MINUTES of the third session of the twentieth Council (53rd annual meeting) held in the Town Hall Assembly Rooms, Eastbourne, on Whitsun Tuesday, May 30th, 1950.
The Bishop of Lewes and the Mayor of Eastbourne, Alderman R. J. S. Croft, extended a very warm welcome to the Council, which was suitably acknowledged by the President, who also presented the Bishop with a copy of "The History of the College Youths." The Bishop offered prayers.
PRESENT:-
Ancient Society of College Youths.- Mr. G. W. Cecil, Mr. E. G. Fenn, Mr. A. B. Peck.
Bath and Wells Diocesan Association.- Mr. S. G. Coles, Mr. J. T. Dyke, Mr. H. J. Sanger, Miss N. G. Williams.
Bedfordshire Association.- Mr. H. Harding, Mr. A. C. Sinfield.
Cambridge University Guild.- Mr. E. M. Atkins.
Chester Diocesan Guild.- Mr. J. E. Bibby, Mr. J. W. Clarke, Rev. J. Kingdon, Mr. C. K. Lewis.
Coventry Diocesan Guild.- Mrs. D. E. Beamish, Mr. F. W. Perrens.
Derbyshire Association.- Mr. G. C. Briggs.
Devon Guild.- Mr. A. L. Bennett, Mr. E. W. Biffin, Mr. T. G. Myers.
Dudley and District Guild.- Mr. F. Colclough.
East Grinstead and District Guild.- Mr. A. Relfe.
Ely Diocesan Association.- Mr. E. H. Mastin.
Essex Association.- Mr. F. V. Gant, Mr. F. B. Lufkin, Miss H. G. Snowden.
Gloucester and Bristol Association.- Mr. W. B. Kynaston, Mr. S. T. Price, Mr. F. Skidmore, Mr. W. Williams.
Guildford Diocesan Guild.- Mr. G. L. Grover, Mr. A. Harman, Mr. A. C. Hazelden, Mr. A. H. Pulling.
Hereford Diocesan Guild.- Mr. G. J. Lewis.
Hertford County Association.- Mr. W. Ayre, Mr. H. G. Cashmore, Mr. C. W. Woolley.
Irish Association.- Mr. F. E. Dukes, Mr. J. T. Dunwoody.
Kent County Association.- Dr. E. S. J. Hatcher, Mr. F. M. Mitchell, Mr. T. E. Sone, Mr. G. H. Spice.
Ladies' Guild.- Mrs. G. W. Fletcher, Mrs. A. Richardson.
Lancashire Association.- Mr. P. Crook, Mr. G. R. Newton, Mr. W. H. Shuker, Mr. A. Tomlinson.
Leicester Diocesan Guild.- Mr. A. Ballard, Mr. J. P. Fidler, Mr. H. J. Poole, Mr. A. E. Rowley.
Lincoln Diocesan Guild.- Mr. J. Bray, Mr. G. E. Feirn, Mr. J. Freeman, Mr. J. A. Freeman.
Llandaff and Monmouth Diocesan Association.- Mr. J. W. Jones, Mr. E. Stitch.
London County Association.- Mr. H. W. Rogers, Mrs. H. W. Rogers, Mr. T. H. Taffender, Mr. T. W. Taffender.
Middlesex County Association.- Mr. W. H. Coles, Mr. F. A. Finch, Mr. F. W. Goodfellow, Mr. E. C. S. Turner.
Midland Counties Guild.- Mr. J. W. Cotton.
National Police Guild.- Mr. T. R. Butler.
North Staffordshire Association.- Mr. R. S. Anderson.
Norwich Diocesan Association.- Mr. W. C. Duffield, Mr. F. N. Golden, Rev. A. G. G. Thurlow.
Oxford Diocesan Guild.- Mr. A. D. Barker, Mrs. A. D. Barker, Mr. F. D. Boreham, Mr. A. E. Lock.
Peterborough Diocesan Guild.- Mr. G. W. Jeffs, Mr. W. Rose, Mr. G. S. Valentine.
