The first session of the 42nd Council (117th Annual Meeting) will be held on Monday 26th May 2014 in the Marriott Tudor Park Hotel, Ashford Road, Bearsted, Maidstone, starting at 9.30 a.m. It will be preceded by a Corporate Communion Service at 7.30 a.m. in the Leeds Room at the hotel.
Will members please sign the roll and be in their seats by 9.20 a.m. - the roll will invite you to sign in as a member of The Ringing World Limited.
The morning session will be adjourned at 12.30 p.m.; at 1.45 p.m. the Annual Meeting of The Ringing World Limited will be held; the afternoon session will resume after that Meeting.
Opening prayer.
Report of the Honorary Secretary as to the representation of societies and subscriptions.
Application to Affiliate: Guild of St Agatha.
Welcome to new members.
Apologies for absence.
Loss of members through death.
Minutes of the 2013 Annual Meeting (p.431).
Corrections to the Minutes are given in Appendix A.
Matters arising from the Minutes not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Annual Report of the Council (p.437).
Accounts for 2013 (p.439).
Election of Life Members:
(a) Alan Frost is proposed by Andrew Wilby and seconded by James Clarke.
(b) David Kelly is proposed by Bob Cooles and seconded by Chris Mew.
Election of Officers for 2014 - 2017:
| Office | Nominee | Proposer | Seconder |
| President | Chris Mew | Ian Oram | Mike Chester |
| Vice-President | Christopher O’Mahony | Tony Smith | Robert Wood |
| Hon Secretary | Mary Bone | Angela Newing | Bob Cooles |
| Hon Assistant Secretary | Carol Franklin | Alan Regin | Sue Morton |
| Hon Treasurer | Andrew Taylor | Brian Meads | Stephen Nash |
Election of Independent Examiners.
Jeremy Cheesman and Wendy Godden retire; both are eligible for election.
Election of Additional Members:
Elva Ainsworth, Alan Frost, Adrian Semken, Peter Trotman and David Willis retire. The following nominations have been received; in accordance with Rule 6(ii), supporting statements for the candidates are given in Appendix B of this Agenda:
| Nominee | Proposer | Seconder |
| Alan Baldock | Ian Oram | Andrew Barnsdale |
| Peter Trotman | Mike Chester | Stuart Piper |
| David Willis | James Clarke | Pat Halls |
| Alan Frost | James Clarke | Chris Povey |
| Elva Ainsworth | Andrew Wilby | Michael Church |
| Adrian Semken | James Clarke | Chris Povey |
| Mark Ainsworth | Andrew Wilby | Michael Church |
Motions:
(A) That the last sentence of Rule 14 (Election of independent examiners) be expanded to read as follows:
In the event of the Independent Examiners vacating office before the expiry of the three years, the officers shall have the power to make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy until the ensuing meeting, which meeting shall elect a replacement for the remainder of the period.
Proposed on behalf of the Administrative Committee by Mary Bone (Ex-officio), seconded by Tony Smith (Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild).
(B) That Rule 16(iii) (Terms of Reference of the Education Committee) be replaced by the following:
To lead the development of ringing education by: liaising with all organisations and individuals involved in ringing; identifying and defining best practices in ringing; and sharing knowledge of these practices to the ringing community, using the most appropriate media.
Proposed on behalf of the Education Committee by Duncan Walker (Carlisle Diocesan Guild), seconded by Geoff Horritt (Hertford County Association).
(C) That a new office of Public Relations Officer be created and that the following Rules be amended as indicated:
In Rules 12(i) (in the first three sentences) and (ii), 15(iii)(a) and 20(ii) [but not in Rule 17] add ‘Public Relations Officer’ to the lists of officers.
Also in Rule 12(i) insert a new second sentence “The Public Relations Officer shall be an ex-officio member of the Public Relations Committee”.
Proposed on behalf of the Administrative Committee by Chris Mew (Coventry Diocesan Guild), seconded by John Harrison (Oxford Diocesan Guild).
(D) 1. That a new Decision (I) Non-Method Blocks be added, containing the following:
“A. Definitions and Requirements
A non-method block is a block of changes that does not constitute a plain lead of a method.
B. Nomenclature
(a) The title of a non-method block shall consist of Name, “Block” and Stage.
(b) A non-method block may not be given a name if the title excluding the Stage would be the same as a method or another non-method block.
The band that first includes a new non-method block in a peal complying with Parts A to D of the Decision on Peal Ringing, shall name the non-method block and publish it in The Ringing World, subject to B.1 above, and to the power of the Council to change the name or leave it unnamed if it considers it necessary.”
