PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

This year has seen 111 peals rung for the Guild, 96 on tower bells and 15 on handbells. This is a drop in comparison with last year when 129 were rung (126 tower and 3 in hand) but more healthy than 2001 when the total was just 76. Whilst the number of tower bell peals has dropped there has been a big increase in the number of handbell peals and to reflect this I have this year, for the first time, shown an analysis of the peals rung in hand. Thanks must be given to Andrew Craddock for his help in providing data which enabled me to compile this report.

Tower Bell Peals

Peals of Royal have increased whereas those of Minor and Major have decreased from last year to create a fairly even share between peals of Minor, Major and Royal. The leading tower continues to be Bishopstoke, once again closely followed by Southampton, St Barnabas.

Out of the 96 peals rung last year 81 were rung within the Guild. Of those rung outside the Guild one of the most notable was the peal of Doubles (6m) rung by a Bishopstoke Sunday Service band on the 37 cwt ring of six at St Buryan, Cornwall.

Three other towers managed to ring local band / Sunday Service band peals, these were at Catherington in July on their recently augmented bells, at Selborne in October for the retirement of Revd Dr John Preston (who rang in this peal, his first) and a peal of 8 Spliced Surprise Major at Hursley in November.

One long length peal was rung for the Guild this year, this was 17,280 Cambridge Surprise Major at Willesden. This is the longest peal of Cambridge Surprise Major rung, the previous record was also rung for the Guild at East Tytherley on April 28th 1973.

Three peals were rung by the Andover District in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the District.

This year we’ve seen Rhiannon Matthews and me (at long last!) conducting our first peals and seven members rang their first peal in 2003. They are: Pauline Biddlecombe, Rachel J Crewe, Andrew J Dodd, Rosemary E Hill, Nicolas S Jolliffe, Revd Dr John M Preston and Emma J Rouse. A special mention must go to Rosemary and Andrew who achieved this at just 9 years of age.

Handbell Peals

There has been a real resurgence of interest in handbell peals this year with 15 being rung altogether. These were rung mainly by Winchester District members.

Ceri J Dodd