PRESENT:
Life Members: E A Barnett, J Freeman, F W Perrens, the Very Revd. A G G Thurlow, W G Wilson.
Honorary Members: Mrs. O D Barnett, N Chaddock, H C Chant, F E Collins, W E Critchley, C W Denyer, G R Drew, Canon K W H Felstead, D Hughes, S J Ivin, C K Lewis, J R Mayne, H N Pitstow, R B Smith, R F B Speed, P L Taylor, W H Viggers, Mrs. M J Wilkinson, Mrs. M A Wratten.
Ancient Society of College Youths: W T Cook, D E House, J G A Prior, A N Stubbs.
Australia & New Zealand Assn.: P M J Gray.
Bath & Wells Dio. Assn.: G W Massey, E Naylor, A H Reed, J S Walton.
Bedfordshire Assn.: J H Edwards, T W Groom, A E Rushton.
Beverley & District Society: I G Campbell.
Cambridge U. Guild: B D Threlfall, S C Walters.
Chester Dio. Guild: A P Foster, A F Scholfield, M Thomson.
Coventry Dio. Guild: P Border, K Chambers, H M Windsor.
Derby Dio. Assn.: G A Halls, D Hird, M P Phipps.
Durham & Newcastle Dio. Assn.: K Arthur, D A Bayles, D Martin.
Durham U. Society: C C Monson.
E. Derbyshire & W. Notts. Assn.: A Dempster.
E. Grinstead & District Guild: A N Brock.
Ely Diocesan Assn.: A M Barber, G E Bonham, J G Gipson.
Essex Assn.: J Armstrong, F B Lufkin, D Sloman.
Gloucester & Bristol Dio. Assn.: L C Edwards, A R Peake, J R Taylor, C A Wratten.
Guildford Dio. Guild: M J Church, T Page, D E Parsons, P G Smart.
Guild of Devonshire Ringers: D J Roberts, Revd. J G M Scott.
Hereford Dio. Guild: T Cooper, P Hughes, R G Powell.
Hertford County Assn.: A R Agg, G Dodds, R E Hardy, G Penney.
Irish Assn.: F E Dukes.
Kent County Assn.: P A Corby, M J Hiller, S Jenner, I H Oram.
Ladies’ Guild: Miss D E Colgate, Mrs. J Summerhayes.
Lancashire Assn.: C Crossthwaite, D R Jones, J Kershaw, F Reynolds.
Leicester Dio. Guild: B L Burrows, J M Jelley, B G Warwick.
Lincoln Dio. Guild: G E Feirn, D A Frith, J L Millhouse, P Reynolds.
Llandaff & Monmouth Dio. Assn.: J C Baldwin, Mrs. J S King, M J Pryor.
London County Assn.: H W Rogers, Mrs. O L Rogers, Dr. J M Weddell.
Manchester U. Guild: M C W Sherwood.
Middlesex County Assn. & London Dio. Guild: F T Blagrove, T J Lock, C H Rogers, B C Watson.
Midland Counties Guild: J W Cotton, J K Smith.
National Police Guild: A W Gibbs.
N. American Guild: W A Theobald.
N. Wales Assn.: Mrs. N M Randles.
Norwich Dio. Assn.: M Cubitt.
Oxford Dio. Guild: W Butler, K J Darvill, N J Diserens, T G Pett.
Oxford Society: F A H Wilkins.
Oxford U. Society: D J Roaf.
Peterborough Dio. Guild: E Billings, B R Care, C J Groome, J M Tyler.
Railwaymen’s Guild: E J Franklin.
St. Martin’s Guild: T R Hampton, R W Pipe.
Salisbury Dio. Guild: E J Hitchins, R G W Robertson, N O Skelton.
Shropshire Assn.: R B Dorrington, Mrs. A E Stevens.
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths: J S Barnes, D E Sibson, P M Wilkinson.
Society of Sherwood Youths: G A Dawson.
S. Derbyshire & N. Leics. Assn.: J E Collins.
Southwell Dio. Guild: W L Exton, S Humphrey, R B Mills, Mrs. B N Reed.
Stafford Archdeaconry Assn.: B Harris, C M Smith.
Suffolk Guild: T N J Bailey, H W Egglestone, C W Pipe.
Surrey Assn.: R J Cooles, S F W Kimber, C F Mew.
Sussex County Assn.: P T Hurcombe, R Percy, D D Smith.
