QUARTER PEAL REPORT | QUARTER PEAL DETAILS

This analysis and report is based on quarter peals published in the Ringing World from issue 4840 to issue 4892.  Therefore it does not include quarters that for a variety of reasons may not have been published neither does it include quarters published in March 2004 but rung early in 2003.

Figures in brackets are those of previous years for comparative purposes.

The number of quarter peals recorded for the year was 390 (328, 328, 349).

Towers

The number of association towers at which quarters were rung was 84 (79, 88, 84).  The leading towers and their totals are listed below.

Quarters were rung at Brackenfield and Stanton in Peak for the first time, and on the bells at Bonsall for the first time for many years, following their restoration.  It is to be hoped that the bells at these towers will be put to good use over many years to come.

Conductors

There were 47 (56, 65, 69) conductors recorded during the year, including 2 (0, 5, 4) who rang their first as conductor, Pauline Boyle at Eyam on 16^th June, and Sally Bramson in a handbell quarter at Belper on 1^st June.  This year there were two silent and non-conducted quarters, one of them on handbells.  The leading conductors and their totals are listed below.

Ringers

A total of 278 (296, 305, 355) quarter peal ringers took part in performances recorded during the period.  This included 13 (7, 16, 17) members who rang their first quarter peal, congratulations to all of them, they are:

The leading quarter peal ringers and their totals for the year are listed below.

21% (20, 19) of quarter peal ringers rang ten or more quarter peals, and 47% (62, 63) rang less than three.

Among the many personal milestone achieved during the year were the following:

1000^th quarter peal – Pat Halls, on handbells at Weston Super Mare on 20 March

1000^th quarter peal – Alec Humphrey at Hayfield on 2 November

500^th as conductor – Alec Humphrey at Derby St Peter on 19 December

400^th together – Graeme Hughes & Alec Humphrey at Alrewas on 3 September

With the quarter at Stanton in Peak in September Alec Humphrey completed quarters at every ringable tower in the association with five or more bells. Similarly, at Pinxton in December Geoff Goodall completed quarters at every ringable church in the association with five or more bells 

The quarter peal days organised by the Peak and Derby Districts produced a good crop of ‘firsts’ of one kind or another.  Nine firsts in eight quarters by 29 people in the Peak District and twenty firsts in thirteen quarters by 43 people in the Derby District.

Something Special

Quarters were rung to welcome Joshua Henry Cotton, son of Anthony and Elizabeth of Derby Cathedral in August, and also Lily Marion Gainsbury, daughter of Andrew and Meriel, also of Derby Cathedral (perhaps it’s the water) in October.  Other quarters were rung to celebrate the marriage of Philip Mehew and Angela Truelove of Ashover in August, the golden wedding anniversary of Bob and Barbara Tanner of West Hallam in April, and to commemorate the life of Valerie Davies of Shardlow in February.

Some other quarters that represent considerable personal achievements by association members are:

First blows of Surprise Royal at 83 – Walter Soar – Ticknall 21 February

Ockbrook Differential Doubles – by the Ockbrook Sunday service band – 3 August.

Ockbrook Differential Doubles has 2 blue lines and a plain course of 120 changes: - 3.1.345.125.345.123.5.1.123.125.345.125.123.1.5.123.345.125.345.1

Methods Rung