Life Members: Revd J. C. Baldwin, Miss D. E. Colgate, H. W. Egglestone, C. K. Lewis, W. F. Moreton, Preb J. G. M. Scott, D. G. Thorne.
Honorary Members: A. E. M. 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, E. G. H. Godfrey, M. H. D. O’Callaghan, Miss J. Roberts, R. B. Smith, Miss T. R. Stoecklin, Mrs P. M. Wilkinson.
Ancient Society of College Youths: B. P. Diserens*, A. J. Frost, A. N. Stubbs, A. W. R. Wilby.
Australian and New Zealand Assn: L. R. Reynolds*, Ms E. Roberts (alt. member), J. A. Smith.
Bath and Wells Dio. Assn: D. J. Buckley, Mrs C. A. Hardwick, M. R. T. Higby*, G. W. Massey, J. R. Taylor.
Bedfordshire Assn: P. J. S. Albon, K. Lewin, Mrs W. Piercy*.
Beverley and District Society: M. J. de C. Henshaw, D. H. Watson.
Cambridge Univ. Guild: C. E. J. Kilgour, S. C. Walters.
Carlisle Dio. Guild: J. J. Proudfoot*, Miss R. M. Rodway.
Chester Dio. Guild: P. Dyson, C. Mitchell, N. Thomson, P. Wilkinson*.
Coventry Dio. Guild: M. Chester*, M. J. Dew, H. M. Windsor, Mrs B. A. Winter.
Derby Dio. Assn: Miss J. E. Boden, J. A. Cater*, G. A. Halls, Mrs P. A. M. Halls.
Devon Assn: M. C. Way.
Devonshire Guild: L. E. Boyce*, F. D. Mack, G. E. Mudge, D. J. Roberts.
Dorset County Assn: D. R. Bugler, Mrs M. E. Frost, A. G. Smith.
Durham and Newcastle Dio. Assn: J. N. Parkin*, R. R. Warford, Mrs B. M. Wheeler.
Durham Univ. Society: Revd P. Newing.
East Derbys. and West Notts. Assn: A. Dempster.
East Grinstead and District Guild: R. A. Grant.
Ely Dio. Assn: G. E. Bonham, M. B. Davies, P. R. Meyer*, Miss J. Sanderson.
Essex Assn: J. Armstrong, F. J. P. Bone, Mrs J. A. Edwards*, A. G. Semken, D. L. Sparling.
Gloucester and Bristol Dio. Assn: G. S. Groves, I. P. Hill, M. J. Mulvey, Prof A. Newing*, D. A. Strong.
Guildford Dio. Guild: W. J. Couperthwaite, J. Morgan, C. H. Rogers, R. J. Walker.
Hereford Dio. Guild: D. R. Carter, A. G. Foster*, 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: P. R. J. Barnes*, N. J. Davies, Mrs C. M. Lewis*, F. W. Lewis, D. C. Manger.
Ladies Guild: Miss F. Cannon, Mrs J. Kelly*.
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: Mrs C. N. J. Franklin, J. R. Thompson, B. G. Warwick, Mrs W. M. Warwick.
Lichfield and Walsall Archd. Society: D. B. Clive*, Mrs E. Hutchieson*, 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 and Monmouth Dio. Assn: P. S. Bennett, Revd J. M. Hughes, J. C. Parker.
London County Assn: G. S. Barr, R. G. Booth, E. G. Mould, H. W. Rogers.
Manchester Univ. Guild: S. D. Woof*.
Middlesex County Assn. and London Dio. Guild: R. Bailey, F. T. Blagrove, G. E. J. A. Doughty, A. R. Udal.
National Police Guild: B. F. Peachey.
North American Guild: A. F. Ellis*, D. F. Morrison, P. A. Trotman.
North Staffordshire Assn: R. H. Daw*, Mrs W. Daw, P. W. Gay.
North Wales Assn: D. L. C. Hyde, D. R. Marshall.
Norwich Dio. Assn: G. R. Drew*, Mrs G. M. Hodgkinson, M. H. Hodgkinson*, D. F. Riley.
Oxford Dio. Guild: W. Butler, K. R. Davenport, J. A. Harrison, Mrs P. M. Newton, T. G. Pett, M. K. Till*.
Oxford Society: B. J. Stone.
Oxford Univ. Society: P. D. Niblett.
Peterborough Dio. Guild: T. J. T. Evans*, D. J. Jones, Mrs E. J. Sibson.
St David’s Dio. Guild: R. C. Warburton.
St Martin’s Guild: J. A. Anderson.
Salisbury Dio. Guild: A. J. Howes, Mrs J. Howes, A. C. D. Lovell-Wood, A. P. Nicholson, Miss S. E. Smith*.
Scottish Assn: N. E. Booth, P. J. Shipton.
Shropshire Assn: A. W. Gordon*, 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: Ms M. Stephens*.
