PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

Tower Bell Peals

This year the number of peals rung was 126 which is a big increase over the 70 peals rung last year. This figure is also the best since 1996 and is more in line with the number of peals rung at the end of the 1980s.

A major factor in the increased number of peals were ex-Southampton University students Oliver Hall and Jonathan Hetherington who head the leading ringers list with 41 peals each. Unfortunately they have both now moved away from the Guild but it hasn’t stopped Oliver from taking the spotlight as the leading peal conductor for the year. Oliver conducted 24 peals and so beating Roy Le Marechal who achieved 19. Roy has been the leading peal conductor for the Guild every year since 1987, when Christine Hill shared the first place with him, so this is a significant change.

In amongst all this change Bishopstoke does still find itself as the leading tower with 11 peals to its name. However it should be noted that Southampton St Barnabas has now been added to the peal circuit, having recently acquired a new ring of 6, and Barry Fry conducted the first peal on the bells on 24th May. Since then there have been a further nine peals on the bells. If this continues we’ll no doubt hear more of St Barnabas amongst our leading peal towers during the coming year.

2002 also saw the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and over 20 peals were rung to commemorate this historic event. Sadly we also noted the deaths of Princess Margaret and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and a number of peals were rung by the Guild in their honour.

Some other notable events this year included the ringing of 22,320 Yorkshire Surprise Royal at Lyme Regis in March. This massive undertaking took almost 13 hours to ring and at the time held the record for the maximum number of changes rung on 10 bells. Subsequently this number of changes has been beaten on handbells but nevertheless the record still stands on tower bells. Congratulations should go to all the band for this outstanding achievement.

Other notable events include the peal of Grandsire Cinques at Newport in June. This was the first peal on twelve by an Isle of Wight band. In June the first peal was rung on the bells at Purbrook. It was rung by a local band with 2 people ringing their first peal and a first as conductor. Jemma Rhodes deserves a mention for successfully conducting a peal for the first time at the age of 16, likewise Rachel Byford, Barry M Downer and David M Salter also conducted their first peal. Sixteen members rang their first tower bell peal during the year, these were: Michael G T Harris, Lucy M Bricheno, Phillip Cardew, Mary Tester, Marion Ponsford, Victoria Doe, Laura K Harris, Marguerite Bickers-Jones, Jan Allnutt, Brian N Spurling, Roland Jackson, Clarence Challoner, David C Challoner, Frances S Bateman, Christine R Rushton and Maria Cirrone.

Handbell Peals

In spite of a general increase in handbell ringing during the year there were only three handbell peals recorded. Most notable amongst these was the peal that Kelly Salter conducted as this was also her first peal ever. She achieved this at the age of 15 which is a significant achievement for which she should be congratulated. Not only did this make the front page of The Ringing World but it also sparked a series of the letters and debate over “young conductors”.

Correction (Report for 2001): peal number 9374 was conducted by George Evenden.

Ceri J Dodd