2. That Decision (E) be renamed to become the Decision on Methods rather than Methods and Calls and that the following changes be made:
b) Move the contents of (E)A.3 to become (J)A.4;
c) Re-label (E)A.1(a) up to and including (E)A.1(g) to become (E)A.1 to (E)A.7, and re-label (E)A.1(e) i) up to and including (E)A.1(e) iv) to become (E)A.5(a) to (E)A.5(d);
d) Amend (E)D.2(g) to say “A method may not be given a name if the title excluding the Stage would be the same as a method in a different type or class, or a non-method block.”
3. That a new Decision (J) Calls be added.
This shall contain the contents of the former (E)A.3 as its (J)A.4, and shall also contain the following:
“A. Definitions and Requirements
A call is a modification made to the changes that would otherwise occur while ringing a method or non-method block. It is not part of the definition of the method or non-method block.
A call in a method may be effected in one of the following ways:
(a) by altering the places made between two or more consecutive rows without altering the length of a lead;
(b) by omitting consecutive changes, altering the length of a lead.
A call in a non-method block is effected by altering the places made between the last two rows without altering the length of the block.”
4. That Decision (D) Peal Ringing be amended as follows:
a) Add the words “or non-method block” to Decision (D)A.9 so that it becomes “No error in calling shall be corrected later than during the change at which the call or change of method or non-method block would properly take effect.”
b) Delete the references to calls from Decision (D)A.11 so that it becomes “The methods used in all peals shall conform to the Definitions and Requirements given in Part A of the Decisions on Methods”
c) Add a new Decision (D)A.13: “The non-method blocks used in all peals shall conform to the Definitions and Requirements given in Part A of the Decision on Non-method Blocks.”
d) Add a new Decision (D)A.14: “The calls used in all peals shall conform to the Definitions and Requirements given in Part A of the Decision on Calls.”
e) Append the following sentence to the first paragraph of (D)D: “Records using non-method blocks shall be kept separately.”
Proposed on behalf of the Methods Committee by Peter Niblett (Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild), seconded by Robin Woolley (Southwell & Nottingham Diocesan Guild).
(E) That the sentence “There shall be more working bells than hunt bells.” be deleted from Decision (E)A.1(d) [(E)A.4 if motion (D) is passed] so that it becomes:
“Bells that are in the same position at each lead-head in a course are known as hunt bells. Bells that are not in the same position at each lead-head in a course are known as working bells.”
Proposed on behalf of the Methods Committee by Peter Niblett (Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild), seconded by Stephen Jones (St Martin’s Guild for the Diocese of Birmingham).
Change Ringing for the Future.
To receive, discuss and if thought fit to adopt the reports of the following Committees; and to pass such resolutions as may be necessary on matters arising from the reports. In all cases one-third of the present members retire and are eligible for re-election if still members of the Council.
The appointment of the Steward of the Library will be taken after the presentation of the Library Committee report. Alan Glover is proposed by Jenny Lawrence (Hereford Diocesan Guild) and seconded by Ian Self (Truro Diocesan Guild).
(a) Administrative (p.441):
Phillip Barnes will no longer be a Council member. Peter Wilkinson has become an ex-officio member. Anthony Lovell-Wood and Tony Smith retire. There are 4 vacancies.
(b) Library (p.442):
Paul Johnson and Ian Self retire. There are 2 three vacancies.
(c) Methods (p.443):
Henry Coggill, Richard Edwards and Philip Saddleton will no longer be members of Council. There are 3 vacancies.
(d) Peal Records (p.444):
Alan Baldock will no longer be a Council member. Adam Crocker and Philip Larter retire. Philip Larter is not seeking re-election. There are 4 vacancies.
(e) Public Relations (p.447):
Nick Jones and Emma St John Smith will no longer be members of Council. James Forster and Helen Udal retire. There are 4 vacancies.
(f) Publications (p.451):
Michael Hansford and Jan Wyatt retire. There are 2 vacancies.
(g) Redundant Bells (p.452):
Julian Newman and Helen Webb retire. There are 2 vacancies.
(h) Ringing Centres (p.452):
Philip Bailey, Roger Booth and Norman Mattingley retire. There are 4 vacancies.
(i) Ringing Trends (p.453):
Veronica Downing (co-opted), Stephen Elwell-Sutton, Guy Morton and Sue Morton retire. Stephen Elwell-Sutton, Guy Morton and Sue Morton are not seeking re-election. There are 3 vacancies.
(j) Towers & Belfries (p.453):
Michael Banks and Peter Bennett will no longer be members of Council. Tim Collins and David Kirkcaldy retire. There are 4 vacancies.