South African Guild: Mrs J. M. 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: Mrs K. A. Cameron*, J. D. Cheesman, C. Ridley, R. J. Wallis.
Sussex County Assn: A. R. Baldock, R. T. Clay, H. F. Pettifer, Mrs L. G. Pink*, I. V. J. Smith.
Swansea and Brecon Dio. Guild: P. C. Johnson, Mrs H. J. Rose.
Transvaal Society: J. Hill.
Truro Dio. Guild: D. J. Couch, N. R. Mattingley, Mrs H. L. Perry, R. J. Perry, D. R. Pope.
Univ. Bristol Society: Miss C. O’Callaghan, R. M. Wood*.
Univ. London Society: M. C. Bennett*.
Veronese Assn: P. Avesani, J. D. Gallimore, R. G. T. Morris, Mrs A. Thomson*.
Winchester and Portsmouth Dio. Guild: Mrs G. Cater, A. G. Craddock, A. P. Smith, P. A. G. Watts*, M. J. Winterbourne*.
Worcestershire and Districts Assn: S. W. Holbeche*, A. Roberts, R. F. B. Speed.
Yorkshire Assn: Miss L. M. Bland, N. Donovan, C. B. Dove*, R. N. Moreton, Mrs D. M. Rhymer.
Zimbabwe Guild: Mrs V. Grossmith (alt. member).
The Chair was taken by the President, Mrs P. M. Wilkinson.
The Revd Prebendary J. G. M. Scott led the Council in prayer.
The Hon. Secretary, Mr C. H. Rogers, reported that 67 societies were affiliated to the Council with 204 representatives. There were nine Life Members and 16 Honorary Members. All subscriptions had been received.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr E. A. Barnett and Mr C. A. Wratten (Life Members), the Hon. Justice D. J. Bleby (Australian and New Zealand Assn.), Mrs E. Barry and Ms J. Thompson (Irish A.), Mrs A. R. Caton (Ladies G.), Mr C. M. Povey (Worcestershire and D.A.) and Miss A. M. Phillips (Zimbabwe G.).
Alternate members were present from the Australian and New Zealand Association and the Zimbabwe Guild.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th May 1998, as published in The Ringing World of 31st July 1998 (pp.749-753), were approved, subject to the replacement in line 3 of item 13(n) of “Saint George’s Day S. Major” by “St George’s S. Major”.
The President welcomed new members of the Council (indicated by * in the list of those present).
Members stood in silence as the Hon. Secretary read the names of members and former members of the Council who had died since the last meeting: Mr V. Bottomley (Yorkshire A. 1960-66, Life Member 1966-71); Mr C. W. Lawton (Chester D.G. 1968); Mrs G. E. Barker (Oxford D.G. 1948-59 and 1961-65); Mr R. W. D. Wetenhall (Cumberland and North Westmorland A. and Carlisle D.G. 1969-76); Mrs K. Wright (Oxford U.S. 1954-56); Mr T. Lewis (Scottish A. 1975-77); Mr A. Capstick (Lancashire A. 1966-68); Mr J. J. P. Ellams (Hereford D.G. 1990 until his death); and Mr H. Lawrenson (Oxford D.G. 1978-83). The Revd J. M. Hughes said a prayer.
Eight Honorary Members would complete their three-year term at the end of the meeting, of whom three (Messrs A. J. Frost, D. J. Roberts and J. R. Taylor) had become representative members. The other five and two others were individually proposed, seconded and elected, as follows: Dr D. W. Beard, a member of the Records Committee; Mr M. J. Church, financial director of The Ringing World Ltd and a member of the Administrative Committee; Dr J. C. Eisel, the Library Steward; Dr L. F. Forbes, project coordinator for “Ringing in the Millennium”; Mr E. G. H. Godfrey, the Council’s Honorary Treasurer; Mr D. J. Kelly, a member of the Committee for Redundant Bells; and Mr J. R. Martin, a member of the Peals Analysis Committee. Six vacancies for honorary members remained unfilled.
The President announced that the Worshipful Company of Founders had decided to make a grant of £50,000 from their Millennium Fund towards the training of ringers. The grant would be put towards the development of ringing centres and The Ringing Centres Committee would be making detailed proposals for its use.
President - Mr J. A. Anderson, who had been proposed by Mr R. J. Cooles and seconded by Mr W. F. Moreton, was the only nominee. The President declared him elected.
Having thanked the Officers, committee chairmen and members for their support and cooperation throughout her period in office, the outgoing President (Mrs P. M. Wilkinson) vacated the Chair.
The incoming President (Mr J. A. Anderson) thereupon assumed the Chair. Having expressed thanks to Mrs Wilkinson for all her hard work for the Council during her term of office, he presented her with a bouquet. He then expressed thanks to members for his election.
12. Election of Officers for 1999-2002
(continued)
Vice-President - Dr M. J. de C. Henshaw was proposed by Mr P. W. Gay and seconded by Mr R. R. Warford. In so doing they spoke of his work for the Education Committee, his service to his local church and to the Beverley and District Society and his time management skills.
