NORTH NOTTS DISTRICT REPORT 2007

At the year end, the total membership was 69, comprising 50 adult members and 19 non-subscribing retired members. This was a decrease of 4 from the previous year.

Monthly ringing meetings have been held as usual, the majority of which have been reasonably well attended and successful, however a minority have been disappointing. For example, the most advanced ringing at the East Retford meeting in November was an attempt at a plain course of Plain Bob Major and the attendance of District members at the special meeting at 3 and 5 bell towers in June could be counted on the fingers of one hand! However, this latter event was successful in that it attracted great numbers of visiting ringers and £46 was raised for the B.R.F.

It is sad that we are still not able to field a single team from the District to compete in the Crawford Cup Contest, however, it was very pleasing that, after a lapse of several years, a contest for the Tea Pot Trophy was held in September at Ordsall. This contest is designed for relatively new teams of ringers in our District and it turned out to be the most successful event of the year. I was away on holiday at the time. (Is there a hidden message here somewhere? !!) An unprecedented six teams entered, which gave the judge, Bryan Birkett, quite a job. His decision was that West Retford were the winners. The other teams competing (not in order of merit) were Bawtry, East Drayton, Harworth, Mattersey and Worksop Priory. Many con-gratulations to all the teams. This is certainly a good sign for the future of ringing in North Notts.

A contest for the Oswy Street Cup was held at Clayworth in October. This contest, which is open to all, is not supported well by our Guild. Sutton-on-Trent were the only Southwell Guild team to enter and many thanks go to them. Kirkheaton and Silkstone from Yorkshire (ringing with closed leads) were the only other teams to enter. I am very grateful to Peter Gull and the Clayworth ringers for all their help and for putting on tea in the village hall. Roger Smith of Harworth kindly agreed to judge the event and his verdict was that Silkstone were the winners, followed by Sutton-on-Trent and Kirkheaton. The low level of entries for this contest in recent years makes it somewhat of a worry to organise and tends to put its long term future in question.

I am sorry to have to report that one of our District’s honorary vice-presidents, T. Alan Gilbert, passed away in June. Although originally from Lincolnshire, Alan had a great affection for the North Notts District and for many years played the organ at our A.G.M. services. We were also very greatly saddened by the death of Brian Freeman in July, after a lengthy illness. Brian was far more than just an ordinary member. He was most regular in attendance at ringing meetings and always played a major part in discussions at A.G.M.s. He was always willing to give practical assistance and over the years taught many people to ring. To mark the respect in which he was held, he was recently made an Honorary Life Member. His passing has left a big gap in our District and things do not seem quite the same for many of us.

Finally, in May I announced that, because of new commitments, I would be standing down from the post of Secretary after being in office for nine years. I am now the second longest serving North Notts District Secretary, after Harold Denman and am probably becoming a bit stale, so it will be good to have a “new broom”. I would like to thank everyone who has assisted me in so many ways during my term in office and to wish my successor (and the District in general) the best of fortune in the future.

John A Coates
Last updated : 31 May 2008