Derby District Officers for 2005
Secretary’s Report
Derby District has had a good year overall. The year began with the Annual District Meeting at Derby Cathedral, and, at the 10 meetings, which the Committee subsequently arranged during the year, the average attendance by members has been 24. Attendance has been higher at the autumn and winter meetings than at those arranged in the summer months.
Members of the Committee who are also Area Contacts continue to encourage ringers in ‘their towers’ to join the Association and attend District meetings and during the year a total of 9 new members have been welcomed into the Association.
Eleven teams entered the Striking Contest heats, six in the call changes section, rung at Brailsford and judged by Malcolm Phipps, and five in the methods section, rung at Mugginton and judged by David Marshall. In the call changes section the teams from Etwall and Brailsford went through to the final to ring for the Arthur Ashby Cup while in the methods section the teams from Derby Cathedral and Ticknall went through to the final to ring for the Horsley Cup.
Derby District hosted the AGM at Ticknall, preceded by afternoon ringing at Repton and Hartshorne.
The programme of events included a New Members evening in February which was a very lively occasion indeed. In June a Walk and Ring took place in the Darley Dale area, while in July ringing at Overseal was followed by a visit to Ashby Croquet Club, which was great fun in spite of the rain. The September Car Tour took us to some beautiful Churches in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
More than 40 members took part in a very successful Quarter Peal Day in November, and out of 15 quarters attempted 13 were successfully rung.
28 ringers met for the District Carol Service at Netherseal on the 11th December. After the ringing and singing everyone enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine.
Strike Notes, which continues to be published on a monthly basis, includes a lively and interesting account of these activities, as well as other interesting articles. Members are encouraged to submit any articles or interesting snippets of information, however small, for publication in Strike Notes.
The District has benefited from two very good Training Days, one comprehensively covering Call Changes, Listening, Plain Hunt, Plain Bob, Treble Bob and Cambridge, and the other aiming Towards Better Practice Nights.
Thanks are due to all Tower Captains and Incumbents for their co-operation in making bells available for our meetings and to the entire Committee for their hard work and support.
Chris Willis