This was the first year for the new Southern District and it has really flown by. I think we can look back on the events of 2006 with mixed results.
Really our meetings have had disappointing attendance by members but we have benefited from several visitors, which has enabled us to achieve some good ringing. We will review the types of events held this year and hope we can encourage more members to come along, all towers were surveyed during the year to find their opinions. We had 7 members elected to the Association this year, three of them junior ringing members. We welcome to the Association: Susan Briggs from Chellaston, Christine Cope from Derby St Peter's, Barry Boulton from Overseale, Jake & David Bull and Chris Ebbern from Sawley and Laura-Jane Johnson from Winshill. We look forward to meeting you at District events. It’s good to have new life in the District and I hope we will continue to encourage people to learn this art and support new ringers.
Meetings were held at Netherseale in May, which was attended by 6 members. June we tried our talents at ringing on three at Newton Solney and then on to Winshill. We saw a better attendance and a nice spread of refreshments at Winshill was most welcome. July saw us visit Brailsford for a fun Pot-Luck Striking Competition with the Central District. Thanks to Rod Pearson for coordinating this. Thirty three people came to join in the fun, ring with different people, sit in the Church or outside and listening very carefully to judge the ringing. The winning team consisted of Peter Harris, John Heaton (C), Ida Platt, Ruth Smith, Brian Tomlinson and Chris Willis. September had planned to be a car tour, which unfortunately had to be cancelled as it was thought there was little support. October we visited Hartshorne, we had a good number of visitors joining us. The correspondent here was concerned about the bells, as they are not rung regularly. We had a quick look at them, corrected several problems and recommended the bell consultants inspected them. In November we held our ever-popular Quarter Peal day, joint with the Central District, scoring a total of 10 quarters. This was ably organised our end by our Ringing Master Alec Humphrey, with 24 ringers from our District taking part, representing 8 different towers. Our thanks to those joining in to make this day a success. We ended the year with ringing at Ilkeston in December.
The Annual District Meeting was held at Derby St Peter's this year, where we saw the changes to form the two new Districts, replacing the old Derby and Ilkeston Districts. Here the name of the District was chosen by a secret ballot with the "Southern District" gaining most votes.
February we joined the Central District for a tour of Marston's Brewery in Burton. With bangers, mash & peas and "drink as much as you like" beer, organised by Chris Willis.
It was great to see good support at the District Striking Competition. Both the method and call change heats were held at Newhall and judged by Alistair Smith, from Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Teams from Derby Cathedral and Derby St Peter's entered the method heat. Overseal, Derby St Peter's, Newhall and Sawley entered the call change heat. The teams were placed in the order listed above. Evening ringing took place at Ticknall with the Central District. Overseal went on to win the Arthur Ashby cup and Derby Cathedral went on to win the Horsley cup in the finals at Horsley in May. Congratulations to both teams. Two bands represented the Southern District in the Association eight bell competition, which was hosted by our District at Ticknall. One team won and the other was placed joint second, a good achievement. April we had an excellent Barn Dance with the Central District at Brailsford Village Hall. The band were bell ringers from Norfolk and London, ably joined by local talent John Heaton on the cello and George Fletcher on the violin. They did remarkably well as they hadn't seen any music until the night! There were 45 adults and 22 young people dancing the evening away, with an excellent raffle organised by Luke Heaton and Mike Willis. Sustenance was provided by supper halfway though the evening and there was a bar run by Anthony & Elizabeth Cotton. The evening saw £141.95 donated to the Bell Repair Fund. A tour was held in the morning for the visiting band and to keep cost down local ringers provided accommodation. Thank you to all those involved.
Surprise Major practices continue at Derby St Peter's with attendance varying but proving beneficial to those who go along. Also this year Surprise Minor Methods were introduced. Thanks to Alec Humphrey who organises these evenings.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the District committee and the officers for their work and support in what has been a difficult year forming the District. Also, thanks to Jenny Booth for the wonderful work she does producing the newsletter, Strike Notes. This is an excellent publication and a very valuable means of communication so please support it and continue to send in your articles. This really is a team effort, with Jenny producing it, Steve Harpham copying it and delivering it to myself for distribution to all towers in the District. Also a copy is on the web site for those out of the area.
Finally I would like to thank the incumbents for the use of their bells and to all the tower captains who work so hard and keep ringing alive throughout the District. I just ask that members support our events next year to make it a successful year. Thank you.