East Midlands

Officers: Vice President: Lyn Sugden, Secretary: Helen Parkin, Ringing Master: Lyn Sugden, Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Anne Sladen.

Contact:  eastmid.lgsec_at_gmail.com

East Midlands District Report for 2025

It all started at the Ladies Guild holiday 2025 with a chance conversation between Helen Parkin and Lyn Sugden, who met for the first time and discovered that they lived in the East Midlands but there was currently no East Midlands District. Then Anne Sladen came for a day trip – the three got together and, (with the support of, and advice from, Alli Devine) the rest, as they say, is history!

The first meeting was held on Saturday 2nd August and the district was formally reformed. Over 40 ladies attended, including some existing Guild members from other districts, whose support was welcome. Many thanks to Alli Devine who travelled down and opened the meeting. At the end of the afternoon, we had 25 members – more than we had ever envisaged at those early conversations on the Derby holiday. Officers were appointed, along with a committee of enthusiastic volunteers, and we were good to go.

The general consensus from those attending at Grantham was that there should be ‘big’ meetings every 3 months, which should be full day events, with morning, lunch, then afternoon ringing. These would be interspersed with other get togethers, which could be general ringing, training days, quarter peals: in fact, anything the members wanted.

Thus, our next ‘big’ meeting on 1st November at Ashby Folville and Gaddesby, with 33 ladies attending. In the meantime, on Sunday 26 October, we rang our first (of many, we hope!) quarter peals, starting with Plain Bob Doubles. Many thanks to Rebecca Banner for calling this.

Sunday 7th December was our first training day – call changes, practicing both ringing and calling, up and down. The event was very well supported by both learners and experienced helpers (23 attending).

The feedback and support we’ve had from the ladies who signed up has been incredible and we look forward to an exciting 2026. I would like to give a special thanks to the National Officers, and the other EM Officers and committee, without which this would never have happened. A real team effort.

Lyn Sugden

District reformed in August 2025.

District reports up to 2022 are here, a report on the history of the district up to 2023 is  here.