The District Committee met on 4 occasions during the year to arrange and review the programme and the 2008 Association Annual Dinner. Both midweek and Saturday events were organised with most attracting between 20 and 25 ringers. District practices and ringing meetings took place at Breadsall, Church Broughton, Marchington and Sudbury but the evening ringing at Ripley had to be cancelled.
There were 4 joint events with the Southern District; the Quiz at Ockbrook and the Pot-Luck Striking Contest at Brailsford were well attended and very enjoyable. The success rate of the joint Quarter Peal day on the 17th of November was similar to 2006. A brief business meeting to elect new members was held after the Carol Service at Mugginton on the 8th December. Mulled wine and mince pies then followed.
The 6-bell striking contests heats were held at Mugginton on the 3rd March. Etwall in the Arthur Ashby Cup (call changes) and Mugginton in the Horsley Cup (methods) progressed to the finals. These were held on the 19th May at Denby with the results meeting at Horsley as usual. The Arthur Ashby Cup was won by Overseal with Etwall placed 3rd. Derby Cathedral 1 were the winners of the Horsley Cup with Mugginton placed 4th.
The 8-bell competition on the 6th October at Fairfield was won by Southern 2 with Central placed 4th out of 6.
Central District Members were also involved in a Central Council “Teach the Teachers” course from the 15th to the 17th September. Based at Swanwick, towers in both Chesterfield and Central Districts were used for various sessions over the weekend.
Strike Notes continues to be ably produced by Jenny Booth and printed by myself. Jenny has received some help from Sue Peach but frequency of issues is declining. If it is to continue, new arrangements will need to be made for 2008.
Finally my thanks go to all the Committee members for their hard work and to the incumbents of all the towers who have welcomed us in 2007.