Swansea & Brecon Dio. Guild: J A Hoare.
Truro Dio. Guild: W C Boucher, Miss J H Dash.
Universities Assn.: Revd. M C C Melville.
Univ. of Bristol Society: Mrs. A Newing.
Univ. of London Society: A J Frost.
Winchester & Portsmouth Dio. Guild: K S B Croft, W S Croft, J Hartless.
Worcestershire & Districts Assn.: A C Berry, W B Cartwright, M D Fellows, R G Morris.
Yorkshire Assn.: S J Gullick, E Hudson, W F Moreton, D Potter.
The Carlisle Dio. Guild, Devon Assn., Leeds Univ. Society, North Staffordshire Assn., St. David’s Dio. Guild and Scottish Assn. were not represented.
The President, Mr. E. A. Barnett, said that a message of loyal greeting had that morning been sent to H.M. the Queen on behalf of the Council. It read:
“The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, assembled in conference in the Guildhall, Derby, offers your Majesty its warmest congratulations on the occasion of your Silver Jubilee.- Edwin A. Barnett, President.”
The following reply was later received from Buckingham Palace and read to the meeting:
“The Queen sincerely thanks the members of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers assembled in conference for their kind message which Her Majesty in this her Silver Jubilee year greatly appreciates.- Private Secretary.”
The Secretary (Mr. C A Wratten) reported that 65 societies were affiliated, with 174 representatives. The Rules provided for 24 Honorary members, and there were nine Life members, making a total membership of 207; there were no vacancies. All subscriptions were paid.
Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. W Ayre, H W Barrett, D Beresford, Mrs. M P Byrne, Messrs. R L Byrne, J E Camp, C J Champion, J M Clarke, W H Dobbie, G K Dodd, Mrs. S M Drew, Messrs. J T Dunwoody, F N Golden, N V Harding, D McEndoo, E Nixon, G W Pipe, the Revd. L R Pizzey, Mr. E C Shepherd, Mrs. J Staniforth and Messrs. P J Staniforth, T W White and A T Wingate.
The following were welcomed by the President: Messrs. K Chambers (Coventry Dio. Guild), P G Smart (Guildford Dio. Guild), A W Gibbs (National Police Guild) and W S Croft (Winchester & Portsmouth Dio. Guild).
The President reported the deaths of the following past members of the Council, members standing in silence: Messrs. C W Ottley (London County, 1963-66), R G Black (Peterborough, 1927-39), G E Oliver (Hereford, 1948-60), the Revd. W H R Trewhella (Truro, 1932-36 and 1951-54), Messrs. F W Elliott (Hertford, 1929), J Ridyard (Lancashire, 1951-63) and Miss C E Willers (Ely, 1933-39).
Mrs. O D Barnett and Messrs. B Austin, H C Chant, F E Collins, C K Lewis and J R Mayne were re-elected, and Mr. R H Dove elected, Honorary members.
On the proposition of Mr. C A Wratten, seconded by Mr. W T Cook, the Minutes as circulated to members and published in The Ringing World of 11 February 1977 were adopted.
Report of the Honorary Secretary:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. C A Wratten, seconded by Mrs. O D Barnett.
Balance Sheet and Accounts:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. C A Wratten, seconded by Dr. J C Baldwin. After Mr. Wratten had proposed, and Mr. F E Dukes seconded, a motion to increase the annual subscription to £2.50 per representative from 1 January 1978, an amendment of £3 per representative was proposed by Mr. F Reynolds and seconded by Mr. W G Wilson and approved by the Council.
Report of the Trustees of the Carter Ringing Machine:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. D Hughes, seconded by Mrs. O D Barnett.
Report of the Trustee of the Rolls of Honour:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. W T Cook, seconded by Mr. D A Bayles.
Administrative Committee:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. C A Wratten, seconded by Mr. F E Dukes.
Biographies Committee:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. T J Lock, seconded by Mr. W H Viggers.
Public Relations Committee:
(R.W. 15 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mrs. J S King, seconded by Mr. H N Pitstow.
Education Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. W Butler, seconded by Mr. J M Tyler. On the proposition of Mr. N Chaddock, seconded by Mr. W Butler, it was agreed to buy from the B.B.C. a 16mm. copy of a TV documentary film called “This Ringing Isle.”
Publications Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. G. R. Drew, seconded by Mr. C. J. Groome.
