Falling in line with the Constitution of Dove’s Guide, we now have the secular tower of the Clock House Bells at Awbridge (10 bells, 2-2-0) as the leading tower for the Guild with 44. Looking back over the past ten years, things still do not look good in the quarter peal field even after mentioning declining figures in previous years. The average over this period is 532 with 656 in 2002.
Studying the table below one will see how each District has fared and will no doubt be aware of their position. The Channel Islands are to be congratulated in ringing in all of their towers, a feat which the Isle of Wight District just failed in achieving, having one “silent” tower. The Winchester District, the leading district, have had their totals inflated by the leading tower for the Guild. Even so, being in this position, only three quarters of their towers were rung.
There are a number of national occasions to ring for in 2011. Let’s rise to the challenge of having every ringable tower in the Guild rung to a quarter peal.
| DISTRICT | +/- on 2009 | Total | Towers rung | No. per Tower | % Towers rung | LEADING TOWER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton & Petersfield | -5 | 38 | 18 | 1.7 | 81.8 | East Meon | 10 |
| Andover | -56 | 44 | 12 | 1.9 | 52.2 | Longparish | 9 |
| Basingstoke | -6 | 51 | 13 | 2.1 | 54.2 | Basingstoke, St Michael | 15 |
| Channel Islands | 19 | 89 | 7 | 12.7 | 100.0 | Guernsey, Vale | 27 |
| Christchurch & Southampton | 13 | 62 | 17 | 3.0 | 81.0 | Christchurch & Brockenhurst | =9 |
| Isle of Wight | -3 | 39 | 13 | 2.8 | 92.9 | Carisbrooke | 14 |
| Portsmouth | -10 | 43 | 11 | 2.2 | 55.0 | Catherington | 8 |
| Winchester | 7 | 135 | 23 | 4.4 | 74.2 | Awbridge | 44 |
| TOTAL | -41 | 501 | 114 | 3.1 | 70.40 | ||
Alan A J Buswell