CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING: BEDFORD
June 1, 1982, Official Report (Part I)

With only 14 of its 203 members absent, the Central Council was at record strength when it met at Bedford School on June 1st for its 1982 meeting.

The day had started with a corporate service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s church nearby, at which the celebrant had been the President of the Council, the Revd. J.G.M. Scott, and which had been attended by upwards of a hundred ringers.

After the President had opened the meeting with prayer, he presented the former editor of “The Ringing World”, Charles Denyer, with an engraved watch and cheque. In paying tribute to Mr. Denyer’s contribution to the Exercise, he said that he was making the presentation, not just as President of the Council, but as the spokesman of all ringers.

There was a standing ovation and prolonged applause as Mr. Denyer accepted the gifts. He thanked the many societies, branches, bands and individuals who had contributed, and finished by urging all ringers to give “The Ringing World” their full and continued support.

The Hon. Secretary, Mr. C.A. Wratten (Gloucester & Bristol DA), reported that 66 societies were affiliated to the Council, whose strength of 203 was made up of 9 Life, 173 Representative, and 21 Honorary members. There were in addition three vacancies for Honorary members. All subscriptions had been paid.

Apologies for absence had been received from R.H. Dove, G.R. Drew, Mrs. S.M. Drew, and Canon K.W.H. Felstead (Honorary), and Mrs. M. Byrne, G.S. Deas, P.M.J. Gray, J.M. Jelley, and A.J. Poyner (Representative members).

New members

The President welcomed the following new members: P. Church (Beverley & District), J. Atkinson (Durham & Newcastle), D.J. Carr (Kent), C. Forster (Leeds University), M.B. Winter (North American), S.J. Coleman (Surrey), and P.A. Cummins (Truro).

Election of Honorary members

Four Honorary members completed their three-year term at the end of the meeting. With the three vacancies already existing, seven places were available.

Following the change in the Council’s Rules agreed in 1981, the election was by ballot. Seven people were individually proposed and seconded, and duly elected: Mrs. M.J. Wilkinson, chairman of the Committee for Redundant Bells; W.H. Dobbie, a Trustee of the Carter Ringing Machine; G.R. Drew and Mrs. S.M. Drew, who distributed the Council’s publications; D.G. Thorne, editor of “The Ringing World”; A.P.S. Berry, of the Loughborough Bell Foundry; and A. Bagworth, who was prepared to help look after the Carter Ringing Machine.

Loss of members through death

The President read the names of those who had died since the last meeting: Messrs. F.J. Cullum (Kent CA 1939-44, Cumberland Youths 1959-63, died 21 September 1981), G.E. Debenham (Honorary 1939-57, died 1 October 1981), P.L. Taylor (Midland Counties 1939-44, Honorary 1952-81, died 11 October 1981), J. Hartless (Winchester & Portsmouth 1961-75 and 1976-81, Honorary since 1981, died 26 Jan. 1982), T. Wilde (Chester 1933-36, died 28 January 1982), S. Foskett (Bedfords 1954-63, died 5 March 1982), and F.H. Bennett (Shropshire 1957-60, died 21 May 1982).

Minutes of the last meeting

The Minutes of the 1981 meeting, published in “The Ringing World” of 12 March, with two amendments in “The Ringing World” of 14 May, were accepted without comment on the preposition of the Hon. Secretary, seconded by Mrs. E.A. Barnett (Honorary).

Arising from the Minutes, the President said that he had written to the Crossthwaite ringers about the Council’s reaction to the “Blue Peter” film, as the Council had asked him to do at Rochester, and read the reply he had subsequently received from Mr. Brownrigg, Captain of the Crossthwaite band. The matter had now been satisfactorily resolved.

Hon. Secretary and Treasurer

Since the last meeting of the Council, one Honorary Member, Mr J. Hartless, has died, and six representative members - I.G. Campbell (Beverley & District Society), A.G. Craddock (Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Association), C.J. Frye (Leeds University Society), Mrs A.G. Martin (North American Guild), C.F. Mew (Surrey Association), and R.L. Byrne (Truro Diocesan Guild) - have resigned and been replaced by new representatives.

At Rochester I was asked by the Council to check the status of the St. David’s Diocesan Guild as an affiliated society in the light of its current certified membership of only 66 resident members. I reported my findings to the Administrative Committee when it met in October, and the committee agreed that in such cases a society should not be disaffiliated but should not be entitled to have a representative on the Council. (More detail will be found in the report of the Administrative Committee.) As a result of this decision, two societies affiliated to the Council - the St. David’s Diocesan Guild, and the South Derbyshire & North Leicestershire Association - do not have representative members.

During March the Council’s officers were approached by a representative of Help the Aged who in planning a nation-wide sponsored ringing day in the autumn of 1982 to raise funds for the Society. The details of such an event are still under discussion at the time of writing.

A Council tie became available during the year - the manufacturer unfortunately being unable to deliver a supply in time for the Rochester meeting - and the profit on sales produced some £43 for the General Fund. This, combined with the generosity of the Council’s hosts at Rochester, the Kent County Association, who met all the local expenses of that meeting, meant that General Fund income during 1981 was able to match expenditure, following a £220 deficit in 1980.

The Library Fund’s income and expenditure were similarly balanced during the year, while the remaining Funds each showed a net income. Overall the Council’s net worth increased by nearly £3,200, or 7.75%, in 1981.

C.A. Wratten (Hon. Secretary & Treasurer)

After detailing some changes to the version of the report circulated to members, and reporting that the proposed Help the Aged campaign was on longer being pursued by the charity, the Hon. Secretary moved the adoption of his report, and was seconded by Mr. F.E. Dukes. The latter added that the Council was most grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Wratten for all their work (applause).

The report was adopted without discussion.

AUDITORS’ REPORT
To The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers on the Accounts of their official journal

We have audited the annexed Balance Sheet dated 31st December 1981 and have obtained all the information and explanations we required. In our opinion, the balance sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of affairs of “The Ringing World” according to the best of our information and the explanations given to us and as shown by the books.

March 1982

Report of the Honorary Auditors to the Members of The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

We have compared the annexed Balance Sheets and Income and Expenditure Accounts of the General, Clement Glenn Bequest, Publications, Thackray Bequest, and Friends of the CCCBR Library Funds of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers with the books and vouchers of the Council. We have also examined the annexed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We have obtained all the information and explanations we have required and report that in our opinion based on our examination and the report of the Auditors of “The Ringing World” not audited by us, the aforementioned accounts are properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and fair view of the state of the Council’s affairs at 31st December 1981.

April 1982

Having explained some of the details in the accounts and corrected some typing errors in the version circulated to members, the Secretary answered a question from Mr. G.A. Halls (Derby A.) by saying that the Thackray Bequest money shown under the General Fund had been used to pay for the Council ties bought during the year.

The President said that he would defer acceptance of the accounts until after the report of “The Ringing World” Committee had been considered.

Rolls of Honour

Mr. W.T. Cook (ASCY) proposed the adoption of the following report:

The two volumes of the Rolls of Honour and their display case remain in their former position in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and are in good condition. It is not known at present whether the Cathedral authorities’ proposals concerning this part of the Cathedral (the South Triforium Gallery) will affect the place where the Rolls are kept.

He was seconded by Mr. W.A. Patterson (Irish A.), and the report was accepted without comment.

Carter Ringing Machine

The Ringing Machine trustees, Messrs. D. Hughes and W.H. Dobbie (both Honorary members) reported that:

Apart from the usual “hiccups” after any period of inactivity, which have not been serious, the machine continues to function reasonably well.

Three demonstrations were given during the year, to a total of just over 60 people: on January 24th to members of the Southampton University Guild, on May 2nd to members of the Leicester Diocesan Guild (Hinckley District), and on November 7th to members of the Open University Society.

The report was accepted on the proposition of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Dobbie.

Mr. Hughes then said that he was retiring later this year and wished to propose Mr. Alan Bagworth, who had just been elected an Honorary member of the Council, to replace him as Trustee of the Carter Machine. Mr. Bagworth had experience of the machine, and was willing to take over. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Dobbie, who paid tribute to the work done by Mr. Hughes over many years (applause), and Mr. Bagworth was duly elected.

Committee reports

Administrative

The Committee has met twice since the Rochester meeting, in London in October and in Birmingham in March; at both meetings it discussed the arrangements for the Council’s 1982 meeting and continued its policy of reviewing the work and aims of the Council’s committees.

In London the committee also considered the Hon. Secretary’s report on the affiliation of the St. David’s Diocesan Guild. It was finally agreed that an affiliated territorial society whose resident membership fell below 75 should if it wished continue to be considered as affiliated, but that it should not be entitled to a representative on the Council until its resident membership again reached 75; and that in accordance with Rule 8, it should not have to pay an annual subscription while it had no representative. It was accepted that this decision would act as a precedent.

At the same meeting Messrs Cartwright, Church and Cooles presented a report on the likely cost of a proper investigation into the formation of a limited liability company to run “The Ringing World”. This was accepted, and a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Cartwright, Church, Cooles, Corby, and O’Callaghan was asked to proceed with the investigation. Their report was considered in detail at the Birmingham meeting, and as a result the Administrative Committee has placed a motion on the Agenda for this year’s Council meeting.

The Council owes a considerable debt of gratitude to the five members of the sub-committee for their speedy and most thorough work, entailing as it has considerable legal consultation as well as dealing with the Charity Commissioners, and all at minimal cost to the Council.

The committee has agreed to make available up to £250 from the Thackray Bequest to the Public Relations Committee, to meet the cost of such things as advertising in the Church press (this has not so far been taken up), and has also authorised the Bell Restoration Funds Committee to go ahead with the preparation and production of a publicity brochure on the Council and its work.

C.A. Wratten (Secretary)

After Mr. Wratten had proposed, and Dr. J.C. Baldwin (Llandaff and Monmouth DA) had seconded, the report’s adoption, Mr. Halls drew attention to its second paragraph. He questioned whether the committee had the authority to make such a decision, and asked what new circumstances had arisen to change the old practice of a society’s membership lapsing once its resident membership dropped below 75. Had the Administrative Committee thought through the implications of its decision, he wondered.