The Ringing World Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. W G Wilson, seconded by Mr. H W Egglestone.
Library Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. W T Cook, seconded by Mr. J S Barnes, the President having made it clear that the adoption implied agreement to the report’s financial recommendations (an annual grant to the Library of £50 from Council funds, and acceptance by the Library Committee of responsibility for raising a further £50 a year).
Towers and Belfries Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of the Revd. J G M Scott, seconded by Mr. B D Threlfall.
Committee for Redundant Bells:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. A J Frost, seconded by Mr. J Freeman. The Secretary was asked to send the Council’s best wishes for a speedy return to full health to Mr. D Beresford, who had had to resign his chairmanship of the committee for health reasons.
Bell Restoration Funds Committee:
(R.W. 22 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. J S Barnes, seconded by Mr. K S B Croft. Mr. Barnes said that Mr. E Billings had been co-opted to the committee in place of Mr. M D Fellows, who had resigned.
Peals Analysis Committee:
(R.W. 29 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. F B Lufkin, seconded by Mr. C H Rogers. A peal of Plain Bob Cinques rung without a cover bell at Accrington on 8 May 1976 was recognised by the Council on a majority vote, on the proposition of Mr. G A Dawson, seconded by Mr. B D Threlfall, since it had been rung when there were only 11 bells in the tower and was thus a parallel to peals at All Saints’, Basingstoke, which had previously been accepted.
Computer Co-ordination Committee:
(R.W. 29 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. J R Taylor, seconded by Dr. J C Baldwin.
Peal Compositions Committee:
(R.W. 29 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. W E Critchley, seconded by Mr. I H Oram.
Records Committee:
(R.W. 29 July 1977)
Adopted on the proposition of Mr. D E Sibson, seconded by Mr. J R Mayne.
On the proposition of Mr. F T Blagrove, seconded by Mr. S Humphrey, the Council accepted the committee’s recommendations on Doubles methods, as published in The Ringing World of 2 July 1976.
The Council endorsed the Administrative Committee’s acceptance of an invitation from the Guildford Diocesan Guild to hold the 1978 meeting in Guildford on 30 May. No invitation had been received for 1979, but an invitation from the Kent County Association for 1981 was noted.
In response to a letter from the Rector of Launton, it was agreed to make a collection at the end of the meeting towards the cost of a tablet to be erected in Launton church to the memory of the late Mr. Frederick Sharpe; a proposal by Mr. W G Wilson, seconded by Mr. C W Denyer, that the Council should make a grant of £10 was defeated. (Secretary’s note: the collection totalled £29.)
A proposition by Mr. C W Pipe, seconded by Mr. E Billings, that the words “Short peals of not less than 3,000 changes may be rung in an emergency” be inserted after the Decision governing peals, was withdrawn after some discussion.
On behalf of the Council, the President thanked the Derby Diocesan Association for its arrangements for the meeting and for the whole week; the Mayor, Bishop and Provost of Derby for their welcome, and the latter for allowing the Council to hold its Communion Service in the Cathedral and for officiating, assisted by the Revd. Fred. Ross, secretary of the Derby Diocesan Association; and to the various incumbents for the use of their bells.
Mr. Wilson expressed members’ thanks to the Council’s officers and to Miss D. E. Colgate.
| Members | |||
| Societies | Present | Absent | |
| Wholly represented | 42 | 103 | - |
| Partly represented | 17 | 40 | 22 |
| Not represented | 6 | - | 9 |
| 65 | 143 | 31 | |
| Life members | 5 | 4 | |
| Honorary members | 19 | 5 | |
| 167 | 40 | ||
The Ringing World, February 24, 1978, page 178
(Archivist’s note: also absent were J. F. Smallwood (Life), B. Austin and Sir J. Betjeman (Honorary), R. J. Johnston (Australia & New Zealand Assn.), S. Richardson (Carlisle Dio. Guild), A. J. Martin (Chester Dio. Guild), B. E. Bartlett, J. Hine, H. Pidler and A. Tapper (Devon Assn.), P. J. Rothera (Essex Assn.), G. W. Simmonds (Guild of Devonshire Ringers), A. M. Glover (Leeds Univ. Society), M. J. Uphill (London County Assn.), J. H. Payton (St. David’s Dio. Guild), B. J. Woodruffe (Salisbury Dio. Guild) and T. Lewis (Scottish Assn.))