Peak District Officers for 2004

Chairman

Secretary

Ringing Master

Deputy Ringing Master

Committee (General)    Paul Beard and Peter Humphrey 

Committee (District)    Margaret Crofts, Peter Taylor, John Thorpe and Esther Venables

Education Committee

Bells Advisory Committee    John Thorpe 

Secretary’s report

We have had a good ringing year in the Peak District with an average attendance of 19 at the 15 meetings held in the district. Four very successful training courses have been held over the year in ringing up and down in peal, Cambridge, Stedman and Bob Minor.

The six bell striking contest heats were held at Brassington and it took a lot of will power to leave the warm village hall and the cups of tea and coffee to walk to the church to ring. Four teams braved the elements with Darley Dale and Tideswell going through to the finals. Darley Dale went on to win, beating Derby Cathedral by 7 points.

The May outing this year was to Yorkshire visiting Mirfield, Birstall and Wakefield Cathedral. Once again the weather was perfect and the ringing good. The Yorkshire tail ends at Mirfield were certainly different and made the ringing down interesting. Our thanks go to John Holmden for all his hard work organising this trip and many others over the years.

The quarter peal day was held in November and 5 out of the 6 quarters were scored with a few first in methods being achieved.

The District Carol Service was well attended with 30 ringing at New Mills and Hayfield. The address at the service was certainly different and the vision of the vicar attacking the Christmas tree with secateurs, loppers and shears will stay with me for a long time. Luckily the weather was kind to us and 43 sat down to a meal at The Royal Hotel at Hayfield. Our thanks go to Joy Young and Reg Radford for organising it all. 

The installation of the 6 bells at Stanton-in-the-Peak was completed this year and all the ringers became members of the DDA at the Summer Meeting. They now have weekly practices and ring for Sunday service. Bonsall’s installation is well under way and new ringers are being trained by Frances Haynes.

We welcome all the new ringers who have joined us over the year. We have had several younger members join us and we would encourage them to attend as many meetings as possible so that they can build on their skills.

I would like to thank all the incumbents for the use of their bells, all the members of the District Committee, Tower Captains and Secretaries for their help and support.

Lastly thanks go to all the ringers without whose support none of the events would be possible.

We hope 2004 will be even better in the Peak District.

Pauline Boyle