NOTTINGHAM DISTRICT REPORT 2007

The District will sadly miss Dianne Ellis, member at St Patrick, Nuthall and Rev. Bernard F Baines, Honorary Vice President of the Guild from All Saints, Nottingham who died in 2007.

The District has had a full programme of monthly meetings throughout the year including two mini-outings, two training days, the Crawford Cup heat held at Daybrook in March and the Crawford Cup Final at Attenborough in May. The result of the heat was St Mary Nottingham in first place with St John the Baptist, Beeston second and All Saints Nottingham in third place. In the final at St Mary the Virgin, Attenborough the result reflected the District heat with St Mary Nottingham a clear winner with St John the Baptist Beeston in second place and All Saints Sutton on Trent a close third. Many thanks go to John and Elizabeth Heaton for judging and to Elizabeth Beardsley and her helpers for providing tea at the heat and to Jim Crabtree and all at Attenborough for their marvellous support for the final.

The monthly meetings have been well attended with an average of 17 members ringing, however it is noticeable that the same members generally support these meetings and I thank them for their continuing support. The District Ringing Masters compiled a programme of special methods to be rung at each meeting and this has provided an incentive for members to learn new methods and explore those not normally rung in one’s home tower.

The Training Day in June comprised a call changes and plain hunt workshop at Daybrook run by Tim Poole and a call changes, plain hunt and Plain Bob doubles workshop at Aspley run by Andrew Wignell. A total of 6 students benefited from the training with 14 helpers in attendance. The Training Day in September at Beeston run by Tom Langton for two Beeston members comprised ringing Treble to Surprise Major and Plain Bob Major (inside) and Spliced Plain and Little Bob Major and Cambridge Surprise Major with 7 helpers from Beeston and 1 from Wollaton. The Ringing Masters are to be congratulated on their efforts to train ringers as there is clearly a need for this to support home tower training. The Ringing Masters again made the important point that towers should inform them as requested for nominations of students and helpers and that a number of towers still do not take advantage of the training available.

Nottingham District has seen a net increase in membership from 163 to 165 made up of 119 adults, 13 juniors and 33 retired members in addition to our 2 Honorary Vice Presidents.

I would like to thank everyone for their support over the last year, particularly the Committee and the Tower Captains, Incumbents and Tower Contacts for making their bells available.

R.M. Suttill
Last updated : 31 May 2008