Life Members: Revd J C Baldwin, Miss D E Colgate, F E Dukes, H W Egglestone, C K Lewis, W F Moreton, C A Wratten.
Honorary Members: A E Bagworth, D W Beard, A P S Berry, Mrs S Bianco, M J Church, S J Coleman, R J Cooles, J C Eisel, Mrs K Flavell, Dr L F Forbes*, A J Frost,
E G H Godfrey, M H D O'Callaghan, D J Roberts, Miss E St. John-Smith, Miss J Sanderson, Preb J G M Scott, R B Smith, J R Taylor, D G Thorne, Mrs P M Wilkinson.
Ancient Society of College Youths: A R Kench, A J Phillips, A W R Wilby.
Australia & New Zealand Assn: J A Smith.
Bath & Wells Dio. Assn: D J Buckley, Mrs C A Hardwick, D J Kelly, G W Massey.
Bedfordshire Assn: P J S Albon, K Lewin, A H Smith.
Beverley & Dist. Society: M J de C Henshaw, D Watson.
Cambridge Univ. Guild: C E J Kilgour, S C Walters.
Chester Dio. Guild: P Dyson, J H Gibb, N Thomson.
Coventry Dio. Guild: P Border, M J Dew, H M Windsor, Mrs B A Winter.
Derby Dio Assn: Miss J E Boden, G A Halls, Mrs P A M Halls.
Devon Assn: M C Way.
Devonshire Guild: F D Mack, M E C Mears, G E Mudge*.
Dorset County Assn: D R Bugler, Mrs M E Frost, A G Smith.
Durham & Newcastle Dio. Assn: N A Johnson, R R Warford, Mrs B M Wheeler.
Durham Univ. Society: Revd P Newing.
East Derbys & W. Notts Assn: A Dempster.
East Grinstead & Dist. Guild: R A Grant.
Ely Dio Assn: G E Bonham, M B Davies, B B Hullah, P S Seaman.
Essex Assn: J Armstrong, F J P Bone, A G Semken, D L Sparling.
Gloucester & Bristol Dio. Assn: G Groves, I P Hill, M J Mulvey, J M Pearse, D A Strong.
Guildford Dio. Guild: W J Couperthwaite, J Morgan, C H Rogers, R J Walker.
Hereford Dio. Guild: D R Carter, B D Threlfall, J F I Turney.
Hertford County Assn: A F Alldrick, J R Mayne, Miss D M Robotham, B C Watson.
Irish Assn: M J Pomeroy.
Kent County Assn: N J Davies, F W Lewis, D C Manger, Mrs D R Wraight.
Ladies Guild: Miss F Cannon, Mrs A R Caton, Miss T Crowder.
Lancashire Assn: J Kershaw, S S Meyer, Mrs A E Pettifor, D R Pettifor, P A Thompson.
Leeds Univ. Society: M Pidd.
Leicester Dio. Guild: A Cattell, Mrs C N J Franklin, J R Thompson, B G Warwick.
Lichfield Archd. Society: J F Mulvey, S G Pick, Mrs L Smith.
Lincoln Dio Guild: A R Heppenstall, G R Parker, Mrs J M Rogers, L G Townsend.
Liverpool Univ. Society: S J Flockton.
Llandaff & Monmouth Dio. Assn: J C Parker.
London County Assn: Mrs J E Higgins, E G Mould, H W Rogers.
Manchester Univ. Guild: Miss L MacMahon.
Middlesex County Assn. & London Dio. Guild: R Bailey, F T Blagrove, G E J A Doughty, A Udal.
National Police Guild: B F Peachey.
North American Guild: D F Morrison, P A Trotman.
North Staffordshire Assn: Mrs W Daw, P W Gay.
North Wales Assn: D R Marshall*.
Norwich Dio. Assn: Mrs G M Hodgkinson, J B Morley, R J Parker, D F Riley.
Oxford Dio. Guild: W Butler, K R Davenport, J A Harrison, J R Martin, Mrs P M Newton, T G Pett.
Oxford Society: B J Stone.
Oxford Univ. Society: P D Niblett.
Peterborough Dio. Guild: C J Groome, D J Jones.
St. David's Dio. Guild: R C Warburton.
St. Martin's Guild: J A Anderson, P Needham.
Salisbury Dio. Guild: A J Howes, A C D Lovell-Wood, A P Nicholson, Mrs J Webb, R J Wellen.
Scottish Assn: N E Booth, P J Shipton.
Shropshire Assn: F M Mitchell.
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths: J S Barnes, I H Oram, Miss S J Pattenden, D E Sibson.
Society of Sherwood Youths: R E H Woolley.
S. African Guild: Mrs J Webster.
Southwell Dio. Guild: B J Bull, G A Dawson, A B Mills, B A Richards.
