PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

This year has seen a drop in the number of peals on both handbells and tower bells. 79 tower bell peals were rung during the year compared with 96 last year, and there were only 6 handbell peals compared with 15 in 2003. This means an overall decrease of 26 peals from last year’s total of 111 to this year’s total of 85. These figures continue the pattern begun with 2003’s drop in peals from the previous year. I owe thanks to Andrew Craddock for his help in providing data with which I was able to cross check the Guild records, and also to all those conductors who send peal details and money promptly.

Tower Bell Peals

Peals on 12 and 14 have remained equal with last year’s figures. The greatest drop has been with peals of Minor; 12 less than in 2003. Peals on 8 and 10 have seen a slight decrease. Bishopstoke continues as the leading tower with 17 Guild peals and Portsmouth Cathedral follows with 5.

Only 3 peals were rung outside the Guild, one of which was an attempt for 20160 Yorkshire Surprise Major which was brought round early as a normal peal.

Many peals were rung to mark the 125th Anniversary of the Winchester (and Portsmouth) D.G. including peals of Winchester at the cathedrals of Portsmouth, Guildford and Winchester (the latter being the first peal of Winchester Surprise Fourteen). Other notable occasions for which peals were rung include the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings and a memorial peal at Portsmouth for the victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster.

Also during the year, John Dodd scored his 600th peal, the first peal of Grandsire Fourteen was rung, a peal of Bristol Surprise Maximus was rung by a resident Guild band and Hursley rang a Sunday service band peal of 8 Spliced Surprise Royal. The first peal on the Midways Campanile was rung (believed to be the lightest ring of bells pealed).

Congratulations to the following members on scoring their first peal during 2004: Jen Churchill, Thomas C M Read, Richard S Johnson, Stephen C Thompson, Emma Benjamin, Frances Benjamin, Christopher Shepherd, David S Clare, Caroline J Eisenhauer and Elizabeth J Asbury. Ruth M Cooper rang her first peal as conductor.

Handbell Peals

After last year’s resurgence of handbell peals, this year has seen a marked decrease with only 6 being rung compared with 2003’s 15. Rosemary E Hill, Thomas J Hinks, Benjamin Carey and Ian Carey scored their first peals on handbells, and Stuart Heath conducted his first peal on handbells.

Jonathan C Hetherington