PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

The Guild has enjoyed a successful year, raising last year’s total of 85 peals by 52, to reach 2005’s total of 137 tower and handbell peals. The big increase in tower bell peals was not matched by the number of peals on handbells, which dropped from 6 during 2004 to only 5 in 2005. I owe thanks to Andrew Craddock for his help in providing data with which I was able to cross check the Guild records and complete the tables of analysis. I also wish to thank all those conductors who send peal details and money promptly. I would like to remind conductors that in accordance with the rules of the Guild, it is incumbent upon the conductor to make sure the peal fees and full details of the performance (including the figures of the composition for peals on seven bells or more) reach the Honorary Peal Recorder within one month of the peal being rung. I would like to do less chasing in 2006!

Tower Bell Peals

132 tower bell peals were successfully rung for the Guild during 2005 compared to 79 in 2004. The number of peals of Minor almost tripled last year’s total, and peals of Major were just shy of double the number in the previous year. Peals of Caters and Royal also saw large increases. However, peals on fourteen and twelve decreased, along with peals of Triples and Doubles. Bishopstoke continues to lead the towers pealed list, but Bitterne Park has risen into second place with eight Guild peals in 2005.

2005 saw a big increase in the number of peals rung for the Guild outside of its boundaries, with 15, including one rung on the heavy ten at Inverary in Scotland, and one of Yorkshire Surprise Major on the notorious eight of St Thomas’ Church in Bristol.

Eight peals were rung to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. Three of these were of Trafalgar Surprise Major, one of Battle of Trafalgar Surprise Royal (first peal in the method) and one of Nelson’s Victory Treble Bob Minor (first peal in the method for the Guild). Peals were also rung to celebrate the 60th anniversary of VE Day and the 60th anniversary of VJ Day. The first peal was scored on the ten bells at Whitchurch and a band in the Channel Islands rang a peal in Jersey to mark the 60th anniversary of the island’s liberation. The first peal was rung on the Jack & Jill House Campanile, believed to be the lightest ring of bells to be pealed, and a band rang a peal of over 10,000 changes at the Narnia Campanile, believed to be the lightest bells yet rung to a peal of that length.

Peals were rung in memory of Nick Weaver of Basingstoke and Highworth, Keith Reynolds of Whitchurch, Cecily Roberts of Steep, George Evenden of Southampton, and John Hunt of Southwick. A peal of Stedman Caters was rung at Hursley in sympathy for the victims of the Asian Tsunami, and a half-muffled peal of Spitfire Delight Major was rung at Bitterne Park on the evening of the terrorist attacks in London.

Congratulations to the following members of the Guild who rang their first peals during 2005: Nicholas James, Christine Collins, Mary-Kate Hobby, Roger Thomas, Richard Case, Rosemary Oakeshott and Suzanne Mather. Lee Pinnington scored his first peal as conductor, ringing Superlative at Bitterne Park. Congratulations also to the following ringers who achieved personal mile stones during the year: Geoffrey Dodd (3700th peal), Malcolm Powell (500th peal) and Ian Carey (400th peal). Richard Harrison, Nicola Firminger and Rhiannon Matthews all rang their 100th peals.

Handbell Peals

2005 saw only five handbell peals rung, one less than 2004, continuing the trend of recent years. In September, a handbell peal of Plain Bob Major was rung by members of the Christchurch & Southampton District and the Master in the Ringing Chamber of Eling belfry. This peal was rung in memory of Gladys Matcham of Eling, and was the first peal on her own handbells.

One peal was rung outside the Guild boundary and was rung by three members of the Daniels family. Congratulations to Christopher Daniels on scoring his first peal, Plain Bob Minor, ringing 3 and 4. Other peals rung during the year were of Plain Bob Major, Kent Treble Bob Major, and seven Minor methods.

Jonathan C Hetherington