Peal Secretary 2016

Peal Secretary’s Report 2016

81 peals were rung in 2016, the lowest total since 2000 and a fall of 7 from last year, although 2 more handbell peals were rung; 21 last year, 19 in 2015.

The leading peal ringer was Jane Hough with 23, with Richard Hough and Peter Waterfield joint 2nd with 21. Paul Seaman rang 20. The leading conductors were Peter Waterfield (13) and Paul Seaman (7)

Meldreth was again the leading tower with 22 peals (up from 13 last year). Mawson Road, Cambridge was again the leading handbell location with 13. Peals were rung at 37 different towers and 7 handbell venues, within and outside the Diocese.

The breakdown of the peals is:

Tower Hand Total

Minimus 1 1

Doubles 2 2

Minor 16 4 20

Triples 1 1

Major 38 10 48

Caters 1 1

Royal 1 6 7

Maximus 1 1

Total 60 21 81

From the footnotes

Peals were rung to mark the Golden Wedding of Graham and Mary Hall and of Eileen and Richard Castledine, the marriage of Frances Ross and Nick Smith, the 50th anniversary on Thomas Garrett’s first peal, the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II and John Haas, the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, and the 40th year of ringing at Cottenham by Simon Wilson.

The first peal on the bells was recorded at Little Paxton, and the first since rehanging at Denver.

Peals were rung in memory of Freda Willgress, Brian Horrell, Brian Threlfall, John Camp, Canon John Tibbs and Felicity Webster.

Two peals were rung as part of the Bellringers Strike Back Against Blood Cancer campaign: Julie McDonnell Doubles at Clenchwarton (only the 2nd peal in the variation) and the first peal of Julie McDonnell New Bob Triples at St Mary Peterborough.

‘Firsts’

Congratulations to Owen Johnson on ringing his first peal (at Landbeach), Roderick Johnstone, Thomas Ridgman and Katie Wright on conducting their first peal, and Barbara le Gallez and Sue Binns on ringing their first handbell peal.

Personal Milestones

• • 1,100th peal:.........................................Russell Brown

  • 1,000th peal:........................................ Susan E Marsden

  • 600th for the Association:..............Susan E Marsden

  • 500th tower bell peal:......................Alan Winter

  • 500th for the Association:..............Peter Waterfield & Jane Hough

  • 300th peal:........................................... Edie Robinson

  • 200th for the Association:..............Peter Rogers, Andrew Davey & Ali Brooke

  • 50th for the Association:.................Barbara le Gallez

  • 50th peal as conductor:...................Edie Robinson

As well as a decline in the number of peals rung, there was only one ‘first pealer’ this year, and very few ‘first on 8’, ‘first surprise’ and the like. Although a number of Spliced peals were rung at the top end of peal ringing, we need new ringers to develop their abilities and ringing peals is one way of doing this. If you would like to ring your first peal, or a peal in a new method, or would like to get back into peal ringing, having not rung one for a while, please contact me or your District Ringing Master. If you know someone who would benefit from ringing a peal, try organising one for them or ask me to arrange one for them.

Finally the usual plea to pay peal fees by the end of January following the year in which they were rung, preferably by BACS. Account details from the Treasurer or from me.

Sue Marsden

Hand bell Peals which have been rung during the year:

• Bacton, 2 Pretyman Avenue 7 (3)

• Cambridge, 102 Mawson Road 109 (13)

• Cambridge, 70 Panton Street 2 (1)

• Cambridge, Great St Mary 1 (1)

• Landbeach, 113 Waterbeach Rd 1 (1)

• Little Chesterford, St Mary 1 (1)

• Reach, Gable Farm Cottage 50 (1)

Peals rung outside of the Diocese during the year:

• • Aspenden 5 (3)

  • Bardwell 1 (1)

  • Bedford, St Paul 23 (1)

  • Benington 1 (1)

  • Castle Acre 9 (2)

  • Great Barton 4 (1)

  • Ixworth 1 (1)

  • Loddon 7 (1)

  • Peterborough, St Mary 4 (1)

  • Preston, Rutland 1 (1)

Statistics and details from Peals.co.uk, bb.ringingworld.co.uk and pealbase.co.uk with thanks.