Suffolk Guild: S D Pettman, Revd L R Pizzey, D G Salter, A R Smith.
Surrey Assn: J D Cheesman, C Ridley, D N Wallis, R J Wallis.
Sussex County Assn: A R Baldock, R T Clay, J E Hawes, H F Pettifer, I V J Smith.
Swansea & Brecon Dio. Guild: P C Johnson*, Mrs H J Rose.
Transvaal Society: J Hill.
Truro Dio. Guild: Mrs H L Perry, R J Perry.
Univ. Bristol Society: D I Bassford, Miss C O'Callaghan.
Univ. London Society: G Barr.
Veronese Assn: J D Gallimore, F Giona, R G T Morris, G Tommasi.
Winchester & Portsmouth Dio. Guild: Mrs G Cater, A G Craddock, Revd B J Fry, D C Jackson, A P Smith.
Worcestershire & Districts Assn: C M Povey, A Roberts, R F B Speed, S J T Wilmshurst.
Yorkshire Assn: N Donovan, Revd G C Galley, R N Moreton, Mrs D M Rhymer.
Zimbabwe Guild: E J W Manley (alt. member).
The Carlisle Diocesan Guild and the Midland Counties Guild were not represented.
The Hon Secretary (Mr C H Rogers) reported that 68 societies were affiliated to the Council, with 200 representatives. There were eight Life, and 23 Honorary members. Subscriptions had been received from all affiliated societies, except the Manchester University Guild. That society's subscription was thereupon received.
Apologies for absence were received from E A Barnett (Life member), W H Dobbie and R H Dove (Honorary members), and P Avesani, P S Bennett, the Hon Justice D Bleby, Miss D J Couch, J J P Ellams, B J R Gross, Revd J M Hughes, A S Hudson, N R Mattingley, C Mitchell, D H Niblett, Miss A M Phillips, K W Price, M Quimby, Mrs E S Riley, Miss R M Rodway, I P Self, A N Stubbs, Ms J Thompson and P Whitehead.
An alternate member was present in place of Miss Phillips (Zimbabwe Guild).
The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 1996, as published in The Ringing World of 14 February 1997, were approved
The President (Mrs P M Wilkinson) welcomed new members present (indicated by * in the list of those present).
Members stood in silence as the Hon Secretary read the list of former members of the Council who had died since the last meeting: F B Lufkin (Essex Assn 1946-95, Life member from 1996), P A Cummins (Truro Dio. Guild 1982-3 and 1993-5), Canon A S Roberts (Truro Dio. Guild 1946-55 and 1957-62), E Nobles (Peterborough Dio. Guild 1954-9 and 1961-2), H M Howard (Hon Member 1952-7), J R Cooper (Kent County Assn 1957-65), W Cathrall (North Wales Assn 1953-6) and D Hughes (Hon Member 1952-87).
Mr D G Thorne was elected a Life member on the proposition of F E Dukes, seconded by H W Egglestone.
Mr E G H Godfrey was elected Hon Treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of M H D O'Callaghan, on the proposition of R J Cooles, seconded by J D Cheesman.
8. Annual Report of the Council:
(RW 16 May 1997, pp.515-6)
The report was adopted on the proposition of the Hon Secretary, seconded by C J Groome.
Mrs K Flavell, Miss J Roberts, Miss T R Stoecklin, Mrs P M Wilkinson and Messrs A E Bagworth, A P S Berry, R B Smith and J R Taylor were individually elected Honorary members
10. Accounts for 1996:
(RW 16 May 1997, pp.514-5)
Adopted on the proposition of the Revd J C Baldwin, seconded by B D Threlfall.
(a) Independent Examiners
On behalf of the Administrative Committee, The Hon Secretary proposed and M J Church seconded:
"That the first sentence of Rule 13 (Election of Auditors) be replaced by: 'The Council shall triennially elect from amongst the members of the Council two independent examiners who shall examine and report upon the Annual accounts of the Council."; in the heading and lines 3 and 5 of Rule 13 'Auditors' be replaced by 'independent examiners'; in Rule 21, in line 1 'audited' be omitted and in line 3 'Auditors' Report' be replaced by 'report of the independent examiners thereon'."
The motion was passed.
(b) Variable cover - principle
A R Kench proposed and A W R Wilby seconded:
"That in the interests of the technical and musical advancement of change ringing the Council agrees in principle to recognise peals in which the cover bell varies."
The motion was passed.
(c) Variable cover - details
A P Smith proposed and P D Niblett seconded:
"That Decision (D) B. be amended to read:
'Peals of Minimus shall be rung on tower bells only.
