourne in November, a demonstration of skills that are beyond the reach of most of us mere mortals. This year 296 quarter peals were rung for the association and the number rung in each district and the number of towers at which they were rung is shown below together with the percentage of the ringable towers in each district with five or more bells at which those quarter peals were rung. In the Peak District the lower total, has been affected principally by the reduced activity of the Wednesday afternoon band that in previous years met weekly and rang quarters at almost every tower in that district during the course of the year. The increased number in the Southern District is from a low base of 56 in 2011, the totals in the two previous years had been 76 then 69. Figures in parenthesis are for 2011. |
Annual Report > 2012 Annual Report >