This year’s ADM was held at Hathersage where the ladies of Hathersage and Bamford had prepared an excellent tea prior to the meeting. For the second year in a row all the existing officers were returned unopposed.
In May Stanton in Peak hosted the Striking Competition, with eight teams participating, five in the Call Changes and three in the Change Ringing. Darley Dale ‘A’ team won the change ringing competition and Darley Dale ‘B’ team together with Ashford in the Water were the winners in the Call Change competition. Our thanks go to Ruth and Bob Smith for performing the judging duties.
The District Outing this year was to the Greater Manchester and Lancashire area. The bus was full to capacity and as you would expect from an outing organised by the Taylors, we rang on some excellent bells. Once again our gratitude goes to the Taylor family and Bob Dakin our bell ringing driver.
As in previous years, we had our June meeting out of district, this time in Staffordshire at Rocester and Alton. In a well-attended meeting members enjoyed the opportunity to visit different towers.
This year the Peak District hosted the Derby Diocesan October Quarterly meeting at Fairfield. It is at this meeting that the Inter-District 8 bell striking competition takes place. For the first time ever six teams were competing and this together with the odd struck bells, gave our Judge for the day, David Friend, quite some work to do.
The Quarter Peal Day was based on all towers in the Southern part of the District. A creditable 12 out of 16 quarters were achieved, and three ringers (Melissa Wellbourn and Phil Williams both of Bonsall and Barry Watts of Ashover) rang their first quarters and three others their first in method.
This year’s Carol Service was held jointly with the Chesterfield District, and took place at Youlgreave. Thanks must go to David Camm together with the vicar for a lovely Carol Service; afterwards over 40 ringers enjoyed an excellent Christmas Dinner in the Farmyard Inn.
Hartington bells are now installed and regular ringing is taking place on Tuesday practice nights and most Sunday services. Many people are to be thanked for their help on the installation of the bells and training of the band, but I think a very special mention should be made of Chris Dullage, who has seen the whole project through from beginning to end, and has put in a tremendous amount of work.
I am sure you will all join me in wishing Richard Taylor our Ringing Master, together with Ted Dakin his fellow ringer at Darley Dale a speedy recovery from their broken legs, injuries which have not curtailed their ringing any more than necessary.
It was decided to hold Surprise Major practices, once per month alternating between Darley Dale and Tideswell. It seems to have been a success and will continue for next year.
The attendance at district meetings has been very good over the past year, and hopefully it will continue in this vein for the coming year. Finally I would like to say thank you to all incumbents and tower captains for use of their bells and to my fellow officers for their support throughout the year.