This year saw 64 peals rung for the Association, an increase of 13 on last year.

Congratulations to the six people who rose to the challenge of ringing their first peal: Evie Newton, Helen Legood, Lynne Newton, Johanna Westwood, Emily Stock and Rosie Hall. 2015 was the 300th anniversary of the first recorded peal at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich and the challenge was laid down by the Central Council to have 300 first pealers across the Exercise. Last year, I suggested that we should aim for 5 first pealers to enable the Association to fulfil their quota. At the time of writing, 387 people rang their first peal during 2015, almost 250 people more than the previous year. My challenge in 2016 is for them to ring their second peal and for members to conduct a peal for the first time or ring in someone else’s first peal. It would be fantastic for my report to have a longer list of first pealers next year!

It was fantastic to visit Alfreton after their extended silence, subsequent remodelling and refurbishment, they are a credit to the Association. It was great that people involved with the project rang in the peal. We were delighted to be made so welcome.

Peals were rung to celebrate birthdays of ringers and their families: Martin Whiteley, Cathy Potter, Anthony Cotton, Frances St John-Smith, Charlotte Angrave. Sometimes these refer to the anniversary in terms of the number of changes or the number of methods rung. The band at Ticknall dedicated a peal for the engagement of Simon Melen’s daughter, Hollie. A peal was dedicated to Bert Hopkinson and June Statham from Clay Cross to congratulate them on receiving their Bishop's Badge.

Peals were rung at Ashbourne, Darley Dale and Liverpool in memory of Peter Taylor from Darley Dale and at Belper and Duffield in memory of Mike Willis from Duffield. Peter rang 78 peals for the Association between 1958 and 2000. Mike Willis rung 32 Association peals between 1961 and 2002. We also remember Bob Winstanley who rang 96 peals for the Association between 1975 and 1998 and Rosemary Ross who rang 177 peals for the Association between 1985 and 2012.

Well done to four people who rang their first on ten: Cathy Potter, George Fletcher, Evie Newton and Francis Gilbert. Frances Haynes and Roy Meads rang their first peal of 23 Spliced Surprise Major and Paul Jopp rang his first of 41 Spliced Surprise Minor. Well done to Luke Heaton, who completed his 100th peal for the Association.

A peal was rung silent and non conducted, made more difficult with the ringers drawing their bells immediately before the peal. The bi-centenary of Ashbourne bells was marked. One new method was rung this year, Brion Delight Royal, after many years on the drawing board.

This year, I’ve audited members peal totals against Pealbase, a database of nearly 280,000 peals rung since 1950 and the Felstead database, which summarises all known peals. This has brought to light a number of errors which have been corrected in this report and on pealbase:

Peals at Bolover (1953) and Dronfield (1963) were listed in Pealbase and had not previously been published in the annual report. They are now published for the first time.

The following members Association totals have been adjusted:

Pealbase records have been corrected for John Heaton, Malcolm Phipps, Pauline Taylor, Peter Taylor, Richard Taylor and Brian Tomlinson. The majority of these were because of typographical errors in the Ringing World or mixed up with other people with similar names.

Pealbase is at www.pealbase.ismysite.co.uk/pealbase/ and the Felstead database is available at www.felstead.org.uk.

Thank you to all the churches in Derbyshire who allow peal ringers to visit, celebrate community events and further their skills.

Anthony Cotton