The year started as usual with our ADM which this year was held at Eckington, following earlier ringing at Clowne. We now have a full compliment of Jeffreys on the committee and we were pleased to also welcome Sue Hall back onto the committee.
Our second event was the ever-popular Quiz night, which welcomes many friends to ringing as well as ringers themselves. This year's contest was held at the Keep & Tower Grill, Bolsover and was ably organised by the Jeffrey's, Shreeves and Jackie Richards. There were seven teams with such diverse names as "Brandling Promoters", "The Green Party"?, "The Royals", to name just three. On the night I could just about make out the significance, can you work out which towers they represented? The winners, "Barts" will by the time you are reading this have set 2007's Quiz. This is a fun night and thanks again to the Shreeves, Jeffreys and Jackie.
March saw our striking contest at Barlborough ably judged by Richard Taylor. Three teams entered, two from Eckington and Old Whiitington. Each team came first in one of three competitions. Old Whit. beat Eckington B for the Horsley Heats, Eckington A went through to the Arthur Ashby, whilst Eckington B won the local Newman Cup which does not have bonus points for method difficulty. Each team rang only once! Work that one out if you can!
May Day Bank Holiday saw us touring in Worcestershire reaching as far as Droitwich Spa. The day organised by Jim Heading was excellent and a good number of ringers and friends were in attendance at all towers. Most lunched in Droitwich where unfortunately Wendie Heading took a tumble on a cobbled street. She insists this was on the way to a Pub not returning. Wendie bravely stayed the course but rang no more that day and in fact has only just (December) started to ring again on light bells. Much more water next time Wendie!
June should have been our Car Treasure hunt, but this was postponed until 2007 following the untimely death a few days before of Ian Hardwick, a ringer at Eckington, husband of Nicola and son in law of myself and Hazel. Ian was not a prolific ringer but supported Nicola on many ringing occasions by looking after Alice & William, their children, at ringing events, the last of which was the May Day tour. I would like with Nicola and Hazel to use this opportunity to thank ringers from all Districts of the Association who have together with ringers from further a field given us tremendous support and understanding, particularly through the summer.
Other events included a Ring and Dine, ringing out of county at Harthill but dining back in county at Barlborough during early July. Our next event was a Quarter Peal day in September. In the event whilst six attempts were made only two were scored at Eckington and Swanwick. However I consider this a success as a good number of inexperienced ringers gained some invaluable practice and thanks must go to Jim Heading for organising the day. October and November saw well-attended ringing meetings at Chesterfield and Pentrich.
Another significant initiative raised by Emily Hall at the ADM was the formation of a Young Ringers Club. This consists of ringers in their teens or below and has included some ringers too small yet to tackle tower bells. Two visits to the Belper Campanile have seen even these novices handling bells on their own in rounds. I hope that in 2007 we will be able to build on this initiative and hold more events particularly during the summer.
Finally, as usual, I would like to thank all towers who have welcomed us this year for the use of their bells and other facilities, but I would particularly like to record my thanks to the other committee members who have stepped in and given of their time to help organise this year's events during a period when my time was needed elsewhere.