The President explained that there was nothing in the Rules of the Council to entitle it to withdraw affiliation once a society had been elected, merely that the Rules required a society to have 75 members in order to be elected and, once affiliated, to have 75 members in order to have a representative. Dr. Baldwin commented that Mr. Halls should give the committee credit for having considered the matter very carefully before reaching its decision.

Mr. Halls said that he would not seek to have the matter referred back, and the report was then adopted.

Publications

1981 was another notable year in the development of Central Council Publications. Although the number of items sold declined slightly, from 8,897 to 8,690, sales rose from £4,105 to £4,842 - an increase of some 18%. Since this increase is once again above the rate of inflation it represents a continuing shift towards publications with a higher unit value, vindicating the committee’s policy of promoting the best sellers. The sales figures for individual publications are appended to this report, with the 1980 figures for comparison.

The major event of the year was the publication of the new Beginners Handbook, Sales so far indicate that the change to a fuller if more expensive publication was a good move and the Beginners Handbook will continue to be the leader in its class. This item and its highly successful companions in the Education Committee’s Progressive Change Ringing series - Doubles and Minor for Beginners and Conducting for Beginners - accounted between them for two thirds of the income in 1981.

New titles published during the year were Major Compositions, and Towards Better Striking. The Tutors Handbook was reprinted in the new format. A dust cover for the Towers and Bells Handbook and a revised Belfry Warning Notice were made available.

The Compositions Committee’s Collections of Compositions for Stedman Caters and Cinques were still with the printers at the end of the year. Several items are under discussion with the relevant committees and/or authors. They include the Tower Captains Handbook, Triples and Major for Beginners, a new Minor Collection, method sheets, Plain Triples methods, Plain Major collection and a recruiting package. The successful Maintenance Handbook is being reprinted.

The fortnightly pattern of advertising in The Ringing World has been continued.

The Publications Fund continues to be healthy, but the forward workload is substantial and will require a lot of money.

Prices for 1982 have been reviewed publication by publication. Some prices were raised substantially, others by a small amount and yet others not at all, depending on the committee’s judgement of the value of each. By this means it is hoped to finance most of the expansion of the committee’s activities without resorting to further borrowing.

The committee met twice during the year.

In the first seven weeks of 1982 468 new Beginners’ Handbooks were sold - an average of 66.8 per week. In early 1981 870 old Beginners’ Handbooks lasted about 16 weeks, averaging 54.4 per week. The new version is thus evidently considered to be very good value for money.

In the absence of Mr. Drew (Honorary) who was moving house, the report’s adoption was proposed by Mr. C.J. Groome (Peterborough DG). He suggested that associations could usefully hold stocks of Council publications for sale at their meetings; this would provide a service to their members, would expand the market, and would be a potential source of profit to them.

Mr. D.J. Roberts (Devonshire G) questioned the latter point - was the profit made by the association buying its stock at a discount, or by selling the books at a higher price than the Publications Committee? Mr. Groome said that a discount of 10% or 15% was offered on bulk orders.

After Mr. J.R. Taylor (Glos. & Bristol DA) had seconded the report, it was adopted. The president thanked the Committee for its tremendous work for the Exercise, commenting particularly on the sale of 3,500 Beginners’ Handbooks during 1981.

Education

During 1981 this committee held two meetings, one at Malvern Link and the other at Wakefield. At the second of these a programme of work for the next three years was drawn up. Details of this, and of the continuing work of the last committee, are as follows:

Two books are being written. The first of these, “Triples and Major for Beginners”, will carry the progressive change ringing series a stage further. The second is “A Tower Captain’s Handbook”, which is intended to provide any-one responsible for running a tower with a series of guide lines, and to detail where further information can be sought. The latter is in the second draft stage, and should be made available to the Publications Committee before mid-1982.

Several new leaflets are planned. “Call Changes”, “Judging Striking Contests”, and “False Course Heads” have been suggested we should welcome suggestions for further titles.

Our projects in the audio-visual field include films, slides, cassette tapes and records. A general interest film strip is planned, and we are having consultations with a member of the Council who has offered to make some short 8mm films for training purposes. These would retail at under £10 each. The 8mm file “Birth of a Bell” is now available for purchase, and we ask members to draw this to the attention of their Associations. The cost of this 20-minute sound film is £70 - a sum that could be recovered quickly by a small hire charge.

Two cassette tapes are being prepared. The first is to assist ringers trying to learn double-handed change ringing on handbells, and the second is a tape to illustrate points from the new “Beginners Handbook”.

At Rochester the Council asked us to proceed further with the idea of graded ringing assessments. We decided that the best way to carry this out was to invite Guilds to take part in a pilot scheme. A cautious response has been received, and we hope to set up a meeting of these interested later in the year.

We want to create a closer liaison with the education committees in various Guilds and Associations, and also to persuade these who have not yet formed one to do so. Experience has shown that a lively committee - even if it consists only of one person with special responsibility for co-ordinating education - improves standards. One item we anticipate will be well received is a recruiting package. This will consist of posters, illustrations, handouts and a short tape. These may be used to interest the general public and encourage some of them to take up ringing.

Other work currently carried out by the committee includes writing to all the theological colleges each session, recommending that all ordinands be given a talk about bells, their ringers, and the part they play in the life of a parish. We offer to send lecturers, but sadly few of these offers are taken up, mostly because of the very tight schedule of the colleges.

The 16mm sound films owned by the Council are sent out on hire; currently the charges are £8 for “This Ringing Isle” and £6 for “The Washington Film”. The hirer has to pay the return postage. They may be obtained from D. Potter, 41 Thornhills, Haxby, York, N. Yorkshire.

We should like to receive more invitations from Associations to act as hosts for symposia on teaching. Those planned for 1981 did not materialise, several are planned for 1981. These half-day talks and discussions enable a wide variety of views to be expressed, and much useful information is exchanged.

The Council has, on several occasions, suggested that more should be done to improve the standard of teaching of ringing. This has been our constant aim and in 1981 we held a weekend course at Winchester with this purpose in view, inviting every Guild and Association to support it by sending one or two of their members on a leaders’ course. The response was disappointing; only 13 were sent, the majority of them being from the Associations of Committee members. Fortunately the course was well supported by the rank and file members of the Exercise and proved very successful, as well as making a small profit. For 1982 the venue has been changed to Lacock near Chippenham. Once again an invitation has been sent to all Guilds: please try to see that this matter is discussed and not forgotten.

Proposing the report’s adoption, Mr. Butler (Oxford DG) drew members’ attention to its last two paragraphs. Mr. J.M. Tyler (Peterborough DG) seconded.

Mr. R. Cater (Winchester & Portsmouth DG) said that the ringing side of the Lacock course was now fully booked, but that more students could be accepted for the teaching and leadership side. Replying to Mr. D. Martin (Durham & Newcastle DA), who had said that the cost of travel to courses in the south was often too much for ringers in his area, he said that it was hoped to hold a course in Lancashire in the not-too-distant future. The report was then adopted.

The President said that he had found the 1981 course at Winchester most stimulating, and could heartily recommend the 1982 course. The committee was very hard working and wide-ranging, and he thanked them for their work.

Public Relations

Broadcasting

The committee is endeavouring to enter into the best possible relationship with the department of the BBC responsible for the broadcasting of bell ringing.

Almost since the inception of the Christmas programme of bells, Mr H.N. Pitstow has each year advised on the bells to be included in the broadcast, and he has established a very good working relationship with Mr. Robert Hudson, the presenter, who has been happy to submit his draft scripts to Mr Pitstow, without interfering in any way with the basic content, has drawn attention to items which with reference to the technical aspects of change-ringing or the susceptibilities of ringers might with advantage be expressed differently.

Mr Pitstow made all the preliminary contacts for the 1981 broadcast and it was intended that this time he would be accompanied by the Chairman of this committee for the final recording of the programme on December 21st. In the event, due to personal circumstances, and not least the appalling weather conditions, Mr Pitstow was unable to attend and Mr Corby had the privilege, for the first time, of assisting in the editing of the programme. The producer of the programme, Caroline Elliot, was also undertaking her important task for the first time.

The BBC have presented to Mr Pitstow, who is now 84, a bell in Edinburgh Crystal, to mark his retirement and to record their appreciation of all that he has done. The thanks also of the Central Council and ringers everywhere are warmly due to Mr Pitstow.

In general, this year’s broadcast has been well received although the BBC continue to receive requests from non-ringers for the bells of Bethlehem to be brought back into the programme. Ringers should at all times remind themselves that they form only a minute proportion of the total audience for this or indeed any other broadcast of bell-ringing.

There are requests from ringers at particular churches for the inclusion of their bells in the programme but in general it would seem right to continue the policy of trying to obtain a well-balanced selection having in mind geographical considerations, the quality of the bells, the likelihood of an acceptable standard of ringing, and a logical pattern regarding the numbers of bells used.

“Church Bells on Sunday” continues to be very popular but understandably the Council must accept considerably less involvement than with the Christmas broadcast. The BBC receive tapes from a variety of sources and do not, for this programme, send out their own teams, to make recordings. Thus some of the tapes are sent by non-ringers whose primary interest is in hearing the bells of their own church on the air.

The Exercise has however been most fortunate in that due to the considerable flair of the former Editor of “The Ringing World” a Life Member of this Council, the producer established a practice of telephoning Charles Denyer whenever doubtful on a technical point that would affect the programme.

On his retirement Charles made sure that the mantle of Elijah would fall on Elisha and a very pleasant social occasion was organised by the BBC when David Thorne and Philip Corby had the opportunity to go with Charles Denyer to meet the producer and presenter of “Church Bells on Sunday”, and for good measure the new producer of “Christmas Bells” asked also to come along. The results of this visit have been seen in the columns of “The Ringing World” and most members of the Council will have heard the dialogue between Laurie Macmillan and Charles Denyer broadcast on January 10th.

Every member of the Council will be aware of the excellent coverage given by the BBC on both radio and television to the bellringing as part of the Royal Wedding on July 29th.