Mr D. E. Sibson was proposed by Mr J. R. Mayne and seconded by Miss S. J. Pattenden, who spoke of his service on the Records and Administrative Committees and to the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, his work for bell restoration in London and Northamptonshire and his management skills.
Voting was by ballot, and Dr Henshaw subsequently declared elected.
Hon. Secretary - Mr C. H. Rogers, who had been proposed by Mr W. J. Couperthwaite and seconded by Dr M. Pidd, was the only nominee. The President declared him elected.
Hon. Treasurer - Mr E. G. H. Godfrey, who had been proposed by Mr J. D. Cheesman and seconded by Mr C. Ridley, was the only nominee. The President declared him elected.
For each post there was only one nominee and the President declared them elected as follows:
Library - Dr J. C. Eisel, proposed by Miss J. Sanderson and seconded by Mr F. J. P. Bone.
Carter Ringing Machine - Mr J. A. Anderson and Mr A. E. M. Bagworth, both proposed by Mr A. N. Stubbs and seconded by Mr R. G. T. Morris.
Rolls of Honour - Mr A. N. Stubbs, proposed by Mr A. W. R. Wilby and seconded by Mr M. J. Church.
Mr S. J. Coleman was proposed by Mrs S. Bianco and seconded by Mrs C. M. Lewis. Mr A. G. Smith was proposed by Mrs M. E. Frost and seconded by Dr D. R. Bugler. There being no other nominations, the President declared them elected.
15. Annual Report of the Council
(RW 7th May 1999, pp.435 and 438)
Adoption of the report was proposed by the Hon. Secretary, who informed members of minor amendments to the Appendix relating to the Membership of the Council and also to the list of members which had been circulated. The report was seconded by Mr D. G. Thorne and its adoption was agreed.
16. Accounts for 1998
(RW 7th May 1999, pp.436-7)
In presenting the Accounts, the Hon. Treasurer drew attention to a policy change relating to the balance sheet figure for the Library Collection. Previously a nominal value of £10 had been shown, but following a professional valuation during the year a replacement value of £54,000, less £41 depreciation was now given in the balance sheet. The Hon. Treasurer referred also to a surplus of income over expenditure for the year amounting to £10,626, due largely to the good rate of interest applying in 1998, buoyant publications sales and lower expenditure by committees. He directed members’ attention to the Independent Examiners’ report and thanked them for their work.
After Mr H. W. Rogers had seconded adoption of the Accounts, questions were asked by Messrs A. C. D. Lovell-Wood, J. Armstrong and J. A. Smith about the valuation of the Library and by Mr Smith about the assets of the Millennium Grants Company. The Hon. Treasurer explained that the latter were nil, because the Company received money from the Millennium Commission as claimed and immediately paid it out to the individual projects. Mr C. Ridley, a member of the Library Committee, then answered questions about the valuation: because books and papers deteriorate over time with use, depreciation would be spread over 50 years; however, because the value of some books increases and some are irreplaceable, the Library would be revalued at appropriate intervals; the recent valuation was undertaken at no cost to the Council. Adoption of the Accounts was then agreed.
At this point the Hon. Treasurer announced that the late Mr F. E. Dukes had bequeathed to the Council his Irish National Savings Bonds, valued at about £7,500, for the maintenance of the Library, and his Irish National Savings Certificates, valued at about £75,000, for establishing an international overseas bell fund.
Mr A. P. Smith proposed and Mr F. T. Blagrove seconded on behalf of the Methods Committee:
“That the Council’s Decisions be amended to recognise ‘Differential’ methods; specifically that Decision (E) A. 1 be amended to read:
‘A change is the progress from one row (permutation) to the next, effected by the interchange of bells in adjacent positions in the row.
A method is defined by the places made between successive rows of its plain course, which shall be a true round block, divisible into equal parts which are called leads.
Bells which are in the same position at the beginning of each lead are known as hunt bells. Bells which are not in the same position at the beginning of each lead are known as working bells. There shall be more working bells than hunt bells.
(a) In methods with hunt bells, all the working bells do the same work in the plain course, the number of leads being the same as the number of working bells.
(b) Methods with no hunt bells are known as principles if all the working bells do the same work in the plain course, the number of leads being the same as the number of bells.
(c) Methods with no hunt bells are known as differentials if all the working bells do not do the same work in the plain course and the number of leads is the product of the numbers of bells doing each different work.
In a plain course no bell shall make more than four consecutive blows in the same position, this requirement not applying to Minimus methods.’
That the words ‘or division’ be deleted from the end of the first sentence of Decision (E) A.2.
That Decision (E) D.2 be amended to read:
‘(a) The title of a method with hunt bells shall consist of Name, Class(es) and Stage, with the exception of Grandsire, Union and their related methods.
