New Annual Report & AGM update

The new Annual Report is now on the website. For members not at the AGM, your printed copy is on it's way. New this year is the guide to and conditions attached to Grants And Loans.

There were three rule changes proposed and after some debate, two changes were defeated. The members voted to have a Child Protection Officer appointed by the committee.

The General Committee stays the same, except Rod Pearson (Derby Cathedral) has been elected a Vice President and Chris Gilbert is now the Public Relations Officer.

The bell consultants have completed one inspection this year. This was at the one bell tower at Darley Abbey. Mike also mentioned a Sound Control Seminar to be held at Duffield in September. This was to run by the Central Council - more details nearer the time.

Lastly, it was great to see so many new members from Belper being elected. These are new recruits that have been taught in the last year. Simon Westman (Chesterfield District) collected his certificate for his first peal.

Latest issue of Strike Notes is now...

... available on the website. Issue 81 has been published just in time for the AGM. Also issue 80 has been discovered and is now published!

Strike Notes is the newsletter for the Central & Southern Districts, put together by Elizabeth Heaton.

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.

ALL SAINTS, ASHOVER

With immediate effect all Bellringing at Ashover is suspended until further notice, due to recent severe rainwater penetration into the spire, belfry, clockroom and ringing chamber.   This may be the result of last year's earthquake, and the water is now affecting some of the wooden fittings, namely sliders and pulley blocks.    A fund raising scheme "Save Our Spire" was launched in October 2008 to raise £150,000 for necessary repairs to the tower and spire pointing and stonework.   Updated information will be supplied when available.   Philip Mehew Tower Captain of All Saints, Ashover