The Press

In general The Church Times makes little response on the subject of bells and bellringing although during the year they published a somewhat poorly researched article on tune ringing on handbells. A report of last year’s meeting, carefully written to give its greatest emphasis to the aspects of the Council’s work that would be of interest to church people generally, was submitted a few days after the meeting at Rochester but was not published.

The secular press make approaches for help with feature articles on ringing usually in the first instance to the Editor of “The Ringing World” and the committee offers its fullest co-operation whenever such opportunities occur.

The Ringing World

The coverage of the Royal Wedding was excellent both before the event and in the later reporting of various aspects, particularly with regard to ringing at St. Paul’s itself. A member of this committee inspired the writing and recording of the account of the day’s events and the resulting article must surely rank as one of the most fascinating that “The Ringing World” has published in recent years.

This committee does receive news and reports from various sources including overseas but we think it better to endeavour to have items published in the news columns of “The Ringing World” rather than to include them in our report to the Council. Obviously such items would be printed in “The Ringing World” in due course as part of our official report but this would be even longer after the actual event.

There has been a welcome improvement in the reporting in “The Ringing World” of the activities of the various committees of the Council. We would urge that all committees make use of this means of communication with ringers. Much of the criticism of the Central Council arises from the fact that the results of such hard work are just not made known. If each committee would write a report for “The Ringing World” on matters of current interest at least two or three times each year we would hear mush less ill-informed criticism of the Council.

The Editor intends to run a series on the committees of the Council and has invited the members of the P.R. Committee to co-operate.

“The Ringing World” is the “official journal of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers”. It can only fulfil this function at all effectively if members of the Council generally, but committee chairmen and members in particular, will make every effort to publicise their work in its columns.

Associations and Guilds

The committee is always pleased to learn from the various societies affiliated to the Council and is anxious to encourage every possible endeavour to make known the work of the Council and its committees to the generality of ringers. The committee hopes that each affiliated association will use its best endeavours to communicate with the public in a discreet and effective way. Some associations have appointed an officer or committee to deal with publicity and public relations and others have felt it better to leave this responsibility in the hands of the secretary or some other officer of the association. In other instances the desirability or need for activity of this kind does not appear to have been accepted.

This committee is formulating a scheme to assist associations in matters of publicity. This would be educational and it would not be intended that the committee should in any way interfere.

During the year we have heard from various individuals and associations as follows:-

• Rev. Brooke Kingsmill-Lunn a well known London ringer, who formerly worked at the Church Information Office, giving a great deal of helpful advice regarding the dissemination of items of information to the press, a possible means of approach to the “Church Times”, the desirability of access to the editors of diocesan handbooks, of liaison with the Council for Places of Worship on matters concerning buildings, plant etc., a suggestion that our leaflet should have an outlet through C.P.W. He also recommends that our leaflet should be circulated to all archdeacons and suggests that for a fee the Church Commissioners might do this for us.

• Mrs Robin Woolley, giving details of various items of literature which will be passed to the Council’s Librarian, and giving helpful information regarding last year’s “Blue Peter” controversy now happily resolved through the President’s personal good offices.

• Mr Douglas Sims, of the Carlisle Diocesan Guild, sending a local write-up regarding the Hymn to St Bega which has appeared in “The Ringing World”.

• Mr G.W. Massey of the Bath & Wells Diocesan Association, concerning the Directory of Public Relations Officers, pointing out that it ought to include the name of contacts for publicity since a number of associations do not appoint a P.R.O. as such, feeling that the duties of the office are more appropriate to the secretary of the association.

• Mr A.A.J. Buswell, asking for suggestions for short-circuiting potential complaints from the neighbourhood of a church with a restored peal of bells. The committee recommended him to appropriate sections of the C.C. Handbook and sent him a copy of “Ringing for Service” 1961, not now in print.

• Mr Nigel Booth, of the Scottish Association, asking for suggestions regarding their proposed celebration in April of their 50th Anniversary.

• Mr Stephen Gullick, of the Yorkshire Association, asking for a “job description” for an association public relations officer.

• Mr Geoffrey Davies, of the Church of the Advent, Boston, Mass., appealing for help in raising funds to rehang the Old North Church bells. This appeal has also been published in “The Ringing World”. Mr Davies has been in touch with a variety of British firms mostly with American interests, and except for commending the appeal to members of the Central Council and readers of “The Ringing World” the committee has not for the moment been able to make any other suggestions.

• Mr Derek Jackson, of the Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild advising us of the appointment of the Guild’s first P.R.O. - Graham Nabb, 6 Ash Close, Romsey, SO5 8RX (Romsey 513536). Also forwarded were the Guild’s tentative terms of reference for a Guild public relations officer and a copy of Mr. Nabb’s report to the Guild’s December Executive Meeting.

• Mr F.E. Dukes, of the Irish Association, following his usual practice of sending some notes to the committee. These were forwarded to “The Ringing World” for possible publication.

• Mr T.J. Lock, giving details of a broadcast by the Canberra Handbell Ringers on December 14 1981.

The committee thanks all these correspondents whose contributions have given great personal pleasure to the Chairman of the committee, and he trusts many people will not be discouraged from writing to him even though his rudimentary secretarial arrangements tend to limit the extent of his courtesy in acknowledging each communication personally and promptly.

Overseas

News of peals and other ringing activity appears frequently in the columns of “The Ringing World” and the committee would urge ringers from overseas to continue to send their news items for publication as these are of the greatest possible interest to ringers here at home.

Ann Martin, appointed last year as the overseas member of this committee, returned to the United States in July and we congratulate her on the birth of a son in February.

In its first year the committee has found contact with overseas centres somewhat difficult but hopes that enthusiastic ringers throughout the world will continue to send to “The Ringing World” as many contributions as possible. In the nature of things comparatively small events that would be too numerous for individual mention if in England are of great interest when they occur in ringing circles overseas. John Hill, well known in the Greater London area, resides in Johannesburg and is regularly in touch on his visits to the United Kingdom, and the indefatigable Geoff Davies is working hard to raise funds for the restoration of the historic Old North Church Bells in Boston. Australians are hoping for a visit by a Central Council delegation in 1988 for their bicentenary celebrations. They had expressed a hope for the Council meeting to take place there for such a special occasion but this is not regarded by the Administrative Committee to be a practical proposition.

Other Committees of the Council

• The Towers and Belfries Committee have on excellent hand-out sheet which explains the functions of the committee and the means of applying for help and advice with regard to tower inspections and possible repair and restoration work. Council members are urged to obtain copies from the Chairman of the Towers and Belfries Committee and to assist in making known within their own associations this important source of help and guidance.

• The Bell Restoration Funds Committee have produced a draft for a most valuable leaflet they intend to distribute to various possible sources of funds. The Administrative Committee at its March meeting gave approval for the production of a thousand copies of the leaflet which it is hoped will have additional and wider uses by other Committees of the Council.

The Central Council Handbook is on excellent production and is well worth the attention of more serious enquirers but is perhaps too costly for very casual enquiries. Non-ringers have often shown great interest in the Beginners’ Handbook which is an excellent introduction to the art even for these who are enquiring in a general way but do not necessarily wish to learn to ring. Members of the Council are urged to study the list of publications issued by the Publications Committee in their regular advertisements in “The Ringing World” as it is often possible to obtain literature of a kind that will excite the interest of enquiring non-ringers. There are of course other publications frequently advertised in “The Ringing World” which provide the most valuable publicity even if the cost may dictate care in the choice of recipients.

Ourselves

Fortunately, the membership of this committee has a wide geographical spread and members of the committee are more than willing to offer their services to their own associations and those in the area generally.

Meetings of the committee would be a very expensive business and are therefore not practicable at all frequently. Following our appointment each member set down his views as to the functions of the committee, which are of course broadly stated in the Council’s Rules.

Mainly our objectives are to present the Central Council and its works and purposes to ringers everywhere and to present the ringing Exercise to the Church in particular and to the world at large.

On behalf of the committee:

Mr. Corby (Life) proposed the report’s adoption. He added that Mrs. Martin was no longer a member of the Council, and the committee had as a result co-opted Mr. H.W. Rogers (London CA) in her place; and it had been agreed that Mr. A.W.R. Wilby (ASCY) should become chairmen of the committee. Mr. Wilby seconded.

Following a suggestion from Mr. Halls, Mr. Rogers was elected a full member of the committee on the proposition of Mr. Halls, seconded by Mr. Corby.

Both Mr. B.D. Threlfall (Cambridge UG) and Mr. J.S. Barnes (Cumberland Youths) found the report too inward-looking and were worried that the ringers’ case was not being actively presented to the outside world. Mr. Barnes said that the Bell Restoration Funds Committee, in an attempt to help ease this difficulty, had designed and produced a brochure so the Council and its work, following discussions with the Public Relations Committee.

Several members commented on the Church Times’ apparent unwillingness to print items about bells or ringers, while Mrs. O.D. Barnett (Honorary) wondered whether there were any problems in the committee’s relations with the BBC since Sunday’s “Church Bells on Sunday” had made no reference to the Council’s forthcoming meeting.

Mr. Corby said that the situation vis-a-vis the BBC was explained in the report, and that the committee could not dictate what was broadcast. Mr. J.H. Edwards (Bedfordshire A) said that he had a recording of a talk on ringing that had been broadcast at 3.45 am in “You, the Night, and the Music”, which he could arrange for those interested to hear.

Mr. Wilby said that the committee was indeed proposing to be more outgoing, but that most of the work had to be done at grass-roots level, by the associations and individual bands and ringers. He hoped to persuade all associations to appoint a public relations officer, and said that the committee was hoping to be able to organise a course for such PROs.

After Mr. R.F. Eccles (ANZAB) had commented on the last part of the “Overseas” section of the report, accepting the Administrative Committee’s point but nevertheless hoping that it might be possible to send a representative delegation, which would be warmly welcomed, the report was adopted.

The Ringing World, June 18, 1982, pages 505 to 509

Library

The Library Committee met twice during 1981. At both meetings, suggestions were made as to how the printed Catalogue might be more widely advertised to the book and library trades. At the second meeting, the Committee’s policy was reviewed and amplified. At this second meeting we welcomed Jean Sanderson and David Struckett to the Committee in place of Bill Butler and David House. Both these gentlemen had served on the library Committee since its formation in 1976, and both had done a great deal of work to help with the running of the Library. Our grateful thanks go to both of them.