(b) The title of a principle shall consist of Name and Stage.
(c) The title of a differential shall consist of Name, “Differential” and Stage.
(d) Where a principle or differential has a distinct reverse, both methods shall have the same name, one with the prefix “Reverse” in the title.’
That Decision (E) D.3 be deleted, Decisions (E) D.4 and (E) D.5 be renumbered to (E) D.3 and (E) D.4 respectively and that the reference to ‘D.4’ be amended to ‘D.3’ in the latter Decision.
That the word ‘division’ be amended to ‘lead’ in Decision (G) C.1 (a).”
In proposing the motion, Mr Smith spoke of the history of differential methods and said that, while those with two groups of bells doing different work could be accepted under the existing Decisions, those with three such groups (as in Differential Maximus) could not. It was therefore proposed that differential methods should be separately recognised. After Mr Blagrove had seconded the motion, it was put to the vote and agreed without debate.
Mr R. J. Cooles proposed and Mr G. A. Halls seconded:
“That the first sentence of Rule 14(v) be amended by the addition of the words ‘(who shall not serve more than six years consecutively at any one time)’ to read ‘Each committee shall appoint a chairman (who shall not serve more than six years consecutively at any one time) and shall report annually to the Council’.”
In proposing the motion, Mr Cooles said that it arose from correspondence in The Ringing World. Most of the Council’s work was done through its committees who were led by their chairmen. The pace of change was for ever increasing and fresh initiatives and ideas were needed. The expertise of the existing chairmen need not be lost, as they could continue to serve on their committees, perhaps as secretary or treasurer. Mr Halls expressed some diffidence in seconding the motion, but was concerned that some committees tended to be self-perpetuating and that it was not always easy for new members of the Council to be elected to committees.
Most speakers expressed doubts or concerns about the motion. Mr D. J. Jones said that on small committees the members each took on a particular task, one of which was to chair the committee. Enforced changes of chairmen would not necessarily benefit committees. Mr J. S. Barnes, a long-standing committee chairman, said that he would quite happily serve under other chairmen, but pointed out that the time members could give to committee work was often limited by the pressures of their professional work and that committee chairmen were by no means the only source of new ideas and initiatives. The proposal would be better made as a suggestion than as a rule change.
Mr S. C. Walters thought that, if the motion were passed, there was a risk of losing good committee chairmen; and Dr B. F. Peachey considered it unrealistic for the Council to tell committees who they could not elect as their chairmen.
Mr J. A. Harrison then proposed as an amendment the insertion of the word “normally” before “serve” in line 3 of the motion. Mrs K. Flavell seconded, but after a brief debate the amendment was narrowly lost. Mr P. S. Bennett sought to propose that, if the motion were passed, it should not take effect until 2000. Mr J. C. Parker seconded, but the President ruled the proposal out of order.
After further speeches against the motion from Messrs R. Bailey and D. G. Thorne, the motion was put to the vote and lost.
Mr R. J. Cooles proposed and Mr G. A. Halls seconded:
“That the Council requests the Administrative Committee to examine the workings of the Council and in particular -
(i) The present committee structure;
(ii) The Council’s means of ensuring that its committees are achieving the Council’s objectives; and
(iii) Whether standing orders would be useful and, if so, to prepare draft orders and to report to the next Council meeting with recommendations.”
In proposing the motion Mr Cooles said that this motion also stemmed from correspondence in The Ringing World. He was not himself in favour of the introduction of standing orders, but the matter needed to be considered. In seconding, Mr Halls said that the purpose of the motion was to take a good look at committees’ activities and whether they could be done better. This applied particularly to bell restoration, where there was a need to coordinate the activities of the various committees involved.
Mr D. J. Jones proposed that the motion should be amended by the addition to point (i) of the words “including the methods of electing committees and their chairman”. Mr F. J. P. Bone seconded, and the amendment was put to the vote and carried.
Mr E. G. Mould said that he supported the general intention of the motion, but it seemed that the Administrative Committee was in effect being asked to examine itself. He suggested that the Council itself should appoint a sub-committee of six members and the President to examine the Council’s workings. The Revd J. C. Baldwin thought that it was unrealistic to expect the Administrative Committee to report back to the next Council meeting, as it would need to appoint a working group to consider the matter in detail and report back to the Committee.
Ms E. Roberts proposed as a second amendment a change to the layout of the motion so that the words “and to report to the next Council meeting with recommendations” should apply to the whole motion. Mr A. J. Frost seconded and the amendment was carried.
After further discussion a third amendment was proposed by Professor A. Newing and seconded by Mr A. W. R. Wilby that all words from “and in particular” to “draft orders” should be deleted. Mr R. Bailey expressed strong opposition to both the amendment and the motion. The Administrative Committee would, he thought, spend a long time examining the whole workings of the Council and produce a lengthy report, which would conclude that all is well and nothing much needs to be changed.