St. Martin's Guild, Birmingham.- Mr. F. E. Haynes.
Salisbury Diocesan Guild.- Rev. F. Ll. Edwards, Mr. G. Harding, Mr. W. C. West.
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths.- Mr. P. N. Bond, Mr. G. H. Cross, Mr. F. E. Hawthorne, Mr. F. C. W. Knight.
Stafford Archdeaconry Society.- Mr. H. Knight, Mr. C. Wallater.
Suffolk Guild.- Mr. C. W. Pipe.
Surrey Association.- Mr. D. Cooper.
Sussex County Association.- Mr. R. G. Blackman, Mr. F. H. Dallaway, Mr. F. I. Hairs.
Truro Diocesan Guild.- Mr. H. Miles, the Rev. A. S. Roberts, Mrs. A. S. Roberts.
Universities Association.- Miss M. Cross.
Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild.- The Rev. K. W. H. Felstead, Mr. C. H. Kippin, Mr. G. Pullinger, Mr. F. W. Rogers.
Worcestershire and Districts Association.- Mr. B. C. Ashford.
Yorkshire Association.- Mr. P. J. Johnson, Mr. L. W. G. Morris, Mr. S. F. Palmer.
Honorary Members.- Mr. E. A. Barnett, Mr. G. E. Debenham, Mr. G. W. Fletcher, Mr. W. H. J. Hooton, Mr. A. A. Hughes, Mr. E. H. Lewis, Mrs. L. K. Marshall, Mr. W. A. Osborn, Mr. C. W. Roberts, Mr. F. Sharpe, Mr. J. F. Smallwood, Mr. W. H. Viggers, Mr. E. A. Young.
SUMMARY
| Members | |||
| Associations. | Present. | Absent. | |
| Wholly represented | 24 | 70 | |
| Partially represented | 19 | 38 | 24 |
| Not represented | 11 | 17 | |
| 54 | 108 | 41 | |
| Hon. Members | 13 | 5 | |
| 121 | 46 | ||
REPORT AS TO MEMBERSHIP
The Hon. Secretary reported that 54 Associations were now affiliated, entitled to elect 149 representatives as follows:- 24 Associations entitled to four representatives, 5 to three, 13 to two, and 12 to one. The addition since last year was the Police Guild, entitled to one representative.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from: The Rev. B. F. Sheppard, Cambridge University; Mr. F. C. Smale, Devon; Messrs. F. Ainsley and W. N. Park, Durham and Newcastle; Mr. C. Evans, East Derbyshire; Mr. W. Cook, Ely; Mr. H. J. Mansfield, Essex; Messrs. G. E. Oliver and W. F. Moreton, Hereford; Mr. R. G. Bell, Hertford; Miss E. Steel, Ladies'; Mr. B. G. Key, Midland Counties; Mr. A. J. Hughes, North Wales; the Rev. C. E. Wigg, Oxford University; Alderman A. Paddon Smith, St. Martin's; Mr. F. Precey, Salisbury; Mr. G. L. Hewitt, Shropshire; Mr. H. Denman and Miss J. Southerst, Southwell; Messrs. C. J. Sedgley and G. E. Symonds, Suffolk; Mr. O. Sippetts, Sussex; Mr. D. H. Bennett, Swansea and Brecon; Messrs. J. D. Johnson and S. T. Holt, Worcestershire; the Rev. C. O. Ellison, Yorkshire; and Messrs. C. Dean, T. Groombridge and A. Walker, hon. members.
PRESENTATION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE PRESIDENT
The following new members were presented: the Rev. J. Kingdon, Chester Guild; Messrs. W. H. Coles, F. A. Finch and F. W. Goodfellow, Middlesex: Inspector T. R. Butler, Police Guild; Mr. F. E. Haynes, St. Martin's Guild; Messrs. P. N. Bond and F. E. Hawthorne, Royal Cumberland Youths; Mr. C. H. Kippin, Winchester and Portsmouth; and Mr. W. H. Viggers, hon. member.