It had been hoped that, as last year’s Council meeting was being held not far from Sidcup where the Library is kept, it could be an opportunity for many Council members to visit the Library and see for themselves what a valuable asset it is to the Council. In the event, however, only one member visited the Library.

It is anticipated that, by the time of the meeting at which this report is presented, all books, papers and other items in the Library will have been fully catalogued.

The first aim of the Committee is the maintenance and preservation of the present collection. We are hoping that this year we will be able to embark on a more ambitious and extensive programme of conservation and re-binding of many of the books which are in need of repair. One item dealt with last year was the restoration of a fast deteriorating copy of the third edition of “Clavis” (c.1800).

The Committee also aims to attempt to build up as complete a collection as possible of published, archival and M.S. materials relating to bells and bell-ringing, with particular reference to Church Bells and their ringing. 1981 again saw a considerable increase in the size of the Library, both through purchases and donations. As before, the list of these new acquisitions will be sent to members of the Friends of the Library. We were particularly pleased to receive a gift from Mr Fred Bogan of back numbers of Irish Bell News, making our collection of this journal almost complete, and from Beryl Morrison a complete set of back numbers of The Clapper (the newspaper of the North American Guild). These are two of the periodicals which we continue to receive regularly, and we are most grateful for them. Last year’s appeal for copies of Association and Branch Newsletters produced some response, though we are aware that many such periodicals are not represented in the Library. Our thanks to these who do send them to us. Also, 22 Association Reports for 1980 were received, together with a number of older reports. Again many thanks. Perhaps the most interesting purchase was of two M.S. volumes of compositions by the late George Baker of Brighton.

There were two or three visitors to the Library last year, and the Librarian dealt with fifteen or so requests for information, and the issue of 30 books on loan.

We are still hoping for more members of the Friends of the Library. Membership last year stood at 47, made up of twelve Associations and 35 individual members. Subscriptions were received from nine of these Associations and 25 individuals, bringing in a total of £97.00. There are still many titles we are seeking to purchase to add to the collection, and as already mentioned, we hope to increase our expenditure this year on rebinding, as new members (and payment of overdue subscriptions by existing members) would be most welcome.

The question we raised in last year’s report as to whether we should attempt to collect cuttings and articles from newspapers and magazines was hardly touched on at the Council meeting. The Committee’s decision on this is that we should welcome such items if they are sent to us, but cannot undertake to seek them out actively. The Council archival material we already have in the Library is of considerable interest, so we should like to repeat last year’s request that members holding papers such as committee minutes and discussion papers, or correspondence, to which they no longer need to refer, should consider lodging them in the Council’s Library.

In moving the report’s adoption, Mr. Cook emphasised the need for more money, especially for rebinding, and urged members to become Friends of the Library. He thanked all those who had donated copies of Association reports and of newsletters. He was seconded by Mr. D.M. Joyce (Kent CA).

Mr. Barnes suggested that individuals might be prepared to meet the cost of rebinding a book each, and said that he would be willing to do so, and Mr. K.S.B. Croft (Honorary) said that he would like to think that all 203 Council members would become Friends of the Library.

The report was then adopted.

Biographies

The undermentioned members and past members of the Council have died during 1981.

Gilbert Edward Debenham, a ringer at St Albans, acted as solicitor to the Central Council during his membership. Paul Lea Taylor O.B.E., was the Head of the Loughborough Bell Foundry and had been in the business since 1935. He had been responsible for casting many ringing peals and single bells for augmentation, and also for several carillons installed in towers overseas. He was awarded the O.B.E. for services to British Industry following the completion of the Canberra carillon.

It has been noted (RW 1981, p4) that a T. Jones has also died, and the committee would appreciate information whether this was the T. Jones who represented the North Wales Association on the Council, 1926-33.

Mr. Lock (Middlesex CA) proposed the report’s adoption, adding that he had no further information on the T. Jonas mentioned in its last paragraph. He said that the committee was also looking for more information on 41 past members of the Council, in readiness for the Council’s centenary, and would probably be contacting the associations concerned.

The report was seconded by Mrs O.D. Barnett (Honorary), and adopted.

Towers and Belfries

At the 1961 Council meeting the members showed their confidence in the committee by re-electing all the members, with the exception of Dr. J.C. Baldwin who no longer wished to serve due to pressure of other work. We are grateful for that confidence and will continue to try to serve ringers and the Church to the best of our ability. We are also must grateful for Dr. Baldwin’s past work on the committee.

The Committee has had one meeting this year, at Rochester; the second one was planned but was cancelled due to lack of business and a desire to save costs, though such meetings have been found to prove most useful for the exchange of ideas and views.

During the year members dealt with some 160 enquiries, slightly fewer than in 1980, and perhaps indicative of depressing economic circumstances. It is becoming increasingly evident that parochial church councils are finding it more and more difficult to keep up even essential maintenance due to shortage of money, and inevitably bell work is some way down the queue.

This in its turn means that the trend towards do-it-yourself jobs is, if not increased, certainly no less. The committee, while in no way wishing to discourage this trend, feels it must emphasise the need for good workmanship in these jobs. Those who undertake them - for the best of motives - must remember that their work should be always of the highest standard, and that if in doubt they should not be too proud or prejudiced to ask for advice.

It is probably worth emphasising also that it is legally necessary to have applied for and been granted a faculty before any major work is begun, whether voluntarily or professionally - and to note that the faculty procedure still has legal teeth, even though they are seldom used these days.

The committee’s information leaflet, suitably updated, is still freely available from all committee members and the Council’s Secretary, and copies have this year been distributed to secretaries of affiliated societies.

Although not strictly part of a report on 1981, it is our sad duty to record the sudden death of John Hartless early in 1982. Committee members and others will know of his many efforts on behalf of ringers generally; we shall certainly miss him.

Moving the report’s adoption, Mr. Threlfall drew attention to its fifth paragraph, adding that it was unwise to offer unconditional grants to any work that did not yet have a faculty. Mr. Massey (Bath & Wells DA) seconded.

Stressing that he did not wish to “knock” the very valuable work being done, Mr. Joyce nevertheless asked that the committee’s members should whenever possible keep in touch with the local association; it could be embarrassing if any recommendations from the committee clashed with those made by a local adviser.

Mr. A.J. Frost (Honorary) said that the point was a valid one, but said that the initiative to establish contact perhaps lay best with the local association. Committee members received their instructions direct from the PCC or incumbent concerned, but would welcome local information.

Mr. Lufkin (Essex A) wondered whether anything could be done in cases where an architect had accepted advice provided free by a member of the committee, but then in effect received payment for that advice as part of his professional fee. Mr. Frost said that such cases would not normally arise, but that an architect was entitled to a fee for anything for which he accepted the responsibility.

The report was adopted, and the President thanked the committee’s members for their work, commenting in an aside that they were probably the only members of the Council who habitually risked their necks for the good of the Exercise.

The Ringing World, June 18, 1982, page 510

CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING: BEDFORD
June 1, 1982, Official Report (Part II)

Redundant Bells

When the Pastoral Measure 1968 came into operation on April 1st 1969, the Church of England possessed about 17,000 churches. Almost thirteen years have passed, the Pastoral (Amendment) Measure is about to go before Parliament, and the Church of England, now rather slimmer has shed a total of 933 churches. In 1981 66 churches were declared redundant; this compares with 73 in 1980 and 59 in 1979. Common sense suggests that, with a finite stock of churches, redundancies - other than exceptional ones - have got to stop somewhere, and since 1978 there have been signs that the rate of redundancies is at last beginning to slow down, the Council for the Care of Churches are hopeful that this is so; and certainly the number of churches referred to them for preliminary advice has shown a steady decrease from about 80 in 1979 through 70 in 1980 to 60 in 1981. These churches, if they become redundant - and not all of them will - will take probably two to three years from preliminary advice to redundancy. So it looks as if the numbers are now genuinely on the decrease.

The Faculty Jurisdiction Committee of the General Synod, to which the committee submitted comments in 1979 and whose conclusions we had hoped to report this year, is thought to be unlikely to report to the General Synod for at least another year.

This year the committee has been involved with some 64 cases including 11 requests, several very tentative, for rings of bells, and 23 for bells for augmentations, replacements, or for use as singles. Some eight bells or rings are currently at some stage of transfer.

A new development this year has been an increase in the number of churches seeking bells to replace an existing ring. Previously such requests have been rare, but in 1981 at least five have come into this category. At first sight such requests would seem unusual, to say the least, but the committee has came to the conclusion that a policy of pragmatism is the only possible one. While as a general rule the replacement of one ring by another is, clearly, to be deplored, each case deserves to be taken on its merits - which are sometimes greater than at first sight appears. However, no scheme where sound bells could possibly be lost should be undertaken lightly, unadvisedly, or wantonly; and we do urge those concerned to consider most carefully whether improvement of the existing ring could not achieve the same object. We remain convinced that all sound secondhand bells are potentially worthy of re-use. Apart entirely from considerations of conservation and credibility, the destruction of valuable assets can hardly be thought of as good stewardship.

On the other hand, there are rings of bells which need new homes; and churches seeking rings would do well to make sure that they are ready to install - and pay for - suitable bells as soon as they become available. Too often the immediate reaction is “this is so sudden”; and an opportunity - on both sides - can be missed. The existence of the Rescue Fund has meant that there have been, this year, no ten days scrap-or-pay melodramas. The only possible candidates were the bells of St. Catherine, Feltham, which now look likely to find a temporary resting place with the Rescue Fund while several possibilities of new homes are reviewed.

Each year we have cause to be grateful to the associations who have helped us by providing information, and once again we thank them. The links between the associations and their dioceses are vital and nowhere more so than in the sphere of redundant bells. Last summer the Church Commissioners kindly provided the committee with a complete list, diocese by diocese, of all the churches which had been declared redundant since the Pastoral Measure. The committee felt that the associations might find it useful to have these complete lists, and that they would also be a convenient means of gathering information: a copy of the list could simply be annotated and returned. Two copies were therefore sent to each association. The response so far has been a little disappointing; and we are still hoping that more associations will find an opportunity to send back their second copy.