Peals of Minimus, Doubles, Minor and Triples shall be rung on four, five, six and seven bells respectively, or on five, six, seven and eight bells with the tenor as cover, and shall consist of at least 5040 changes rung in any combination of the following, each starting from rounds:
(a) Extents, in which each of the possible rows at that stage occurs once and only once.
(b) Round blocks of two or more extents in which each of the possible rows at that stage occurs the same number of times.
Peals of Major, Caters, Royal, etc. shall be rung on eight, nine, ten, etc. bells respectively, or on nine, ten, eleven, etc. bells with the tenor as cover, and shall consist of at least 5000 true changes.
Peals of "Variable Cover Minimus", "Variable Cover Doubles" and "Variable Cover Minor" shall be rung on five, six and seven bells respectively and shall consist of at least 5040 changes rung in any combination of the following each starting from rounds:
(a) Variable cover extents, in which each of the possible rows, treated as being at the next higher stage, occurs once and only once.
(b) Round blocks of two or more variable cover extents in which each of the possible rows, treated as being at the next higher stage, occurs the same number of times.
(c) Extents or round blocks with the tenor as cover as permitted in 2 above.
Peals of "Variable Cover Triples", "Variable Cover Major", "Variable Cover Caters", etc. shall be rung on eight, nine, ten, etc. bells respectively, with a cover bell which is not always the tenor, and shall consist of at least 5000 true changes. The truth is determined by treating all the rows as being at the next higher stage.
Peals of "Minimus and Doubles", "Doubles and Minor" and "Minor and Triples" shall be rung on five, six and seven bells respectively and shall consist of at least 5040 changes rung in any combination of the following each starting from rounds:
(a) Extents or round blocks at the lower stage as permitted in 4 above.
(b) Extents or round blocks at the higher stage as permitted in 2 above.
(c) Mixed stage extents, with a cover bell when ringing the lower stage, in which each of the rows possible at the higher stage occurs once and only once.
(d) Round blocks of two or more mixed stage extents, with a cover bell when ringing the lower stage, in which each of the rows possible at the higher stage occurs the same number of times.
The peal is described as "Variable Cover Minimus and Doubles", "Variable Cover Doubles and Minor" and "Variable Cover Minor and Triples" respectively if the cover when ringing the lower stage is not always the same bell.
Peals of "Triples and Major", "Major and Caters", "Caters and Royal", etc. shall be rung on eight, nine, ten, etc. bells respectively, with a cover bell when ringing the lower stage, and shall consist of at least 5000 true changes. The truth is determined by treating all the rows as being at the higher stage. The peal is described as "Variable Cover Triples and Major", "Variable Cover Major and Caters", "Variable Cover Caters and Royal", etc. if the cover when ringing the lower stage is not always the same bell.
Reports of variable cover peals shall state the number of different cover bells and the number of changes of cover bell.'
That Decision (D) C.2 be amended to read:
'Peals consisting of extents and/or round blocks shall only be called Spliced if each extent or round block is spliced.'
That the last sentence of Decision (D) C.4 be amended to read:
'In peals consisting of extents and/or round blocks the methods rung in each extent and/or round block shall be listed separately.'
That Decision (D) D. be amended by the addition of the following sentence at the end of the first paragraph:
'Variable cover records shall be kept separately.'"
The motion was passed.
(d) A Central Council Bell Fund
Mrs K Flavell proposed and R J Cooles seconded:
"That the Council - (i) Receives the report of the Bell Restoration Funds Committee (BRFC) concerning the question of a designated fund for bell restoration within the Council's accounts;
(ii) Approves the proposals contained therein for the development and expansion of the fund;
(iii) Approves the proposed application of funds by way of either (a) loans to bell restoration funds of affiliated societies, or (b) grants to specific bell projects by way of augmentation of grants by affiliated societies in accordance with the BRFC criteria; and
(iv) Requests the Officers of the Council, the Administrative Committee and the BRFC to settle procedures to carry the terms of this motion into effect."
Parts (i), (ii) and (iv) of the motion were passed. Part (iii) was referred back to enable the Bell Restoration Funds Committee to define more clearly the criteria for the allocation of money from the fund, on the proposition of C J Groome, seconded by W J Couperthwaite. A proposal by C J Groome, seconded by A H Smith, for the reference back to the Bell Restoration Funds Committee of Part (ii) of the motion was lost.
Mr S J Coleman was proposed by Mrs S Bianco and seconded by the Hon Secretary. Mr A G Smith was proposed by Mrs M E Frost and seconded by Revd J C Baldwin. Both were elected.
13. Committee reports
(The reports were published in The Ringing World issues of 4, 11, and 18 and 25 April 1997. The relevant page numbers are given against each report.)
(a) Administrative (p.403)
Adopted on the proposition of the Hon Secretary, seconded by M J Church.