The President extended a very cordial welcome to the new representatives of the Middlesex Association and expressed regret that the representatives sent to York the previous year had a fruitless journey.
ELECTION OF HONORARY MEMBERS
The retiring member, Mr. W. Osborn, together with Mr. F. I. Hairs and Mr. C. K. Lewis, were elected on the proposal of Mr. P. J. Johnson, seconded by Mr. F. Dallaway.
LOSS OF MEMBERS THROUGH DEATH
The members stood in silence as the President formally reported the death of the following: Canon G. F. Coleridge, C. F. Johnston, G. W. Steere, the Rev. H. E. Tilney Bassett, Mrs. N. Edwards, J. Morgan and W. Andrews.
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
On the proposal of Mr. G. W. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs, the minutes published in the "Ringing World" on May 5th were taken as read and approved.
The various reports and accounts as presented have been published as indicated and are preserved in the Council's records.
REPORT OF HON. LIBRARIAN
("Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 362.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mr. W. H. J. Hooton, seconded by Mr. W. Ayre. Permission was given for duplicate books to be distributed to the libraries of affiliated Societies.
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
("Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 362.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mr. G. W. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. A. A. Hughes, who also reported as auditor.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE CARTER RINGING MACHINE
("Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 362.)
The Trustees' report was adopted on the proposal of Mr. A. A. Hughes, seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs. Grateful thanks were expressed to Mr. D. Hughes and Mr. B. Price for their work on the reconstruction of the machine.
REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
The Hon. Secretary reported that this Committee had received and circulated the reports received from the sub-committees dealing with Rules, Decisions and the Roll of Honour and recommended that these reports be considered.
The Committee had also made recommendations on matters arising in the Agenda.
The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. A. A. Hughes and carried.
REPORT OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
The sub-committee, through Mr. G. E. Debenham, presented its report together with its proposals which had been revised since the previous meeting. The Council considered each proposed rule separately and finally adopted the Rules shown in the attached schedule.
On the motion of Mr. A. A. Hughes, seconded by the Rev. K. W. H. Felstead, it was resolved that the new rules operate from the close of the meeting.
The thanks of the Council to Mr. G. E. Debenham were expressed by Mr. R. S. Anderson.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 377.)
The Report and schedule to the Report were presented by Mr. J. F. Smallwood.
The Standing Committee recommended that members be asked to consider the schedule and to send their observations to the Committee as soon as possible so that final conclusions can be presented as motions at the next meeting or as soon as convenient.
The Report and recommendation were adopted on the proposal of Mr. J. F. Smallwood, seconded by Mr. P. J. Johnson, and the Council also approved the appointment to the Committee of Mr. F. W. Perrens, Dr. E. S. J. Hatcher and Mr. C. W. Roberts.
ROLL OF HONOUR
("Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 362.)
Mr. H. Miles presented an interim report, the adoption of which was seconded by Mr. F. I. Hairs and carried. To assist the completion of the Roll, members were asked to enquire of their Associations if particulars had been furnished
REPORT OF THE PEAL COLLECTION COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 363.)
Adopted on the motion of Mr. H. G. Cashmore, seconded by Mr. E. A. Barnett.
REPORT OF THE METHODS COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Together with their report the Committee presented an interim report on Extension of Even Bell Methods to higher even numbers.
The reports were adopted on the proposal of the Rev. K. W. H. Felstead, seconded by Mr. F. W. Rogers, and it was agreed-
That further consideration be given to the publication of the Surprise Method Book and that, as requested by the Committee, approval be given to the following departures from previous decisions to apply to Doubles Methods only:
(a) The working bells need not be in the same coursing order at each lead head and end in the plain course.
(b) No bell shall strike more than four consecutive blows in any one place, usually in 5ths place when the treble leads in a 2nds place method, or at the lead in the reverse of such a method, or, if found to be necessary, at other times also.
REPORT OF THE PEAL ANALYSIS COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mr. W. Ayre, seconded by Mr. W. H. J. Hooton.
