2014 seemed to be a year of consolidation for the Association. Special ringing during the year took place for the start of World War I and also for St George’s Day.
The AGM hosted by the Chesterfield District was held at Shirland with afternoon ringing also at North Wingfield and Morton. The Summer Meeting and 6 bell contests were held in the Central District at Denby with the tea and results in the village hall at Horsley with evening ringing at Breadsall. The October Meeting saw us meeting in the Southern District at Overseale. Ringing also took place at Lullington, Overseale and Ticknall.
Contests
The 6 bell contest finals were held at Denby. The Judges were Paul and Kate Flavell from Kingston upon Thames. In the Horsley Cup Old Whittington were placed first ringing Oxford Treble Bob with 228 points; second Derby Cathedral ringing Cambridge Surprise 225 points; third Darley Dale ringing Oxford Treble Bob 218 points and fourth Belper Plain Bob Doubles with 177 points. In the Arthur Ashby Contest Old Brampton won with 222 points; second Stanton in Peak with 199 points; third Derby St Peter 196 points with fourth a team from Mugginton/Duffield/Denby 179 points. The Inter District 8 bell contest was judged by Philip Hudson from Nottingham. This was held at Netherseale. The Southern District with 56 faults ringing Cambridge beat the Central District with 78 faults ringing Plain Bob Triples; third were the Chesterfield District also ringing Cambridge 104 faults.
Our Young Ringers represented us at Worcester in the National Youth Contest They scored a C in the method ringing section. All credit goes to them for moving up into this section from call changes. Also thanks should be recorded to the adult helpers who devoted their time to assist with the training of the team.
In 10 bell ringing the Association was more successful as we retained the Tewkesbury Shield. The W W Worthington Cup contest was held at Derby Cathedral, with the test piece being Lincolnshire Surprise, the judge Terry Astill from Leicester placed the Association first with 54 faults with Birmingham second 61 faults and Beeston third 66 faults.
A team from Melbourne with members of the Association entered the National 12 Bell Contest. They qualified to the finals held at Oxford Cathedral where they finished 6th of the ten teams who rang. Congratulations to everyone for taking part!
Also congratulations to Sue and Andrew Hall (Old Brampton), Pauline Taylor (Darley Dale), Anne Woollett (Alfreton) and Mick Shreeve (Tibshelf) on their being awarded the Bishop’s Badge.
Jane Boden, General Secretary
Condolences
During the year the Association was saddened to hear of the deaths of the following members:- Morris Bates from Repton; Richard Turner of Tideswell, Gordon Faulks of Heanor, a former Vice President of the Association; and Stuart Lawrence from Old Whittington, a founder member of the Association and Honorary Life member. To their families and friends may I on behalf of the Association express our condolences.
Finally may I thank all tower captains and incumbents for allowing us to ring their bells and making us welcome during the last year.
RICHARD TURNER 1944 – 2014
Richard was the son of the vicar of Eyam, where he learned to ring. After spells at schools in Sheffield and Brighton he finished his education at Durham University, where his attachment to the North East began. He started and finished work in the North East as a teacher of modern languages, and spent a lot of time travelling between the North East and Tideswell where he lived, and was mainly responsible for restarting ringing here in 1983. Richard was famous for his bellringing outings held in August and Christmas time, when all his ringing friends mainly from the North East and Peak District were invited. He was a very competent ringer and striker of his bell. For the last few months he found the stairs at Tideswell too much, but he always managed to make it to the pub afterwards.
Richard was one of the kindest and most generous of people, and really excellent company. Towards the end of his life despite suffering from heart troubles, diabetes, curvature of the spine and cataracts, he never let this spoil his enjoyment of life and his contacts with so many people. This was evident at his most memorable funeral, held at Tideswell and Eyam, which was attended by several hundred people and included singing, organ music and ringing (both tower and handbells) by his many friends. His death occurred when a van backed into him in the centre of Tideswell, neither saw the other. Richard will be missed by many people, but especially by the ringers at Tideswell.
Geoff Goodall
Gordon Faulks
Gordon Faulks of Heanor died on March 18th, after a bravely fought battle with cancer. Gordon had been a ringer at Heanor since the early 1960s, being taught to ring by David Camm. There was a young and enthusiastic band at Heanor and Gordon’s ringing progressed accordingly. He became a proficient and reliable peal ringer, ringing up to 23-spliced Surprise Major on several occasions. Gordon was a stalwart of the band at Heanor for many years, including some as Tower Captain when David Camm moved away. He was on the fund-raising committee when work was needed on the tower due to subsidence caused by mining activity. Gordon worked at Rolls Royce in his later life, though he had started working, like many young men from Heanor, in the nearby coal mines. He had many other interests as well as ringing: he was a magistrate for many years and sat on the board until his death. He enjoyed playing the piano, cooking and creative writing, including poetry. Gordon and Winifred were married in 1972 and were a devoted couple. To Winifred we extend our sincere sympathy. May Gordon rest in peace.
Pat Halls
