PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

To buck the trend of the last couple of years, 2008 has seen a decrease in the overall number of peals rung for the Guild. A deficit of 30 peals from the 2007 total of 178 Guild peals leaves us with only 148 peals rung in 2008. This drop can be observed in both the hand bell and tower bell totals. Despite this, Guild members have travelled far and wide in 2008, ringing peals in a great many locations outside of the Guild’s geographical boundaries. The year has witnessed the passing of many personal milestones, and has seen a larger than usual number of first-pealers; perhaps it is not all doom and gloom after all! On behalf of the Guild officers, I would like to congratulate all those involved in any of the 2008 peals. I wish to thank all those conductors who send the details of the peal, figures of the composition, and fees without the need to be reminded, and I would like to thank Andrew Craddock particularly, for sharing the statistics generated by his computer database, allowing me to cross-check the Guild records. I wish you all the best of luck with your attempts in 2009.

Tower Bell Peals

122 tower bell peals were rung in 2008 compared with the 2007 tower bell total of 144. Despite this fall, peals on higher numbers of bells have increased in number. This is in contrast to peals on eight or fewer, where the substantial decrease has resulted in a lower overall peal total for this year. Edward Colliss tops the Leading Ringers list, although he managed this with nearly ten fewer peals than last year’s top name. Unsurprisingly, Bishopstoke remains in the lead position for the tower with the most Guild peals in the year, and Roy LeMarechal has ensured his return to the top of the Leading Conductors table with a clear margin of more than twenty peals conducted above his closest rival’s total.

2008 has seen thirteen Guild members ring their first peal; congratulations to John Arkless, Chris Boyce, Lucy Clark, Sue Day, Harriet Dodd, Ian Holmes, Matthew Jordan, Simon Lipscombe, Christine Morrant, Rebecca Parfrey, Claire Routh, Joy Scanlan and Stephen Turrell. It is a fantastic achievement to ring your first peal, and we hope to see your names in the columns in 2009! During the year, peals were rung in several counties across England, as well as performances by Guild members being recorded in Scotland and Ireland. Amongst the personal achievements, I would like to mention Rosemary Hill who scored her 25th peal, Stephen Borman and Andrew Dodd who both rang their 50th, Clare Griffiths who rang her 100th peal and Edward Colliss who rang his 100th peal for the Guild. Congratulations should also go to Richard Harrison and Sarah Hutchinson who each rang their 150th peal, Hugh Routh and Edward Colliss who rang their 250th peals, Barry Peachey for his 300th, Adam Greenley for his 400th, and Christine Hill who scored her 450th peal. For those for whom a thousand peals is not quite enough, I would like to offer congratulations to John Colliss on ringing his 1900th peal, Peter Furniss for his 1350th, Roy LeMarechal for his 2300th, and Peter Bridle who achieved his 3900th peal.

Through the course of the year, peals were rung to mark particularly special occasions. Peals were rung at Amport and Whitchurch to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Andover district, and a peal of 5160 Cambridge Surprise Royal was rung at St. Michael’s church in Southampton to mark the 60th anniversary of the first peal on the ten bells. Three Guild peals were rung at Binsted to mark the 50th anniversaries of the casting of the bells, the installation of the bells, and the dedication of the bells respectively, and a further peal was rung at Binsted by the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths to mark the 50th anniversary of the first peal on the bells. In Southampton, the first peal on the newly augmented ring of twelve bells at Bitterne Park was rung; these being now the lightest ring of twelve bells hung in a church tower. Two peals were rung in memory of Keith Walpole at Wolverton, peals were rung at Bishopstoke in memory of Jessie Kippin and Michael Thomas, a peal was rung in memory of David Watson at Swanmore, and at Arreton a peal was rung in memory of Joyce Cheek. In November, peals commemorating the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice were rung at Alverstoke, Amport and Upton Grey.

Handbell Peals

Like the tower bell total, the number of hand bell peals rung in 2008 compared to 2007 has fallen from 34 to 26. A similar number of ringers participated in Guild hand bell peals, but statistically, each ringer generally rang fewer. Again, Thomas Hinks tops the list of leading conductors, and he recorded his 50th peal as conductor in a hand bell peal this year. John Croft secured his 100th hand bell peal as conductor and Margaret Chapman scored her 1300th peal with a peal in hand. Across the water, five Guild hand bell peals were rung in the United States of America. Congratulations to the band who rang a peal of 4 Spliced Surprise Royal at Micheldever in August, conducted by Thomas Hinks; this was the most methods rung in hand for a peal of Spliced Surprise Royal by the Guild. One particularly noteworthy performance was a hand bell peal rung in public as part of Micheldever fete; well done to the band for maintaining their concentration despite the intrusion of aircraft noise, high winds, loud speakers and offers of tea! Finally, I would like to congratulate Andrew Dodd on ringing his first hand bell peal.

Jonathan C Hetherington