2005 was a year for changes. In May we said farewell to our Patron Bishop Jonathan, we wish him and his wife Susan a long and happy retirement in Gloucestershire and thank him for his support to bellringers and bells that he has given us. In November Bishop Alastair was installed as Bishop of Derby and we were delighted that he has agreed to be our new Patron, we look forward to meeting him in the future.
Sadly at the beginning of 2005 the members of the Ilkeston District felt they were no longer able to maintain the District and unable to elect a district committee. They asked if they could join in with the Derby District. During the year a proposal was made to reconstitute the Derby and Ilkeston Districts into two new Districts with the hope of reviving ringing. Looking ahead into early 2006 the two Districts have been 'born' Central and Southern and district committees have been elected.' We wish them both success.
In February the Derby District hosted the first Association event of the year.' Eighty-two members and guests gathered at the Horsley Lodge Golf Club for the Annual Dinner.' Mrs Jane Wilkinson, a long serving member of the Central Council, and past president, was the guest speaker and afterwards various members of the District showed us their artistic talents and entertained us. '
The AGM saw us gather in the Peak District. Afternoon ringing took place at Fairfield before we continued north to New Mills for choral evensong, an excellent hot tea and the meeting before retiring back to the ringing chamber. We welcomed three new members to the Association.
In July we were guests of the Chesterfield District, afternoon ringing took place at Sutton Scarsdale and Heath with Scarcliffe the venue for the service, tea, short business meeting and evening ringing. At the meeting we welcomed five members to the Association including 8-year-old Emily Hall from Old Brampton believed to be our youngest member.
In October we arranged our meeting and 8 bell inter-district striking contest in what would have been the Ilkeston District. Afternoon ringing took place at Ockbrook whilst the striking contest took place at Long Eaton. Four teams entered with Mr P J H Hudson, who was judging, placing the Peak District first followed by the teams from Derby One, Chesterfield and Derby Two. Afterwards we travelled to Breaston for the service, tea and meeting where we welcomed three new members and evening ringing took place.
The General Committee met four times at Matlock during the year. Usually we have found 3 meetings to be sufficient but there are exceptional occasions when extra meetings are required. The Bells Advisory Committee had a urgent request for a grant and loan for the augmentation of Youlgreave, had the Committee not met under our rules we would not have been in a position to assist this tower.
Competitions
The six bell Horsley Cup and Arthur Ashby Cup finals took place as usual at Horsley in May. Six teams qualified for each competition. Darley Dale regained the Horsley Cup and won the Arthur Ashby Cup for the first time. As previously mentioned the Peak District won the 8 bell Inter-District contest.
The Association was requested to take over the running of the W W Worthington Cup, 10-bell contest by the Midland Counties Guild. This contest was traditionally held at St Paul's Burton-upon-Trent, although in recent time it had been moved to Tamworth. The Cathedral bells and facilities were booked, Cambridge Surprise Royal was chosen as the test piece and Mr Rod Pipe from Birmingham invited to be the judge. Four teams entered and the Association's team were declared winners ahead of teams from Leicester Diocesan Guild, Sheffield Branch of the Yorkshire Association and University of London.
The band that meet regularly at Melbourne, which includes some of our members, entered the National 12 Bell contest. They are to be congratulated in qualifying for the finals where they finished sixth.
I should like to congratulate Richard Taylor from Darley Dale who managed to ring in all the winning teams.
Condolences
I would like to express our condolences and sympathies to the families and friends of the following ringers who have died during the year: -
Jasper Newman (Old Whittington), Dick Fox (Belper) and George Roobottom (Tutbury) were all Honorary Life Members of the Association and also John Statham (Matlock) and John Baldwin (Brassington) who both died in December.
Finally I would like to thank all incumbents and tower captains for welcoming the Association to their towers and parishes and for allowing us to ring their bells.
Jane E Boden