(k) Tower Stewardship (p.454):
David Burgess will no longer be a Council member. James Smith retires. There are 2 vacancies.
(l) Bell Restoration (p.455):
Frank Beech and Robin Shipp will no longer be members of Council. Pat Albon and Peter Kirby retire. There are 3 vacancies.
(m) Biographies (p.456):
Henry Coggill and Wendy Graham will no longer be members of Council. Bill Butler and David Willis retire. Bill Butler is not seeking re-election. There are 4 vacancies.
(n) Compositions (p.457):
Mike Hopkins Till will no longer be a Council member. Philip Larter retires and is not seeking re-election. There are 2 vacancies.
(o) Education (p.457):
Peter Dale will no longer be a Council member. James Blackburn, Deborah Thorley and Duncan Walker retire. Deborah Thorley is not seeking re-election. There are 4 vacancies.
(p) Information and Communications Technology (p.458):
Mike Chester and Peter Trotman retire. Mike Chester is not seeking re-election. There are 2 vacancies.
(a) Report of the Stewards of the Carter Ringing Machine Collection (p.458).
(b) Appointment of Stewards for 2014 - 2017: Bill Purvis is proposed by George Dawson and seconded by Andrew Mills; James Blackburn is proposed by George Dawson and seconded by Andrew Mills.
(a) Report of the Steward of the Rolls of Honour (p.458).
(b) Appointment of Steward for 2014 - 2017: Alan Regin is proposed by Ian Oram and seconded by Margaret Oram.
(a) Report of the Stewards of the Dove Database (p.458).
(b) Appointment of Stewards for 2014 - 2017: John Baldwin is proposed by Philip Green and seconded by Tim Jackson; Tim Jackson is proposed by John Couperthwaite and seconded by Philip Green.
Central Council Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells (registered charity no. 278816) (p.459):
Report and Accounts.
Future meetings.
Any other business.
MARY BONE
Hon Secretary
The Ringing World, April 25, 2014, pages 427 to 429
p.435:
(i) Minute 14(o), first paragraph: change to ‘Richard Allton, seconding, added that it was hoped to publish the collection of handbell compositions which Roger Bailey had been collating’;
(ii) Minute 14(p), last paragraph: correct spelling to ‘Geoff’;
(iii) renumber Report of the Stewards of the Carter Ringing Machine Collection and subsequent items to 15 - 20;
(iv) Stewards of the Dove Database: change sentence to read ‘John stated that he could well not seek re-election in 2014’.
Alan Baldock has been a representative member of the Council for the Sussex County Association since 1978 and a member of the Peal Records Committee since 2008. For the majority of those six years he has been responsible for the maintenance of the pre-1990 peal records on the Felstead database, which is time consuming and detailed work often requiring research before an amendment or addition to the data can be made.
Alan’s work is much valued by the Committee and, whilst several hundred additions and corrections have already been made to the database, there still remains much to be done. He has also been contributing to the work of the Committee by helping to establish a record of compositions used for first peals in methods. Alan would welcome the opportunity to continue with both of these areas of work on behalf of the Council.
| Proposed by | Ian Oram |
| Seconded by | Andrew Barnsdale |
Peter has been the CCCBR webmaster since early in 2000. Since then he has undertaken the majority of the maintenance and extension of the website and thereby acquired significant technical knowledge and experience. In addition, he has given a significant amount of his time to give ICT specific advice and support to help with the work that has been undertaken by several of the Council’s Officers and Committees.
The ICT Committee needs Peter’s knowledge and expertise in the short term to continue to maintain the current website. In the medium term he will work with the other members of the committee to migrate the website to the Joomla! content management system, making it easier to maintain and eventually allowing content owners to maintain some or all of their own webpages. This will also lessen the Council’s heavy dependence on him alone.
To summarise: Peter is a very active Additional Member of Council and I therefore nominate him for another 3-year term.
| Proposed by | Michael Chester |
| Seconded by | Stuart Piper |
David was elected at the instigation of John Harrison and the Biographies Committee, after he expressed an interest in helping with their work. Due to the competition within the Guild of Devonshire Ringers, David has not yet been able to secure election to Council as a representative member. He has however enjoyed his work for the Biographies Committee during the past three years and both he and they would like to continue this useful co-operation.
