General Secretary’s Report
At the first Association event of 2004 we were guests of the Ilkeston District, who hosted a very enjoyable Annual Dinner, attended by 57 members and guests at the Ormonde Fields Restaurant at Codnor. Rev. John Davies, the Rector of Melbourne, was the Guest Speaker. Afterwards Bright Reflections, a quartet from members of the Rose Hill Musical Society, who sang songs from the Shows, entertained us.
During the afternoon of the AGM held in the Derby District we enjoyed ringing at Repton and Hartshorne before the service, tea and evening ringing at Ticknall. We welcomed five new ringers as members of the Association. We also congratulated two long serving members of the Association, David Marshall (Long Eaton) and George Roobottom (Tutbury) as they were elected Honorary Life Members.
We travelled to the Chesterfield District for the Summer Meeting and 8-bell inter-district competition held at Eckington. Three Districts entered teams. The Peak District narrowly beat the team from the Derby District with the Chesterfield District finishing third. During the afternoon Beighton and Killamarsh bells were available for ringing and evening ringing took place at Chesterfield.
The Peak Districted hosted the October Meeting. In the afternoon we visited Brackenfield and Crich prior to gathering at Ashover for the service, tea and meeting. There was a diversion here with the local steam rally being held in the village and a fine old traction engine parked outside the church gate. We welcomed seven new members to the Association. Evening ringing continued at Ashover.
The General Committee met three times during the year at Matlock. At their March meeting an invitation was extended to the Central Council to hold their 2010 Meeting in Derbyshire. I am pleased to report that this invitation was duly accepted. Other business discussed in September included a decision to refurbish the Association’s handbells. During the year Bishop Jonathan donated to the Association’s Library his copy of Towers and Belfries, and I wrote on the Association’s behalf to thank him.
Competitions
The Association met at Horsley in May for the annual 6 bell contests. Derby Cathedral regained the Horsley Cup and Etwall the Arthur Ashby Cup.
The Peak District retained the 8 bell Shield.
A band representing the Association entered the 10 bell Tewkesbury Shield contest. Eight teams entered the contest and we were narrowly beaten into 2nd place.
The band that meets regularly at Melbourne, which includes some of our members, entered the National 12 bell contest. They are to be congratulated in qualifying for the final, where they finished 7th out of the eight teams who qualified.
Condolences
I would like to express our condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of the following ringers, members and friends of the Association:-
Valerie Davies from Shardlow, a relative newcomer to ringing, was a member of the local Sunday Service Band. Nora Carlisle, a member of the Association for over 40 years, used to be a member of the Sandiacre band. She will be well remembered by those of us of a certain age for organising, with her husband Denis, the annual Ilkeston District Barn Dance at Risley.
Finally, I would like to thank all incumbents and tower captains for welcoming the Association to their towers and parishes and allowing us to ring their bells.
Jane E Boden