PEAL RECORDER’S REPORT

With a total of 149 peals rung in 2011, the year saw fifteen fewer peals scored than in 2010. I must thank Andrew Craddock for sharing the statistics generated by his computer database, allowing me to cross-check the Guild’s records, and would like to thank all those conductors and organisers who submit details, compositions and fees within the one-month deadline specified by the Guild Rules. Congratulations to all who have been involved in peals rung for the Guild during the year, and good luck for all future attempts.

Tower Bell Peals

There were 111 tower peals in 2011 compared with 2010’s total of 118. The decrease was reflected by a reduction in the number of ringers taking part in performances: 209 in 2011 down from 245 the previous year. Ten fewer conductors called peals in 2011 compared with 2010. This year, Jimmy Hodkin rises to the top of the leading ringers list, Roy LeMarechal having rung thirteen fewer peals for the Guild than in 2010. Roy does however continue to top the leading conductors’ table. Awbridge and Bishopstoke retain their positions as the two leading peal venues.

Congratulations to the following members on successfully completing their first peals: Charlotte Stansbury, Godfrey Rhimes and Robin Stevens. Congratulations also to the following ringers on achieving significant personal milestones in 2011: Barry Fry on his 2300th peal, John Dodd on his 750th, James Hodkin on his 400th, Steve Castle on his 250th and Lizzie Hough on her 100th. Toby Arkless scored his 200th as conductor and Edward Colliss, his 50th as conductor. Toby and Edd also achieved respectively their 250th and 200th peals for the Guild.

The first peals on the bells were rung at Hannington, Chawton, and on the Old Gas Works Campanile at Brockenhurst with its mighty 1 lb tenor bell! In March, the 700th peal in the tower was rung at Bishopstoke, closely followed by the 400th peal on the current ring of bells. The 200th peal on the bells at Brockenhurst was reached, and the 200th anniversary of the opening of the bells at New Alresford was celebrated with a peal. There was one long-length peal rung this year, on John Dodd’s bells at Awbridge, being 10368 changes of Plain Bob Caters. Peals in celebration of the Royal Wedding in April were rung at Warnford, Bentley, West Meon, Bishopstoke, Portsmouth Cathedral, Hannington and on the Bishopstoke Campanile, and Tom Chapman and Don Exell were both remembered in memorial peals.

Handbell Peals

2011 has witnessed a further fall in the number of handbell peals rung for the Guild, with 38 rung compared with 2010’s total of 46. Certainly Tom Hinks’ PGCE course in Cambridge, and James Croft’s move to Derbyshire have not helped numbers! Interestingly, there were more ringers involved in 2011’s handbell total, with 33 compared to 29 in 2010. John Croft topped the leading handbell ringers’ table, pushing Tom into second position. Tom maintains his place at the head of the conductors’ table though, and seems unlikely to be displaced in the immediate future. Despite James’ move to Chesterfield, it is good to see the annual handbell week continuing and it contributed six peals to the Guild’s total in 2011, as well as otherwise attributed peals during the week which was held at James’ new residence; his vicarage in one of Chesterfield’s parishes.

With Tom Hinks’ conducting skills, Guild records have continued to be broken throughout the year. Handbell peals of Spliced Surprise Royal in eight and then ten methods raised the Guild’s handbell achievements, along with peals in which the most Treble-bob methods in a Guild handbell peal and the most Surprise methods in a Guild handbell peal were accomplished. Congratulations to Patricia Spinks and to Janet Morris who both scored their first handbell peals in 2011, to James Croft on scoring his 800th peal, and to James Croft and Tom Hinks who rang their 100th peal together. Of particular note is the achievement of Derek Yates who, following a stroke in 1994, rang his first peal since then with a handbell performance in which he held both bells in the same hand. Kenneth Croft and Tom Chapman were both remembered in footnotes to 2011 handbell peals.

Jonathan C Hetherington