500 as conductor!

Congratulations to our President, Pat Halls, who conducted her 500th peal today! I believe that Pat is the first lady ever to reach this total. Pat called her first peal 50 ½ years ago on 30th August 1958, being the first resident lady to call a peal for the Association. 429 of the peals have been for the DDA.

Details on Campanophile.

Melbourne in the 12 bell final!

The Melbourne band are through to the final for the 4th time! Drawn from the local area, the band practice monthly at Melbourne, and have done so since 1996. This year, numerous practice sessions were held at a variety of locations and seem to have paid off. Coming 3rd, 1% behind the joint winners was a great result!

Melbourne join the Ancient Society of College Youths, Birmingham, Leeds, St Paul's Cathedral, Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, Southwark, Stockton-on-Tees and York to go to the final at St Pauls Cathedral, London on 4th July.

Rotherham:
Place	Team	Marks	Peal Speed
1	Ancient Society of College Youths	82%	3h 37
1	Stockton-on-Tees	82%	3h 22
3	Melbourne	81%	3h 29
4	Bristol	68%	3h 34
5	Exeter	53%	3h 19

The Derbyshire ringers were: Tim Peverett (Breaston), Duncan Walker (Hayfield), Simon Melen (Ticknall), Simon Humphrey (Darley Dale), Paul Jopp (Duffield), Anthony Cotton, Pam Timms, Christian Peckham (all Derby Cathedral).

More information about the competition can be found on the 12 bell web site.

Southern District 6 bell heats

Here are the results of the Southern District Heats held at Sawley today.

Arthur Ashby Cup (Call Change) heat:

Netherseale: 80%

Long Eaton & Sawley: 78%

Derby Cathedral Hornets: 77%

Horsley Cup (Method) heat:

Derby Cathedral Wasps: 90% - Cambridge S Minor (2h34 peal speed)

St Peters: 78% - ? (2h43 peal speed)

Overseale: 71% - St Simons (2h41 peal speed)

Long Eaton & Sawley: 70% - Plain B Doubles (2h38 peal speed)

Derby Cathedral Bees: 66% - Cambridge S Minor (3h peal speed)

Congratulations to Netherseale, Derby Cathedral Wasps & St Peters who will be going to the final in May.

New bell consultant reports

Reports from the bell consultants during 2008 have been put onto the website for the following towers:

Belper

Crich

Dinting Vale 

Heath

Killamarsh

Old Brampton 

Stoney Middleton 

The reports show how much effort our two bell consultants put into their work. Visit the website for information about the free service.