Foreword by Phil Gay
Guest Speaker at the 2006 Annual Dinner

Last February, Rowena and I were honoured to be guests at your annual dinner, an occasion that we very much enjoyed. We have a number of good friends in the Derby Diocese, and it was very pleasing to be able to join you in one of your association events.

Boundaries are very arbitrary, and ringers are traditionally good at ignoring them, so that a lot of networking takes place between neighbouring
associations, including in the area around Burton between the North Staffordshire Association and the Derby Diocesan Association. I hope that
the same will be the case when the Hartington project comes to fruition.

It is also impressive to note that your association is watchful and flexible as far as its internal boundaries are concerned. Changing the structure of
branches is not an easy thing to do and requires sensitivity and a clear vision of where the Association is going.

I would like to wish the Association and its members well in the future, and I look forward to plenty of cross-border networking.

Phil Gay