It was agreed that a peal of Doubles with a treble leading continuously be not included and that a peal of Cambridge Surprise Major with a sixth place bob be recorded as Cambridge. It was also decided to add Mr. H. Miles to this Committee.
REPORT OF THE RECORDS COMMITTEE
(" Ringing World," No. 2,044, June 9th, 1950, page 363.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mrs. E. K. Fletcher, seconded by Mrs. L. K. Marshall.
REPORT OF THE TOWERS AND BELFRIES COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Mr. E. H. Lewis reported verbally. The adoption was seconded by Mr. F. Sharpe and carried.
REPORT OF THE LITERATURE, PRESS AND BROADCASTING COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Adopted on the proposal of the Rev. F. Ll. Edwards, seconded by Mr. J. F. Smallwood.
REPORT OF THE PEAL BOARDS COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Mr. W. Ayre reported verbally. The adoption was seconded by the Rev. K. W. H. Felstead and carried.
REPORT OF BIOGRAPHIES COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 378.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mr. A. C. Hazelden, seconded by Mr. W. H. Viggers.
REPORT OF "THE RINGING WORLD" COMMITTEE
("Ringing World," No. 2,045, June 16th, 1950, page 379.)
Adopted on the proposal of Mr. G. W. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. A. A. Hughes.
MOTIONS
It was proposed by Dr. E. S. J. Hatcher, seconded by Mr. G. H. Spice and carried: "That this Council through an appropriate Committee and by liaison with the organisers should determine the nature of the part to be played by the Ringing Exercise in the Festival of Britain."
It was also agreed on the recommendation of the Standing Committee that Dr. E. S. J. Hatcher and Mr. G. H. Spice be appointed to a sub-committee, with power to co-opt, to consider this matter and report to the Standing Committee.
It was proposed by Mr. H. J. Poole, seconded by Mr. A. Ballard and carried: "That unanimous decisions of the Methods Committee shall at once be published in 'The Ringing World' and shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Council for confirmation."
Arising from this resolution the Council, on the proposal of Mr. H. J. Poole, agreed to consider a decision of the Methods Committee which had been omitted from its Report and it was proposed by the Rev. K. W. H. Felstead, seconded by Mr. C. H. Kippin and resolved: "That the method called Steadfast was no different from Shipway's principle of 150 years ago."
PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
The Council decided to accept an invitation to visit Chester, on the proposal of Mr. F. Sharpe, seconded by Inspector T. R. Butler. The Council was assured of a warm welcome by Mr. J. W. Clarke, Master of the Chester Guild.
MEMORIAL TO CANON COLERIDGE
On the proposal of the President, seconded by Mr. H. Miles, the Council agreed to donate the sum of £50 to the bell restoration at Christ Church, Oxford, promoted by the Oxford Diocesan Guild.
VOTES OF THANKS
On the President's motion, grateful thanks were expressed to the Mayor and Corporation for the use of the Hall, for hospitality and privileges granted to members, to the Bishop of Lewes for his attendance and welcome, to the Vicar of Eastbourne for arranging a corporate Communion service, to the Sussex County Association and its committee, Mr. F. I. Hairs, Mr. P. H. Rollison, Mr. R. G. Blackman and Mr. F. H. Dallaway for arrangements.
It was also decided to send a letter to Mr. O. Sippetts regretting his illness and a wish for a speedy return to health.
Thanks were also recorded to all incumbents for the use of bells and to tower-keepers.
The President also proposed a vote of thanks to the Hon. Secretary and Mrs. Fletcher.
Thanks to the President, officers and members of committees for their work during the past year were expressed by Mr. H. W. Rogers.
After the meeting the Mayor and Mayoress, supported by many aldermen and councillors, received the members and friends at the Winter Gardens, where they were entertained to tea as guests of the Eastbourne Corporation.
A social evening was later held in the Town Hall.
The Ringing World, April 20, 1951, pages 252 to 253