The third amendment was thereupon put to the vote and lost, and the substantive motion as earlier amended was also put to the vote and lost.
Mrs P. M. Wilkinson proposed and Miss S. J. Pattenden seconded:
“That, from the end of the 1999 Council meeting, Rule 11(i) be amended by deleting, in lines 9 to 12:
‘The President shall retire from the chair immediately a successor in office is elected, but the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall continue in office until the business of the meeting is concluded.’
and inserting:
‘The retiring officers shall continue in office until the business of the meeting is concluded.’”
In proposing the motion Mrs Wilkinson said that she was convinced that the Council was not best served by the change of chairman in the middle of the first meeting of the triennium, which was always the most difficult of the three. It would be far better for that meeting to be the last of a president’s three meetings in the chair, and for the handover to the new president to take place at the end of the meeting. Particular difficulties would arise if there were a contested election for president. Miss Pattenden considered the present arrangements to be untidy and inconsistent, and somewhat discourteous to the outgoing president.
The motion was then put to the vote and carried without debate.
18. Report of the Administrative Committee
(RW 7th May 1999, p.435)
Adoption of the report was proposed by the Hon. Secretary, who expressed thanks to the Revd J. C. Baldwin for setting up the Council’s website, and seconded by Mr M. J. Church. Mr R. Bailey expressed concern that the website had been set up without consulting either the Computer Coordination Committee or the Public Relations Committee.
On Ring in 2000, Mrs P. M. Newton asked about certificates for millennium ringing and whether any direction had been received as to the form of service to be held at 12 noon on 1st January 2000. Mrs P. M. Wilkinson replied that the certificate would be available on disk and that the form of service had been prepared but was embargoed until 1st July 1999. She had written to all the lay chairmen of deanery synods on the subject, but it was now apparent that not all bishops were actively promoting the holding of a service on 1st January. The advice to ringers was that they should ring at noon that day whether or not a service was being held.
On the proposed National Bell Register, Mr P. Dyson said that a survey had been carried out in Cheshire and that the question of copyright needed to be considered. The President replied that copyright issues had been discussed at the recent conference on the proposed Register.
Referring to the meetings held with English Heritage and the Council for the Care of Churches, Mr G. A. Halls said that they had had little effect. Difficulties were still being experienced with these bodies.
On Ringing in the Millennium, Mrs S. Bianco and the Hon. Treasurer said that 144 projects were being funded, of which 100 had been completed. Of the £3 million grant from the Millennium Commission, £1,995,112 had so far been distributed to 128 projects. There was a reserve list of 8 projects to be funded if approved grants were not taken up in full. Efforts to find alternative funding for the 100 projects whose grant applications had been unsuccessful had not so far borne fruit, but some of these were going ahead with funds from other sources. After some discussion, Mr H. W. Rogers expressed the Council’s thanks to the project team for what had been a fantastic project.
On the proposal for a new Survey of Ringing, Professor M. B. Davies suggested that it should take place sooner than envisaged and should particularly record local band activity at towers in receipt of Millennium Commission funding.
Adoption of the report was then agreed.
At this point the Council adjourned for lunch and the annual meeting of The Ringing World Ltd. The meeting resumed at 2.55pm.
19. Committee reports and appointments
(The reports were published in The Ringing World issues of 9th and 30th April and 21st May 1999. The relevant page numbers are given against each report.)
In proposing adoption of the report, Dr D. J. Roberts referred to three former members of the Council who had died since the report was prepared, and to three members present who had attended over 50 meetings (Mr W. F. Moreton, Mr H. W. Rogers and Mr C. K. Lewis). He said he would not be seeking re-election as Chairman. Mrs P. A. M. Halls seconded the report and paid tribute to Dr Roberts for his work for the Committee. Adoption of the report was then agreed.
The following five members were proposed, seconded and elected to fill the five places on the Committee: Mrs J. A. Edwards, Dr G. S. Groves, Mrs P. A. M. Halls, Prof A. Newing and Mr B. D. Threlfall.
(b) Computer Coordination (p.339)
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr P. A. Trotman, seconded by Mr F. J. P. Bone and agreed. The following six members were proposed, seconded and elected to fill the six places on the Committee: Messrs F. J. P. Bone, M. Chester, A. G. Craddock, D. F. Morrison, J. C. Parker and P. A. Trotman.
In proposing adoption of the report, Dr M. J. de C. Henshaw said that the Committee had been invited to provide a monthly education page in The Ringing World. The first such page would appear the following week under the title “The Learning Curve”. Two Committee publications would soon be available: Organising an outing and Service touches; and over the next year the Committee would take forward the proposal for an Instructors’ Guild. Mr F. W. Lewis seconded and paid tribute to Dr Henshaw’s chairmanship of the Committee over the last five years.