The following proposal by A R Kench, seconded by A J Phillips, was initially carried: "(1) That the immediate target of the Ring in 2000 project be modified to be that, as far as practicable, the bells of every church be rung at some time on 1st January 2000; and (2) that the project be refocused to provide support to member guilds as required and to channel church and media communication primarily via member guilds and local bands."
Subsequently, it was proposed by G A Halls, seconded by R N Moreton and agreed that part (1) of the motion should be reconsidered. D C Manger proposed, A B Mills seconded and it was agreed "That the immediate target of the Ring in 2000 project is for all bells to be rung for the midday service on 1st January 2000; where this is not practicable, they should be rung at other times on that day."
Mrs J M Rogers was elected to fill a vacancy on the Committee.
(b) Publications (pp.404-5)
Adopted on the proposition of W J Couperthwaite, seconded by D J Jones.
(c) Records (pp.432-3)
Adopted on the proposition of D E Sibson, seconded by J R Mayne.
(d) Redundant Bells (p.350)
Adopted on the proposition of G W Massey, seconded by Preb J G M Scott.
(e) Ringing Centres (p.349)
Adopted on the proposition of P W Gay, seconded by A W R Wilby.
R G Booth was elected to fill a vacancy on the Committee.
(f) Towers and Belfries (p.349)
Adopted on the proposition of A Dempster, seconded by G A Dawson.
(g) Bell Restoration Funds (p.347)
Adopted on the proposition of J S Barnes, seconded by I H Oram.
(h) Biographies (pp.405-6)
Adopted on the proposition of D J Roberts, seconded by B D Threlfall.
(i) Computer Coordination (pp.403-4)
Adopted on the proposition of A G Craddock, seconded by C E J Kilgour.
J R Martin was elected to fill a vacancy on the Committee.
(j) Education (p.349)
Adopted on the proposition of M J de C Henshaw, seconded by R R Warford.
A G Semken was elected to fill a vacancy on the Committee.
(k) Library (p.350)
Adopted on the proposition of Miss J Sanderson, seconded by J C Eisel.
(l) Methods (p.350)
Adopted on the proposition of A P Smith, seconded by P D Niblett.
(m) Peal Compositions (p.433)
Adopted on the proposition of R Bailey, seconded by D F Morrison, subject to the addition of the word "surprise" after "spliced" in line 9 of the second paragraph.
(n) Peals Analysis (pp.373-5)
Adopted on the proposition of J D Cheesman, seconded by J R Martin. Recommendations 1 and 2 on peals not complying with the Decisions on Peal Ringing were agreed.
It was proposed by R E H Woolley, seconded by F J P Bone and agreed that variable cover peals, peals in odd-bell methods without a cover bell (except Doubles) and peals in even-bell methods with a cover bell should each be recorded and reported separately.
A proposal by A W R Wilby, seconded by S C Walters, that a peal of variable cover Stedman Cinques rung at St Mary-le-Bow, London, on 29th May 1995 should now be accepted was lost.
(o) Public Relations (pp.347-8)
Adopted on the proposition of J A Anderson, seconded by A Udal.
D G Thorne and Miss C O'Callaghan were elected to fill two vacancies on the Committee.
14. Report of the Stewards of the Carter Ringing Machine:
(RW 4 April 1997, p.348)
Adopted on the proposition of A E Bagworth, seconded by J A Anderson.
15. Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour:
(RW 18 April 1997, p.406)
Adopted on the proposition of A J Phillips, seconded by A R Kench.
16. Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells:
(RW 18 April 1997, p.404)
The report and accounts were adopted on the proposition of R J Cooles, seconded by M H D O'Callaghan.
It was proposed by R J Cooles, seconded by Preb J G M Scott and agreed that in line 5 of Rule 7 of the Rules of the Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells "audited by the Honorary Auditors of the Central Council" be replaced by "examined by the independent examiners of the Central Council."
Invitations previously reported, from the Suffolk Guild and the Lancashire Association for the Council to meet in their areas in 2000 and 2001 respectively were accepted.
(i) A request by Preb J G M Scott that members' Christian names should be given in committee reports was noted.
(ii) A request by J A Smith that proposals by the Australia and New Zealand Association to institute an international striking competition should be referred to the Administrative Committee was agreed.
On behalf of the Council the President warmly thanked the officers and members of the Ely Diocesan Guild and all others who had contributed to the success of the meeting.
| Members | |||
| Societies | Present | Absent | |
| Wholly represented | 50 | 137 | - |
| Partly represented | 16 | 40 | 21 |
| Not represented | 2 | - | 2 |
| 68 | 177 | 23 | |
| Life members | 7 | 1 | |
| Honorary members | 21 | 2 | |
| 205 | 26 | ||
The Ringing World, February 20, 1998, pages 183 to 184, correction July 31, 1998, page 749