We are again most grateful to the Church Commissioners, the Council for the Care of Churches, and the Redundant Churches Fund for their help and interest. We record our thanks - not the less grateful for being often repeated - to Dr Ranald Clouston for so kindly supplying us with copies of his notes for the Council for the Care of Churches.

Canon Felstead did not seek re-election to the Committee at Rochester. Apart from being our own resident Church Commissioner for several years, he was also a founder member of the committee, where his knowledge and wisdom were invaluable. We thank him for all he has done.

Mrs. Wilkinson (Honorary) proposed that the report be adopted. Referring to lists of redundant churches that had been distributed to associations with a request for comments, she said that only nine replies had so far been received; comments from the remainder would be most welcome. She was seconded by Mr. Massey.

A number of members raised questions on the report. Mr. J.F. Mulvey (Lichfield Archd.) asked whether more information could be passed to Associations; Mr. Halls said that the report lacked anything in the way of detailed results - what had been moved where, for example; Canon E.G. Orland (Peterborough DG) enquired whether the committee had discerned what policy was being followed when a church became the responsibility of the Redundant Churches Fund; Mr. P.S. Bennett (Llandaff & Monmouth DA) asked how far the committee was concerned with churches other than those of the Church of England; and Mr. D.W. Struckett (Middlesex CA) asked whether it might be possible to publish a list of redundant bells that were for sale.

After Mr. Freeman (Life) had commented that Guilds, who often seemed to expect more from the Council than was realistic, should take a more active part themselves in this field - the function of the committee was to help associations, not to do their work for them, he suggested - Mrs. Wilkinson answered the various points that had been raised.

She said that liaison with the local church authorities had to be the responsibility of the associations, and it was they who obtained the results looked for by Mr. Halls - not the committee; under the Pastoral Measure, churches passed to the care of the Redundant Churches Fund had to be complete with all their fittings, including the bells; and that the committee’s work was limited to churches of the Church of England in England, since the Pastoral Measure applied only to them and not to the Church is Wales or the Episcopal Church of Scotland.

The report was then adopted.

Bell Restoration Funds

The Committee has met four times during the year, once in Northampton and three times in London. We have appreciated the contributions of John F. Mulvey, who was elected to the committee at Rochester.

Early in 1981 the committee agreed to a request from the Manifold Trust for assistance in assessing the demand for financial help for bell restoration work. The Trust asked for cases in which the offer of a substantial grant might act as an incentive to get a project under way. Requests on behalf of 61 parishes were received, and in the autumn, the Trustees announced that they were prepared to offer grants totalling £11,000 to eleven churches. The demand for such support having been proved, it is anticipated that a further sum may be made available for 1982.

In the summer the Chairmen had a meeting with Mr Stephen Bate, the Conservation Officer of the Council for the Care of Churches. An interesting discussion took place about means of increasing bell restoration funds, and these are being pursued.

During the year we have learned that a further Guild which is registered in its entirety as a charity is encouraging its members to covenant their annual subscriptions.

Our final meeting of the year was concerned almost entirely with the future work of the committee, the most important aspect of which is the collection and dissemination of information and ideas. Whilst we advise and assist individual parishes, we can work only through and in co-operation with the Guilds. We feel, therefore, that it would be advantageous for us to be able to meet Guild BRF Officers and others interested in bell restoration. Accordingly a one-day seminar has been arranged for Saturday 23rd October 1982 in Northampton, to which each guild will be invited to send representatives, and to which all who are interested in BRFs will be welcome.

To help spread news and items it is intended to contribute a regular feature to “The Ringing World”. Contributions from any quarter will be gratefully welcomed by John F. Mulvey at 102 Kettlebrook Road, Kettlebrook, Tamworth, Staffordshire; Tel. Tamworth (0827) 55641.

Covenanting - or the reluctance of ringers to covenant - is a subject which inevitably we discuss at every meeting. It is such a valuable source of income that we feel we must look for ways to help guilds break through the psychological barrier which the subject seems to present.

We remain concerned at the accumulated capital which some BRFs possess and at the effect which inflation may be having on some funds. We feel that we should encourage guilds to use capital to initiate restoration schemes which otherwise might not be considered. The best investment for any BRF is in bell metal. We estimate that in 1981 the capacity to restore no less than ten rings of bells was lost because of the effects of inflation on guilds’ accumulated capital.

We have discussed the possibility of a National Year of Bell Restoration. Perhaps such a project might be considered for 1991, the Centenary year of the Council?

Aware that the services offered by the committee are not as fully used as they might be, and that we do not reach all of these who we seek to assist, we have discussed the question of publicity, both to ringers and to the general churchgoing public. The subject has also been raised in the Administrative Committee and is being examined by the Public Relations Committee.

Noting the initiative shown by the Manifold Trust, we plan to approach some of the many other charitable trusts thought to be sympathetic to appeals for religious causes, in the hope that they too may make available money for bell restoration.

In proposing the report’s adoption, Mr. Barnes made a number of points. Of the grants made by the Manifold Trust in 1981, three and possibly four had now been taken up and work was about to start, but four other schemes were moving very slowly, demonstrating that the use of these grants as incentives for new work could not always guarantee that the work would be done; applications for the 1982 grants from the Trust were now being dealt with.

He enjoined members to pass on to their associations the copies which had been distributed of the committee’s brochure, saying that extra copies were available; and also to try to ensure that their Association was represented at the October seminar on BRFs. Finally, he suggested that the Hon. Secretary write to Mr. S.G. Scott of Bracknell, who had produced the drawings used in the Council brochure, to thank him for his work.

Mr. D. Potter (Yorkshire) asked whether Manifold Trust grants lapsed if they were not taken up, or whether the unused money was added to grants available in later years, and Mr. Groome suggested that the Trust might consider the idea of allocating rather more money on the assumption that all grants proposed would not in the end be taken up. Mr. Barnes was unable to answer since it was not known how the Trust operated its finances, but offered to discuss with the Trust Mr. Groome’s suggestion.

Dr. T.G. Pett (Oxford DG) was unhappy about the committee’s attitude towards the build-up of large capital funds. There were some benefits in such funds, he insisted, and quoted the example of his own Guild, where a large capital fund was proving very useful and was moreover more then keeping pace with inflation in its investment income. He urged the committee to think very carefully before making general and public criticisms of such funds.

Mr. Barnes accepted that the Oxford Diocesan Guild’s BRF was most successful, and congratulated the Guild on its financial acumen. He nevertheless felt that, as a general rule, the best investment was in bell metal.

The report was adopted.

The Council continued its work on the committee reports when it reassembled after lunch.

“The Ringing World”

During 1981 we published the usual 51 issues of “The Ringing World” including the double Christmas edition with a total of 1132 pages, twelve more them in 1980, The Royal Wedding was the most important event for us. The Oxford Guild Centenary provided an endless supply of front covers, and our own 70th Anniversary gave an excuse for another special issue.

Of course the most important event for your committee was the retirement of Charles Denyer and the installation of David Thorne as our new Editor. The transition took place smoothly during the last two months of 1981, and David is now firmly in the driving seat. The committee again thank Charles for his unceasing efforts over the years and wish him well in his retirement.

The fall in circulation, particularly to postal subscribers, gives cause for disquiet. The recession has hit the circulation of all periodicals, and in our case the sharp increase in cover and subscription prices in January 1981 also lost us readers.

At the last Council meeting we announced our intention to conduct a readership survey. We still intend to proceed with this but at a lower priority so that we may concentrate on marketing matters with a view to increasing the circulation. With three new members on the committee there is no shortage of ideas.

The accounts for 1981 show a profit of £624.00 despite a number of factors. The most significant of these, after the drop in circulation, was the change in editors: for two months we employed two editors, and Charles received a retirement gratuity. In general the figures were in line with expectations and require no further comment.

Seven Corners Press have continued to show that they can do better than Robert Murdoch, and have largely computerised their operation, including virtually all our typesetting, subscriber records, and addressing of postal copies.

To conclude we must thank the Editor for his hard week at Guildford which is already making some changes to the appearance of the paper; to all his helpers, paid and unpaid; to our Treasurer, our legal adviser, our auditor, and to all our many friends whose contributions and encouragement make the publication of “The Ringing World” worth-while.

Proposing the report’s adoption, Mr. Speed (Honorary) said that the committee was delighted with the paper’s new editor, David Thorne (applause). He added that, following a decline over the past 18 months, circulation was now about 4,800 copies per week, the lowest level for a number of years. This year’s printing price increase had been negotiated, and although it was less than the rate of inflation it would still have to be reflected in the cover price of the paper.

Finally he announced that, for personal reasons, he would be relinquishing the post of chairman from the end of the present meeting, and would be replaced by Mr. H.W. Egglestone (Honorary). The committee was a very strong one, full of ideas, some of which members were about to hear of.

Seconding, Mr. Egglestone said that the committee had set itself the objective of obtaining an extra thousand subscribers. A number of steps had been taken, including detailed discussions with Reading University which could lead to changes in the layout of the paper, and the installation of an Ansaphone in the office to make possible a more current paper. Greater use would also be made of the computing facilities available at Seven Corners Press to provide better management information and to simplify accountancy.

On the selling front, the committee would be taking a much more active policy. A detailed study had shown that postal subscribers were now subsidising newsagents’ sales, and plans were in hand to make the situation more equitable. From the beginning of July the cover price of the paper would be increased by 3p, to 38p, but there would be no increase in the postal subscription. Moreover there would be an introductory offer of an extra month’s free subscription to anyone who switched to postal delivery.

Other ideas, such as the use of direct debiting and bankers’ orders, were being studied. The committee was anxious to market the paper in a realistic and profitable manner, while still ensuring that the Exercise had the journal it wanted.

Mr. Wilby, another member of the committee, said that, while the committee’s aim was to sell more copies of each issue, it could not do this on its own. It wanted to appoint RW agents is every Association to sell as many copies as possible, and suggested that Associations might consider providing copies to towers where they were trying to encourage new bands. If each Association could find only 20 more subscribers, the target could be met.