Referring to the previous day’s Open Meeting, Mr S. J. Coleman said that he supported the concept of a Guild of Instructors but was concerned about certification. If introduced, churches and insurance companies might insist that ringing was only taught by certificated instructors and, where none were available, ringing would cease. It was notable that the number of ringers was increasing despite the continuing decline in church membership, and nothing should be done to reverse that increase. Mr Coleman therefore proposed that “The Council asks the Education Committee not to pursue the question of certification of instructors until the Central Council Instructors’ Guild is fully established nationally and is working well.” Mr R. B. Smith seconded, and the motion was put to the vote and carried.
Adoption of the Committee’s report was agreed. Fifteen candidates were proposed and seconded to fill the 12 places on the Committee. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Mrs G. Cater, Mrs C. M. Lewis and Messrs F. J. P. Bone, N. Donovan, J. A. Harrison, M. J. de C. Henshaw, F. W. Lewis, R. N. Moreton, M. J. Mulvey, D. G. Salter, A. G. Semken and R. R. Warford. The unsuccessful candidates were Messrs D. R. Carter, J. N. Parkin and M. J. Winterbourne.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Miss J. Sanderson, seconded by Dr J. C. Eisel and agreed. Five candidates were proposed and seconded to fill four places on the Committee (the fifth place being held by the Library Steward ex officio). After a ballot, Miss J. Sanderson and Messrs W. Butler, L. R. Reynolds and C. Ridley were declared elected. Mr G. S. Barr was the unsuccessful candidate.
In proposing the adoption of the report, Mr A. P. Smith said that two publications referred to in the report were now available: the Collection of Plain Minor Methods and the Collection of Rung Surprise, Delight, Treble Bob and Alliance methods to end of 1998. He added that the research on method extension was now under way. Mr P. D. Niblett seconded, and adoption of the report was agreed.
Seven candidates were proposed and seconded to fill the six places on the Committee. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Messrs R. Bailey, F. T. Blagrove, C. K. Lewis, J. Morgan, P. D. Niblett and A. P. Smith. Mr A. F. Alldrick was the unsuccessful candidate.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr R. Bailey, seconded by Mr D. F. Morrison and agreed. Six candidates were proposed and seconded to fill the five places on the Committee. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Messrs R. Bailey, M. C. Bennett, J. Morgan, D. F. Morrison and S. D. Pettman. Mr J. R. Thompson was the unsuccessful candidate.
In proposing the adoption of the report, Mr J. D. Cheesman referred to the number of late peals appearing in The Ringing World and asked conductors to submit them earlier. Mr R. J. Perry seconded. Mr J. R. Martin said that the next stage of the Felstead Project would be to complete the addition to the database of peals rung before The Bell News started, to remove inaccuracies and to insert post-1990 peals in the same format as the rest. Adoption of the report was then agreed.
Eight candidates were proposed and seconded to fill the seven places on the Committee. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Messrs P. R. J. Barnes, J. D. Cheesman, J. R. Martin, R. J. Perry, T. G. Pett and D. R. Pettifor and the Revd L. R. Pizzey. Mr D. G. Salter was the unsuccessful candidate.
(h) Public Relations (pp.344-5)
In proposing the adoption of the report, Mr D. G. Thorne expressed thanks to all those who had helped to make The Ringing World Roadshow such a success, especially Messrs R. G. T. Morris and A. W. R. Wilby. Mr H. W. Rogers seconded and mentioned that the post of overseas liaison officer, so ably filled by the late Mr F. E. Dukes, had first been proposed at the Lincoln Council meeting in 1975. He referred to the display boards which had been placed in the north transept of the Cathedral and asked members to let him know if they knew of any second-hand Marler Hayley frames which might be available. The Committee would also wish to be informed of any ringing videos in circulation.
On the subject of complaints about bells, Preb J. G. M. Scott referred to a leaflet “Church Bells and the Law”, produced by Mr J. R. Taylor for the Diocese of Bristol, and to a housing development at Thurlestone, Devon, where purchasers were being asked to sign an undertaking not to complain about the bells.
Adoption of the report was agreed. 12 candidates were proposed and seconded for the 10 places on the Committee. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Mrs S. Bianco, Mrs W. Daw, Miss C. O’Callaghan, Miss T. R. Stoecklin, Mrs P. M. Wilkinson and Messrs N. J. Davies, R. G. T. Morris, H. W. Rogers, D. G. Thorne and A. R. Udal. Mrs J. A. Edwards and Mr F. W. Lewis were the unsuccessful candidates.
Introducing the report, Mr W. J. Couperthwaite amended it by the deletion from the third paragraph of the words “and on the three volumes of Change Ringing History before Christmas”. Sales of The Tower Handbook had been excellent and had contributed to the healthy financial position. The following publications had become available during 1999: Collections of Rung Surprise, Delight, Treble Bob and Alliance Methods to end of 1998 (paper version); Collection of Plain Minor Methods; Collection of Compositions of Stedman Triples and Erin Triples; and Sound Management. In addition, the Committee was now selling the Code of Practice for the Conservation and Repair of Bells and Bellframes, which was published by the Council for the Care of Churches. Mr Couperthwaite thereupon proposed the adoption of the report as amended, which was seconded by Mr D. J. Jones and agreed.
