It came, as something of a surprise when I was invited to write a foreword for the 2008 Annual Report as I have never played an active role in the affairs of the DDA. However, apart from the first two years of my life, I have lived very close to the Derbyshire border, first in Cheshire, then in Leicestershire and finally for the past 25 years just inside the Diocese. As an NRLM from 1956 until becoming a resident member in 1984 perhaps I can reflect on how the Association is viewed from 'within and without'.
On becoming a completely new Association in 1946, one of four formed from the old Midland Counties Association, it was important that good foundations be laid, and the fact that the DDA is now one of the most active ringing societies in the country is evidence that the original officers and membership did this. So what are some of the special features that helped to build the Association and continue to maintain and extend its activities? Success in anything requires first a vision, followed by planning, enthusiasm and last but by no means least a lot of hard work. Plans need to have some flexibility; objectives may remain the same but changing circumstances often mean that different approaches are necessary to achieve them. The most significant change in the past fifty years is that recruitment used to be from the age range 11 to 18 years - secondary school to service in the armed forces - but now it is largely from older people who have retired in the 50 - 70 age group. In the past learners were almost entirely dependent on their home towers for instruction; travel to other towers was by no means as easy as it is today, ringing courses were a thing of the future and simulators have only been around for the past twenty-five years. As times changed, the DDA was to the fore in introducing training days at various towers and other venues, culminating in the Gordon Halls' Ringing Centre at Eckington. I am currently aware that the Association continues to investigate ways to encourage members to become actively involved in new ringing and social initiatives.
The work of the Association Bell Advisers (past and present) and the building up and maintenance of a healthy Bell Repair Fund over many years has paid huge dividends in encouraging the restoration and rehanging of unringable bells, augmentation and creation of new ringing peals. What is particularly pleasing in looking through the 2007 Annual Report is to note the great strides being made in the Peak District, which for many years centred on just a handful of active towers. The following new, augmented or previously unringable towers of Ashover, Bamford in the Peak, Bonsall, Brackenfield, Dinting Vale, Hartington, Hathersage (unringable in my youth!), Stanton-in-Peak and Youlgreave today account for almost eighty members.
Congratulations are due to officers and committee members past and present for their sterling work over sixty-two years.