Replying to Mr. Foot (Liverpool US), who wondered why any Ringing World money was invested in a Building Society and thus liable to tax, Mr. Speed said that the investments were under constant survey, and that the Building Society ones were in an account on which the tax could be recovered, while still providing readily available cash. Mr. Church added that the market value of investments at 31st December last had been £27,496.

Mr. P.T. Hurcombe (Sussex CA) said that two years ago he had suggested a per capita charge on each affiliated Association to support the paper. Increases in the cover price only affected subscribers and could cause a drop in circulation, whereas a per capita charge could involve all ringers in the paper.

The Revd. M.C.C. Melville (Universities A) wondered how many postal subscribers had been lost because the paper had been stopped too soon after their subscription had not been renewed, and was told by Mr. Wilby that renewal reminders were now being sent.

The report was then adopted, and the President thanked the committee, in particular Mr. Speed who had “borne the heat of several days”.

After Mr. Speed had explained that the increase in editorial fees had arises because for a period both Mr. Denyer and Mr. Thorne were being paid, the “Ringing World” accounts were adopted on the proposition of Mr. Speed, seconded by Mr. Egglestone.

Mr. Wratten then proposed, and Mr. E.A. Barnett (life) seconded, the adoption of the Council’s accounts as a whole, and this was agreed.

Peals Analysis

Introduction

We have recorded 4755 peals rang in 1981, of which 4292 were on tower bells and 463 on handbells. The overall total is 122 more than in 1981 and only 99 fewer than in the record year 1977. The drop in handbell peals of 110 from 1978 to 1980 has now been reversed by an increase of 43 over the 1980 total. On tower bells the most significant increases over the 1980 totals are of Maximus (+39, and now almost twice the total of 10 years ago) and of Triples (+42).

Two events during the year gave rise to a large number of peals - the Royal Wedding and the Church of England Children’s Society’s Peal-a-peal. We do not have figures readily available for the latter but some 280 peals were rung for the Royal Wedding including of course the peal of Stedman Cinques at St. Paul’s Cathedral where the wedding took place. The Royal Wedding peals included no less than 119 first pealers, 23 by local or Sunday Service bands and a number of “rare” towers. Exactly half of them were on eight bells.

Our report follows the same pattern as we have used for several years, although this year for the first time there is a short section on local band peals - in response to a suggestion at the 1981 Council meeting. We are conscious that from time to time the usefulness of our report has been queried. While we are in no doubt that the main statistics which we produce are of interest and use to many Council members, associations and other individuals, we should very much welcome comments from members and others as to sections of the report which might be discontinued, other relevant material which might be included and on the report’s general presentation. Any comments and suggestions received will be carefully examined by the committee with a view to incorporation where appropriate in next year’s report.

Breakdown of peals by numbers of bells, and comparison with 1980

The leading societies

The following societies rang 190 or more peals:

Compared with the similar list for 1980, the Southwell D.G. has dropped out (just) and the Chester D.G., Derby D.A., Essex A. and Hertford C.A. have come in.

The leading societies in relation to the numbers of their resident members, as supplied to the Central Council Secretary in 1981, are as follows (calculating peals rung as a percentage of membership numbers):

First pealers and Firsts as conductor.

There were 653 first pealers in 1981 (639 in 1980) and 93 firsts as conductor (100). The Yorkshire Association had most first pealers with 47, followed by the Oxford D.G. with 34 and the Sussex C.A. and the Winchester & Portsmouth D.G. with 31 each.

Towers

Peals were rang in 1780 towers (1758 in 1980). The following 49 towers had 10 or more peals:

Boston (Advent Church) is the first tower outside the U.K. to have had 10 peals in a year. Over the years, the number of towers with 10 or more peals in the year has gradually increased - 1972, 30; 1973, 30; 1974, 33; 1975, 39; 1976, 36; 1977, 41; 1978, 38; 1979, 41; 1980, 45; and 1981, 49. The 49 towers listed above had almost exactly 20% of the tower bell peals rung last year.

Methods

Peals of note.

We consider the following peals to be worthy of special mention and we congratulate those who took part:

• Ancient Society of College Youths - Manchester Town Hall, 5040 Cambridge S Minor (heaviest 6 bell peal), Stedman Triples, Caters and Cinques rung silent and non-conducted on same day.

• Durham & Newcastle DA - Cotherstone, 5040 Plain Bob Minor (4 first pealers, first as conductor and first by local band).

• Hereford DG - Llanfeugan, 12,768 Yorkshire S. Major (longest length for the Guild).

• Kent CA - Bearsted, 5040 Doubles in 7 m/v (4 first pealers and first as conductor. By local band).

• Leicester DG - Knowle, 20,160 Stedman Triples (longest peal of Stedman Triples).

• London CA - Isleworth, 13,409 Grandsire Caters (longest peal for the Association).

• Oxford DG - North Hinksey, 5040 Minor in 5 methods (five first pealers). On handbells, 5,122 Bristol S Sixteen (first peal of Surprise Sixteen in a single method) and 5040 Spliced S Maximus in 14 methods rung silent and non-conducted.

• Peterborough DG - Boseat, 5040 Doubles in 5 methods (first attempt by all except the conductor).

• St Martin’s G - All Saints, Worcester, 10,560 Spliced S Maximus in 20 methods and all the work (longest length of all the work Spliced S Maximus).

• Yorkshire A - St. Martin, York, 5040 Plain Bob Doubles (5 first pealers).

In addition we would like to congratulate the Hereford DG on their 37 handbell peals of Surprise Major, Royal and Maximus.

Peals by local bands

We have noted a total of 68 peals in 1981 which were claimed as peals by local or Sunday Service bands, of which 23 were rung for the Royal Wedding. There were probably a number of others which were not so claimed. The 68 peals were spread fairly evenly across the country and included some in North America, Australia and New Zealand. We congratulate all the bands concerned.

Omission.

The following was published as a peal in The Ringing World, but has not been included in the Analysis for the reason given:

• Lockington 24 November - Stedman Cinques on 11 Bells. Decision B5 states that Cinques shall be rung on 12 bells with the tenor as cover. It is understood that the 11 bells in Lockington tower are a ring of ten and a sharp seventh. We do not therefore consider that this performance should be regarded in the same light as those of Caters and Cinques at Broughton-in-Furness and Accrington which were rung without cover bells when those rings were in the process of augmentation and which were consequently accepted by the Council, but rather more akin to that of Sextuples on 13 bells (including a flat sixth) at Leicester, which was not accepted.

Corrections to the 1980 Analysis

Changes to the 1980 peal totals arising from late publication, withdrawal of and correction to peals after the submission of our report for 1980, and from the Council’s acceptance of one peal not included in the Analysis can be summarised as follows (all tower bell peals):

A.S.C.Y. Maximus -1; Coventry DG Minor +1; Derby DA Royal -1; Lancashire A. Caters +1; Peterborough DG Cinques +1.

The revised tower-bell total for 1980 is 4213, and the revised overall total in 4633.

Mr. Lufkin proposed the report’s adoption, saying that the committee would welcome constructive criticism of its contents, and was seconded by Mr. C.H. Rogers (Guildford DG).

Responding to the invitation, Mr. W.F. Moreton (Yorkshire A) said that the table giving peals as a percentage of membership was meaningless, a point supported by Mr. Wilby. Mr. Moreton thought a tabulation of the number of peal ringers compared with the number of members might be more useful.

Mr. B. Peachey (National Police G) raised the subject of a 5040 Minor at the Liss Campanile on July 25 last. Having described the installation, he proposed that the 5040 be not recognised as a peal, and was seconded by Mr. Potter. After some discussion as to the grounds for rejection - a suggestion that not every stroke had sounded could not be confirmed - members voted by an overwhelming majority not to accept it.

Mr. S.J. Franklin (Leicester DG) asked the committee to notify a Guild in good time if it intended to omit one of its peals from the analysis, and Mr. Lufkin said he would be pleased to do what he could.

The report was then adopted, subject to the deletion of the Liss 5040.

The Ringing World, June 25, 1982, pages 526 to 528

Records

After correcting the circulated version of the report, Mr. Sibson (Cumberland Youths) moved its adoption. He went on to say that Dr. Baldwin, who had been responsible over a number of years for the annual computer listing of rung Surprise methods, was going into the Ministry and the work had been taken over by Dr. D.W. Beard (Yorkshire A). The Council was most grateful to Dr. Baldwin for his work, he said (applause).

There had been a number of changes in the recent listing - chiefly the addition of each method’s falseness - but in view of the high cost of post and packing (currently £1.30 per copy), the committee was investigating other means of publishing the collection. The use of smaller, A4, pages, and the issue of the complete collection only every 5 years with annual updates in between, were two possibilities.

After Mr. J.R. Mayne (Honorary) had seconded, the report was adopted without further discussion.

Methods

This has been a busy year for the committee. Two meetings have been held (in Rochdale and in Altrincham), with discussions ranging over a number of topics including multiple extents, odd-bell peals, method extension, Triples collections, Minor collection, and the Doubles Collection.

Following the request of the Council last year considerable attention was given by the committee to the problem of multiple extents of Minor (Blocks of 1440 changes, 2160 etc.) and, by inference, to similar blocks in Doubles and Triples. Formulated proposals were presented at a meeting of the Joint (Methods & Records) Committee. Similarly the results of discussions on odd-bell peals - in the context of performances without a cover bell - were referred to the Joint Committee.

The proposed publication on method extension has run into difficulties even before being submitted to the Publications Committee. The original plan, to revise the 1953 Report and its 1971 revision, has proved impractical owing to technical problems that have been uncovered in a number of aspects of Extension. Further research, meetings and discussion will be needed before this matter is resolved.

In response to a request from the Computer Co-ordination Committee recommendations were formulated and passed to that committee concerning the desirability and content of a Triples collection.

The committee was invited by the Publications Committee to produce a revised version of the Minor book. Work on this collection, which will embody a substantial revision, has progressed well. It will comprise a list of the 99 Plain methods, Little methods and their corresponding Alliance and Special Alliance methods (as in the previous book), the 31 Slow Course methods, and Treble Place methods.