The following five members were proposed, seconded and elected to fill the five places on the Committee: Miss J. Sanderson, Mrs B. M. Wheeler, and Messrs W. J. Couperthwaite, D. J. Jones and R. J. Wallis.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr D. E. Sibson, who asked that the best wishes of the Council should be sent to Mr and Mrs C. A. Wratten, seconded by Dr D. W. Beard and agreed. The following five members were proposed, seconded and elected to fill the five places on the Committee: Miss S. J. Pattenden and Messrs D. W. Beard, F. T. Blagrove, J. R. Mayne and D. E. Sibson.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr G. W. Massey and seconded by Mr A. J. Frost. Mr G. A. Halls suggested that the Keltek Trust had taken over much of the Committee’s work and asked whether there was still a need for the latter. Mr Massey replied that the Committee welcomed the establishment of the Keltek Trust and hoped it would thrive. The work of the two was complementary. The Trust helped to save bells from the scrap heap, whereas the Committee’s work was more long term. It maintained close liaison with the national and diocesan statutory bodies and the planning authorities, and tried to help where there was little cooperation between ringing associations and dioceses. The Committee’s terms of reference were kept under review and the size of the committee was justified by the need to maintain contacts with the church authorities.
Adoption of the report was then agreed.
11 candidates were proposed and seconded for the 10 places on the Committee. After a ballot the following were declared elected: Mrs P. M. Wilkinson, the Revd J. C. Baldwin, Prebendary J. G. M. Scott and Messrs R. G. Booth, R. J. Cooles, A. J. Frost, D. J. Kelly, J. Kershaw, G. W. Massey and P. A. G. Watts. Mr M. H. D. O’Callaghan was the unsuccessful candidate.
In proposing adoption of the report, Mr P. W. Gay spoke of the Committee’s initial proposals to make use of the £50,000 grant from the Founders’ Company. With locally-raised matching funds, it would be used to support a national network of 24 ringing centres over a period of two to three years. Training would be provided for leaders of ringing centres, and applications from prospective ringing centres would be invited. Good financial control was needed and the Hon Treasurer had offered his help in this. In view of this development, Mr Gay proposed that six members, rather than five, should be elected to the Committee. A seventh member would be appointed by the Education Committee and co-opted.
Mr A. W. R. Wilby seconded the adoption of the report and the increase to six elected members.
Mr P. A. Trotman asked the Committee to think in terms of an international network of ringing centres, a remark endorsed by Dr M. J. Pomeroy and other representatives of overseas societies. Mr I. P. Hill said that the Committee should carefully consider the location of ringing centres. An existing centre in Bristol was much underused.
The Council agreed the adoption of the report and the election of six members to the Committee. Eight candidates were proposed and seconded to fill the six places. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Miss L. M. Bland, Miss S. J. Pattenden and Messrs R. G. Booth, A. J. Frost, P. W. Gay and A. W. R. Wilby. Mr J. F. I. Turney and Mr M. J. Winterbourne were the unsuccessful candidates.
(m) Towers and Belfries (p.413)
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr A. Dempster, who thanked all members of the Committee for their work for it over the past three years, seconded by Mr G. A. Dawson and agreed. Mr Dempster then proposed that there should be 14 places on the Committee (as originally proposed in 1996). Mr B. D. Threlfall seconded and this too was agreed. 16 candidates were proposed and seconded for the 14 places. After a ballot, the following were declared elected: Preb J. G. M. Scott and Messrs P. S. Bennett, R. G. Booth, G. A. Dawson, A. Dempster, T. J. T. Evans, A. J. Frost, F. D. Mack, H. F. Pettifer, C. M. Povey, B. J. Stone, J. R. Taylor, P. A. G. Watts and H. M. Windsor. Mr B. P. Diserens and Mr D. L. C. Hyde were the unsuccessful candidates.
(n) Bell Restoration Funds (pp.342-3)
In proposing the adoption of the report, Mr J. S. Barnes asked Council members to inform him if they learnt of any new sources of funding. He also said that the Committee would be contributing a regular column in The Ringing World on bell restoration funding matters, and that he understood that the threshold for Gift Aid might be lowered from £250 to £100. He expressed thanks to Mr A. R. Smith, who was not seeking re-election. Mr K. R. Davenport seconded and the adoption of the report was agreed. The following members were proposed, seconded and elected to fill the ten places on the Committee: Mrs K. A. Cameron, Mrs K. Flavell, Mrs C. A. Hardwick, Miss J. Roberts, Mrs B. A. Winter and Messrs J. S. Barnes, N. E. Booth, J. A. Cater, K. R. Davenport and I. H. Oram.