David has found all sorts of ways of seeking out biographical information, and continuously bombards me with questions on past members of Council and their activities. This shows a deep interest in the subject and a keenness to help with the work and I commend him to the Council. With this I formally propose the re-election of David Willis as an Additional Member of Council.
| Proposed by | James Clarke |
It would give me great pleasure to second James Clarke’s proposal for David Willis to be re-elected as an Additional Member of the Council. David has worked diligently and enthusiastically for the Biographies Committee since he was first elected three years ago. He has been able to provide many of the details that were required about various past Council members. He has been a very valuable hardworking member of the Biographies Committee and the Committee would be the poorer without his input.
| Seconded by | Pat Halls |
Alan has served the Towers & Belfries Committee for many years, so long in fact that we don’t know how many, and Alan is too modest to remind us. His long membership of this Committee has been marked by his professionalism, his expertise and his stature as a widely known and respected bells advisor of three Diocesan Advisory Committees, as well as being a well respected bell ringer.
Alan has headed up the production of several publications on behalf of the Committee and the respect in which it is held is in no small measure due to his hard work, wise counsel and constant encouragement.
The Committee hope that Alan will feel able to continue his membership for many years yet, as, quite frankly, we don’t know what we would do without him.
| Proposed by | James Clarke |
Alan is a great strength to the Towers & Belfries Committee. He has wide experience in all aspects of bells and their hanging, and brings to this his professional expertise as a highly-respected Church Architect in understanding the behaviour of towers under bell-imparted loadings. Alan has been part of this Committee since I joined it nearly 20 years ago. He has never failed to support the Committee in all possible ways. I cannot envisage the Towers & Belfries without him!
Please vote to admit Alan Frost as an Additional Member. Not only would the Towers & Belfries Committee be poorer without him, but the Council as a whole, too.
| Seconded by | Chris Povey |
We propose that Elva Ainsworth be re-elected an Additional Member of the Council to progress and facilitate further the Council’s mission “Change Ringing for the Future”.
The aim of this mission is to encourage:
A fresh generation of younger ringers with enthusiasm and ideas
A healthy age and leadership profile for the ringing exercise
A better trained teaching base in the country and resource for the future
A new and updated image for ringing.
Elva is Managing Director of Talent Innovations Limited, a market leading specialist in human resources and people development solutions based in Kings Langley, Herts. Elva has operated internationally as a Business Psychologist over the last 15 years. She comes from a well-known ringing family, and has been a member of the University of Bristol Society (where she was Master) and the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths for some 30 years. She brings a wide knowledge of ringing and ringers to the project, as well as her professional expertise.
Elva has been actively involved in this initiative by contributing to the Task Force over the last three years and co-leading the Regional Forums that are now rolling out across the country over 2013/14.
She is currently chairman of the CCCBR Ringing Trends Committee.
| Proposed by | Andrew Wilby |
| Seconded by | Michael Church |
Adrian was elected as an Additional Member three years ago at the instigation of the Towers & Belfries Committee, after losing his representative membership status. The Committee were anxious to retain his expertise and active membership for the furtherance of its work.
Adrian has continued this commitment and is a much valued member, having produced the very useful series for The Ringing World: “When did you last do it?” Adrian has also participated in a number of training days during this time, and all in spite of a spell of serious illness. In addition he has spearheaded the draft of the Committee’s forthcoming Maintenance Manual.
| Proposed by | James Clarke |
I am pleased to second this proposal and fully endorse James’ comments.
The decision by the Towers & Belfries Committee to propose Adrian Semken as an Additional Member three years ago is just as valid now as then, as Adrian is a very valued member of the team. He has worked very hard and very effectively for the Committee, despite the serious illness that afflicted him for a significant period. The Committee needs Adrian and I ask you to vote for his re-election!
| Seconded by | Chris Povey |
We propose that Mark Ainsworth be elected an Additional Member of the Council to progress and facilitate further the Council’s mission to deliver value and support for “Change Ringing for the Future”.
Really understanding the motivations, demographics and trends of ringers and lapsed ringers will be key to guiding Council strategy. Mark has a first class degree in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University and an MSc in Operational Research. He has delivered sophisticated analytical insights and tools for BA, the McLaren F1 team, Tesco and now as Global Head of Retail at Telefonica Smart Steps, and he has extensive experience in statistical analysis of complex data.
He comes from a well-known ringing family, and has been a member of the Oxford University Society (where he was Master) and the Ancient Society of College Youths for some 15 years. He brings a wide knowledge of ringing and ringers to the project, as well as his professional expertise.
Mark currently contributes to the CCCBR Trends Committee as a consultant. His expertise will be of high value for large-scale surveys and trend analysis.
| Proposed by | Andrew Wilby |
| Seconded by | Michael Church |
The Ringing World, April 25, 2014, page 430