Good progress has also been made with the Doubles Collection, Part 2; this will include asymmetric methods, Principles, Little and Alliance methods, Treble Place methods, associated compositions and spliced extents, and a four-way table.

Other work by the committee has included responding to a large number of queries about methods and method names, and monitoring methods rung in peals.

After Mr. Sherwood (Manchester UG) had proposed the report’s adoption, and had been seconded by Mr. A.P. Smith (Winchester & Portsmouth DG), Mr. Groome, referring to its third paragraph, asked what problems were anticipated when the publication concerned had been submitted to the Publications Committee.

Mr. Sherwood described correspondence he had had with the Chairman of the Publications Committee, Mr. G.R. Drew, but accepted a suggestion from another member of that committee, Mr. J.R. Taylor, that the words “even before being submitted to the Publications Committee” be deleted from the sentence concerned, since they foresaw problems that may well not arise.

Answering a question from Mr. Moreton, Mr. Sherwood said it was hoped that the manuscript of the new Minor book would be ready by the end of 1982.

The report was then adopted.

The Ringing World, June 25, 1982, page 529

Computer Co-ordination.

The new Council elected David Beard and Tim Pett to the committee in place of John Baldwin and Stephen Ivin, each of whom did not seek re-election. The committee nominated David Beard to become Chairman, although Jim Taylor still remains a member of the committee. Two meetings have been held.

The Computer Co-ordination Committee continues to assist the work of other Council committees. The collection of rung Surprise, Delight and Treble Bob methods, maintained for the Records Committee, has been successfully transferred to a different computer, and the print-out has been produced in a new format, including upper and lower case letters to improve readability. The collection has also been enhanced by the inclusion of summary tenors-together falseness, both in-course and out-of-course, which should help conductors to select an appropriate composition for any method.

Peal compositions submitted for publication in “The Ringing World” have continued to be computer-checked, although the co-ordination has been handled by Chris Kippin of the Peal Compositions Committee. We are grateful to him and his helpers, especially Jim Diserens, Peter England, David Leach, John Manley and Tim Pett for their willing assistance in this work. Some 180 compositions were computer-checked this year, dominated by a very large set of peals of Stedman Cinques.

The committee is investigating the possibility of assembling a comprehensive collection of peal compositions in a computer file, and we already have all 1980 “Ringing World” compositions so held. Those published in other years, and in other places, will be added as resources permit.

With home computers becoming evermore popular, the committee is anxious to encourage enthusiasts to share their experiences and the programmes they have developed. An implementation of the much respected Hopkins-Ely programme for checking simple touches and peal compositions will soon be available in a form that can be run directly on many of the micro-computers now on the market.

After Dr. Beard had proposed the adoption of the report and had been seconded by Mr. Sibson (Cumberland Youths), Mr. R.G.W. Robertson (Salisbury DG) asked whether the committee would consider producing a leaflet or even a booklet on the use of BASIC for programming ringing problems, aimed at young people with small home computers.

Dr Beard said that the committee was very conscious of the growing interest in these computers, and that Mr. G. Dodds (Hertford CA) had prepared such a leaflet for ZX-81 users, copies of which were available. There was also the possibility of meeting for enthusiasts in the Spring of 1983. But he felt that as a general rule it was preferable for new users to discover for themselves how to make use of their computers.

The report was then adopted.

Peal Compositions

At the first session of the new Council the committee was increased to six with the welcome addition of David Beard and Chris Kippin, and our revised terms of reference were ratified, Three meetings have since been held.

On the publications front the new Major Collection was issued just before the end of the year. First impressions are favourable and it is hoped that it will be well received by the Exercise. The Stedman collection is still with the Publications Committee (no proofs have yet been returned) and it is now four years since work on this started. It is a matter for concern that collections such as this are out of date by the time they appear, thus reducing their impact and marketability.

Meanwhile under the direction of Bob Hardy, we have been busy compiling multi-Minor compositions for a new collection, as agreed at the last Council meeting. Several experts in this field have been consulted, and we thank them for their help, mentioning in particular the considerable assistance given by Mr Harold Chant. Bob Hardy has also written a handbook for composers of Surprise Major, covering aspects such as falseness, proof, and the techniques of composition. The committee has warmly endorsed this booklet, and has passed it to the Publications Committee for consideration.

Compositions have continued to be submitted to “The Ringing World” with the review articles where appropriate, although the level of activity has declined since 1980 (75 compositions, compared with 108). We are taking steps to reduce the backlog on 9 bells and upwards. The job of organising the computer checking has now been taken over by Chris Kippin from Jim Taylor, whom we thank for the many years that he has provided this service.

The membership of David Beard forges an even closer link with the Computer Co-ordination Committee to which we look for assistance in developing aids to composition. One important development this year has been a programme to print compositions in a conventional format. The eventual aim is to be able to specify one set of input requirements for both this and a checking programme, which should go a long way towards eliminating all errors in published compositions. We now have all 1980 “Ringing World” compositions on file and when we are up to date we intend to work our way backwards in time. So far the work has been undertaken solely by David Beard and we appeal to others with computer resources for their assistance. The ultimate goal is a comprehensive collection easily accessed by enquiry and able to meet the needs of the Exercise swiftly, efficiently, and cheaply. As an experiment to assess the potential demand for such a service, we have agreed with the Publications Committee to issue a limited edition of 1980 compositions in booklet form.

Mr. Pipe (St. Martin’s G), seconded by Mr. Hardy (Hertford CA), proposed the report’s adoption; and Mr. Groome explained that the delay with the Stedman collection, referred to in the report, was due to problems at the printers.

Mr. Lufkin commented that running through the last four committee reports there had been the common theme of the recording of information. He suggested that more thought should be given to the possibility of setting up a central, computerised, collection of all such data, from which the ordinary ringer could obtain just what he needed, at minimal cost, perhaps on microfiche.

The report was adopted.

Rescue Fund for Redundant Bells

The Fund continues to operate on the basis of compiling a Register of those willing to lend money to the Fund when required in connection with providing finance for the rescue of a specific peal of bells at risk. The bells thus bought in are then to be transferred to another Church at as early a date as possible so that money can be recouped and repaid to the Members of the Fund.

At the end of 1981 20 persons and 17 Associations have promised loans to us of £6,700.00. In addition the Fund continued to have £4,500.00 available from the Thackray Bequest and £5,000.00 from the Manifold Trust.

Towards the end of 1981 the Fund was involved in negotiations to provide finance firstly for the acquisition of the 8 at Holy Trinity, Blackburn, for St. Silas, Blackburn, in order to prevent the bells being scrapped before St. Silas had raised the money to buy them; and secondly to acquire the ring of 10 at St. Catherine’s, Feltham, where the Developers required the bells in be removed at less than two months notice.

The 1982 report will detail the outcome of these negotiations.

Meanwhile further offers of loan in case of need are very much welcomed. The loans are taken up rateably from all the donors.

Finally we offer our continued thanks to those who have given practical support and encouragement to a venture which may become increasingly vital in the years ahead.

REPORT OF THE HONORARY AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

In our opinion the above Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet which are in agreement with the books and records exhibit a true and fair view of the state of the above Fund at 31st December 1981.

Presenting the report, Mr. Cooles (Secretary) said that the fund had now paid out some £10,000, £5,000 of which had come from the Manifold Trust, £2,000 from the Thackray Bequest, and the remainder from loans by Associations and individuals. At present the Fund was being supported by some 20 individuals, and more such supporters were needed.

The adoption was seconded by Mr. O’Callaghan (Honorary).

Mr. Halls congratulated the committee on a good report, going on to point out that purchasing redundant rings was only the first part of a larger problem. He wondered whether any difficulties were foreseen in placing bells that had been bought, and whether there was any possibility of the committee being able to make interest-free loans to churches wishing to take bells acquired by the Fund.

Mr. Cooles said that the committee was anxious not to have bells on its hands for long periods, and for the present only bells with new homes in mind had been purchased.

Mr. Groome suggested that a further £1,000 could be allocated to the Fund from the Thackray Bequest, and was assured by the Council’s Hon. Secretary that this would be considered by the Administrative Committee when it next met.

The report and accounts were then adopted.

Motions

The Council had seven Motions before it, details of which ware given in the Agenda which appeared in “The Ringing World” of May 7th. The first concerned the formation

• … of a company, limited by guarantee and called The Ringing World Limited, … under the auspices of the Council … to take over publication of “The Ringing World” from 1st January 1983.

It was proposed, on behalf of the Administrative Committee, by Mr. Cooles, who had circulated to all members copies of the proposed company’s draft Memorandum and Articles of Association and an explanatory note.

In this he explained that the aims of the proposal were to

• preserve the Council’s investments from creditors’ claims should “The Ringing world” fail

• limit the personal liability of Council members in such a case to £5 (at present the liability is unlimited)

• establish the production of the journal as a properly regulated commercial venture

• provide commercially recognised powers of raising capital

• strengthen The Ringing World’s status as a Charity

Seconding the motion, Mr. M.J. Church stressed that there was no crisis threatening the Ringing World at present, nor was one foreseen. But the Council was responsible for a large and sophisticated commercial venture, turning over in excess of £100,000 a year, employing paid staff and entering into large financial contracts and commitments.

The formation of a company on the lines proposed in the draft constitution would not entail any change to the Council’s Rules, nor would it alter the paper in any way.

Mr. W.B. Cartwright (Worcester & Districts A) suggested that, as the draft adopted a lot of statutory wording and had been approved by Counsel, members should be very wary of proposing amendments since they might have entirely unforeseen consequences.

A number of questions were raised by members. Dean Thurlow (Life) wondered whether the motion should say the company would not only be formed, but should continue to operate, under the auspices of the Council, and whether the company’s Objects were too widely drawn in that they would allow it to publish “other literary works … of all kinds”.

Mr. H. Lawrenson (Oxford DG) had doubts about the company taking over only the paper’s working capital, and not its investments. He feared it would be under-capitalised and that if the directors had to borrow money, they would have insufficient security to offer.