20. Report of the Stewards of the Carter Ringing Machine
(RW 30th April, p.411)
In proposing the adoption of the report. Mr A. E. M. Bagworth said that the machine had been taken to The Ringing World Roadshow and had worked well. In seconding, Mr J. A. Anderson said that the Birmingham Science Museum was now closed and was being rebuilt on a new site. It was doubtful whether the machine would be placed on display in future, but the possibilities were being explored. Adoption of the report was agreed.
21. Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour
(RW 30th April, p.411)
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr A. N. Stubbs, seconded by Mr A. W. R. Wilby and agreed.
22. Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells
(RW 7th May, p.438)
Adoption of the report and accounts (of which a revised version had been laid round the meeting room) was proposed by Mr R. J. Cooles, who said that the loans to Escrick and for the Dunecht House bells had been repaid and the latter would soon be dedicated at Haddington. It was expected that Council members would be asked to make further loans for the Fund’s continuing work. Mr M. H. D. O’Callaghan seconded and the adoption of the report and accounts was agreed.
At 5.50pm the President adjourned the meeting to allow the newly appointed committees to elect their Chairmen. On resumption, the names of those elected were given as follows:
The President stated that under Rule 14(iii) the Administrative Committee comprised the Officers of the Council, the Chairmen of the other committees, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Ringing World Ltd (Mr A. N. Stubbs) and 12 elected members. He invited nominations for the 12 elected members. 14 members were proposed and seconded, and after a ballot the following were declared elected: Mrs K. Flavell, Miss S. J. Pattenden, Mrs J. M. Rogers and Messrs J. Armstrong, M. J. Church, R. J. Cooles, G. E. J. A. Doughty, A. J. Frost, D. J. Jones, S. S. Meyer, E. G. Mould, and A. W. R. Wilby. The unsuccessful candidates were Mrs C. A. Hardwick and Mr B. G. Warwick.
At the President’s invitation, the Revd L. R. Pizzey spoke about arrangements for the meeting in 2000 to be held in Bury St Edmunds.
The Council had previously accepted invitations from the Lancashire Association for 2001 and the Norwich Diocesan Association for 2002. Invitations for further years had been received as follows:
Proposals were made, seconded and agreed that the invitations for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 should be accepted.
The Hon Secretary reported on the attendance at the meeting as set out in the table below. The total attendance of 220 marked a new record.
(i) Ms E. Roberts spoke about arrangements for the International Striking Competition, to be held in Australia on 25th April 2001, and urged bands to think seriously about taking part.
She also said that the late Mr F. E. Dukes had been a good friend of the Australian and New Zealand Association and the Association would be making some proposals for use of his bequest to an international overseas bell fund.
(ii) Dr B. F. Peachey spoke of a new residential ringing course, to be held at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, in July 1999.
(iii) Mr B. D. Threlfall asked new members to return biography forms to Mrs P. A. M. Halls.
(iv) Dr M. J. Pomeroy said that the late Mr F. E. Dukes’ extensive library on bells in Ireland was now lodged with the library of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland in Dublin.
(v) Mr H. M. Windsor spoke of a parish in the diocese of Coventry where a faculty had been granted for the sale of two bells, provided that they were not sold for scrap and were retained in the diocese. They had been purchased by a parishioner, as a result of which they were now outside faculty jurisdiction. He warned others not to fall into a similar trap.
(vi) Mr L. R. Reynolds spoke of the proposal to hang the former bells of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, in a new civic tower in Perth, Western Australia. The opening of the bells was now expected to take place towards the end of 2000.
(vii) The President sought agreement for the ballot papers to be destroyed, and this was given.
(viii) The President sought views as to whether, when reading out results of ballots, the numbers voting for each candidate should be given. The meeting agreed that they should.
The President moved a comprehensive vote of thanks to all those involved in the Council’s visit to Lincoln: to the officers and members of the Lincoln Diocesan Guild, particularly their Master, Mr G. R. Parker, their Secretary, Mr L. G. Townsend, and Mrs J. M. Rogers; to the Chief Steward, Mr M. E. Stracey and others who had acted as stewards and tellers at the meeting; to the Dean of Lincoln, the Very Revd Alec Knight, who had taken both the Songs of Praise Service in the Cathedral on the Sunday afternoon and the Holy Communion Service that morning; to all those involved in the Sunday evening reception, and in particular to the Dean of Lincoln and the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Loraine Woolley, for their words of welcome; to the incumbents, churchwardens and ringers of the churches who had made their bells available to Council members over the weekend; and to all others who had contributed to the success of the meeting. The motion was accepted with applause.
The President declared the meeting closed at 6.47pm.
| Members | |||
| Societies | Present | Absent | |
| Fully represented | 62 | 190 | - |
| Partly represented | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| 67 | 198 | 6 | |
| Life Members | 7 | 2 | |
| Honorary Members | 15 | 1 | |
| 220 | 9 | ||
The Ringing World, 1999, pages 681 to 685, correction July 21, 2000, page 726