Mr. Freeman sought assurance that all directors of the company would have to be members of the Council. Although the draft articles said that any director who ceased to be a member of the Council would be disqualified, they did not seen to preclude the possibility of a non-Council member being made a director. And Mr. Massey questioned the provisions for the election of a chairman at the annual meeting of the company should the President and the Vice-President of the Council both be absent.

Replying, Mr. Cooles said that the Objects had deliberately been made as wide as possible, both to ensure the company’s recognition as a Charity and to allow for developments that might occur in the years ahead. On the subject of the paper’s investments, their income would continue to be at the company’s disposal; and the cumulative effect of the articles, taking all their provisions together, would be to exclude non-members of the Council from the Board of Directors. Finally he assured Mr. Massey that the wording used was that recognised by the Companies Act of 1948.

Mr. N.R.D. Orchard (Llandaff & Monmouth) said that he was still not happy about the possibility of a non-member of the Council becoming a Director. Mr. Cooles assured him that the document would legally operate as he had said, but said that the Administrative Committee could add a sentence to the appropriate Article to say that directors should at all times be members of the Council.

Mr. H.W. Rogers congratulated those responsible for the drafts and for proposing and seconding the motion on the clarity, conciseness, and competence with which they had presented a most complex issue. He was sure they would take note of the points made, but felt that they should not be bound by them.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried without opposition.

After the President had thanked those responsible for the enormous amount of work they had done, Mrs. Wilkinson commented that, having had recent experience of the size of solicitors’ bills, she suspected that the Council had in effect received a donation of something like £1,000; she thanked those who had given so freely of their considerable expertise (applause).

Motion (b) sought to amend the Council’s Rules to enable non-members of the Council to be elected to serve on committees. It was proposed by Mr. D.C. Jackson (Winchester & Portsmouth DG), who said that when a valuable committee member was not re-elected to the Council by his “parent” society, he had to be made an Honorary member of the Council if his services were to be retained, and this could present difficulties.

Seconding, Mrs. G.W. Davis (Winchester & Portsmouth DG) said that, in view of the generally accepted importance of the work done by committees, it was essential that they should be able to draw on the best specialist knowledge available - and that this knowledge may not always be present in the Council.

Messrs. J.H. Edwards, D.E. Potter, and G.W. Massey all considered the present system adequate, feeling it important that members elected to the Council should continue to provide the new blood on committees. Mr. D.E. Sibson pointed out that the Rules allowed a committee to appoint a panel of advisors, who need not be Council members, and this would seem to meet the aims of the motion.

The motion was then put to the vote, and was defeated by a large majority.

The next three Motions were all proposed on behalf of the Methods Committee by its chairman, Mr. M.C.W. Sherwood. The first, he said, was intended to do away with the requirement in the Council’s Decisions to use the descriptors “Imperial”, “College” and “Court” when naming Plain methods. It did not tamper in any way with the definition of a Plain method, but would remove the requirement for such cumbersome names as Thelwall Imperial College Court Bob.

He was seconded by Mr. A.P. Smith, who accepted a point made by Mr. Joyce that the motion, if passed, would not remove such anomalies as Reverse Canterbury being a Place method when rung to Doubles but a Bob method at higher numbers. But similar anomalies already existed in the naming of treble-dodging methods, he said, and it was possible only to minimise their number, not remove all of them.

Mr. D.A: Frith (Lincoln DG) feared that the change would mean the Exercise losing part of its long heritage, but was assured by Mr. C.K. Lewis (Honorary) that the terms concerned had already largely lapsed.

The motion was carried, only three members voting against it.

The next motion proved more contentious. In it the committee sought to add to the requirements for the naming of a new method that details of its performance be published within a month in “The Ringing World”.

Mr. Sherwood explained that the right to name a method rung on seven or more bells entailed it being rung to, or in, a peal, and that there is an obligation to publish all peals in “The Ringing World”. But for Doubles and Minor the minimum requirement was for an extent to be rung, and there was no comparable obligation to publish such extents. The motion was intended to remove this anomaly, and was seconded by Mr. C.K. Lewis.

Mr. Wilby pointed out that the right to name a method after ringing an extent was one of the oldest in the Exercise, and that those who kept records had managed successfully so far (a point confirmed by Mr. C.A. Wratten, who maintains the Council’s Minor records); more importantly, however, it would be quite wrong, he said, to require the editor of “The Ringing World” to publish such reports within a month of ringing.

After Mr. Frith had urged that all peal reports be submitted promptly the motion was put to the vote, and carried by 85 votes to 64.

The last of this group of three motions referred to Doubles variations. As worded at present the Decision stipulated that a “lead containing a call must not constitute a plain lead of another method”. The motion sought to add that this plain lead be considered as the changes from treble’s lead to treble’s lead. As Mr. Sherwood explained, the amendment would clarify the wording, but not alter the spirit, of the Decision.

After it had been seconded by Mr. F.T. Blagrove (Middlesex CA), the motion was passed without farther discussion.

The final two motions on the Agenda arose from the Council’s request last year that the Joint (Methods and Records) Committee consider the Decision relating to what constituted a peal of Minor and make any recommendations they felt necessary as a result. They were both proposed by Mr. D.E. Sibson, chairman of the Records Committee, and seconded by Mr. M.C.W. Sherwood;

Mr. Sibson said that the committee had looked at Minor as requested, and had also considered Doubles and Triples. They had decided to recommend changes that would bring the Decisions relating to Doubles and Minor into line, but to make no recommendations regarding peals of Triples.

The changes proposed, he said, related to multi-extent round blocks. The first covered the case of such arrangements as Bankes James’ 2160 where each of the constituent 720s was true and complete but did not necessarily start and end with rounds; while the second would prevent recognition of compositions containing multiple plain courses in succession, some of which had been rung in the past.

Mr. R.W. Pipe generally welcomed the proposals, since they widened the opportunities for ringers and composers of Doubles and Minor. But he was dismayed that the committee had not seen fit to extend the same principles to the ringing of multi-extent peals of Triples, a decision for which he saw no logic. He would like the matter to be referred back to the committee and for them to make positive proposals about Triples.

Dr. T.G. Pett proposed, and Mr. F.T. Blagrove seconded, an amendment to delete the words “and containing no round block of plain leads, or of identically called leads, in one method.” Dr. Pett said he saw no point in the restriction, since it could easily be by-passed by using a lead-splicer in each course. He was supported by Mr. G. Davies (London UG), who pointed out that there existed a composition which under the proposed Decision would be unacceptable if rung to Bourne but acceptable if rung to Cambridge.

Mr. A.P. Smith said that any change to the Decisions could only minimise such anomalies, not remove them all, and pointed out that if the words were deleted as now suggested it would become acceptable, for example, to ring a peal of Stedman Doubles with only two singles, halfway and end.

The amendment was lost.

Several members suggested various wording changes to the motions so that they would cater for Triples, as requested by Mr. Pipe. An amendment proposed by Mr. P. Border (Coventry DG) and seconded by Mr. B. Peachey, that the references to 120 and 720 be replaced throughout by the word “extent” was ruled unacceptable since it would affect a Decision not included in either motion.

Mr. Potter asked for an assurance from the Joint Committee that it would bring forward a similar motion next year relating to Triples, but Mr. Sibson reiterated that the committee had considered Triples already; he suggested it was for those who sought change to put forward a motion. Mr. Blagrove said that such a motion could be discussed by the Council at this meeting.

The President then put the first motion, referring to Doubles, to the vote, and it was passed by a large majority.

After Mr. A.P. Smith had explained, in reply to a question from Mr. D.J. Carr, that the arrangement of Bankes James’ 2160 which contained five successive plain leads would continue to be acceptable since the leads ran across the junction of two complete 720s, the second motion was passed by a similarly large majority.

Mr. Blagrove then proposed that, as allowed under Rule 15, the Council should consider the question of multi-extent peals of Triples. This was seconded by Mr. Peachey, and agreed by a majority of those present.

Mr. Freeman questioned the need for any change to the existing Decision, saying that there should not be too many rules and regulations. Since Decision (D).E, which allowed the Council to accept a performance on its technical merits, would cater for a multi-extent peal of Triples.

Mr. Peachey said that he would not like to ring a long length of Triples simply hoping that the Council would recognise it as a peal, but both Mr. J.R. Taylor and Mr. J.R. Mayne warned of the dangers of formulating Decisions in haste and in a general meeting.

After further exchanges, Dr. D.H. Niblett (Kent CA) proposed that

“Decision (D).B.4 be amended to read:

• Peals of Triples shall be rung on eight bells with the tenor an cover and shall consist of at least 5040 true changes, rung in any combination of the following:

  (a) One or more true and complete 5040s.

  (b) Round blocks of two or more 5040s in which each of the successive blocks of 5040 rows is true and complete.

  (c) Round blocks is which each of the 5040 different rows occurs the same number of times, and containing no round block of plain leads, or of identically called leads, in one method.”

The motion was seconded by Mr. B.D. Threlfall, and carried on a vote.

Future meetings

The Hon. Secretary reminded members that invitations had been accepted for 1983 (when the meeting would be in Lichfield, with the Council the guests of the Lichfield Archdeaconry Society), 1984 (Beverley), and 1989 (Brighton); and that there had been an invitation from the Ancient Society of College Youths for the Council to hold its centenary meeting in 1991 in London.

Any Other business

In reply to Mr. R.A. Grant (Surrey A), the Hon. Secretary said that the Rules and Decisions printed in the Council Handbook were complete to the start of the 1981 meeting. He hoped that the Publications Committee would in due course provide an amendment slip to list the changes agreed during the past two Council meetings.

He then reported that 8 Life, 164 Representative, and 17 Honorary members had attended the meeting, a new record. 62 affiliated societies had been represented.

Votes of thanks

Closing the meeting, the President proposed thanks to all those who had made the meeting possible - the authorities and staff of Bedford School, the Director and staff of Bedford College of Higher Education, the Vicar of St. Peter’s Church and the incumbents of churches at which members of the Council had been allowed to ring, and the officers and members of the Bedfordshire Association.

He noted that the gavel he had used throughout the meeting was the property of the Bedfordshire Association and had been made by Mr. Kenneth Spavins, who had died the previous Saturday.

The Ringing World, June 25, 1982, pages 530 to 532