The Master Rev. Barry Fry, supported by the Honorary General Secretary Robert Cater, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, opened the meeting at 1.40 p.m. with a short prayer. He welcomed everybody to Minstead Village Hall and thanked Charlotte Colliss for taking notes while the Minute Secretary, and other members, found the hall.
The following Sixty one members signed the attendance book: Francis Mitchell and Carolyn Wright (Bishop’s Waltham), Roy LeMarechal and Barry Pointer (Bishopstoke), Lucy Britt (Bitterne Park), Kim Matthews (Sacred Heart, Bournemouth), Barry Fry (Brockenhurst), Michael Hayward (Broughton), Mike Goss (Burghclere), Sue Mansfield (Carisbrooke), Rachel & Andrew Byford, and Mark Esbester (Catherington), Elizabeth & Dennis Chapman, Ruth Jackson and Gladys Matcham (Eling), Andy Ingram (Fawley), Andrew Banks (Hawkley), Andrew Craddock, Ceri & John Dodd, Christine & Ian McCallion, David Salter, Tessa & Tony Smith, and Pam & Richard Thompson (Hursley), Helen Piper (Kingsclere), Paul Trend (Lyndhurst), David Weir (Newport), Phil Watts (North Stoneham), Lee Pinnington (St. Mary, Portsmouth), Jan Allnutt (Purbrook), Elizabeth & John Davey (Ringwood), Colin Belsey, Peter Routier and Jack Worrall (St. Helier), Prisca & Les Tremeer (St. John), Jemma Rhodes and Rachael Seamons (Selborne), Ben Waterson (Southampton), Brian Oakes (St. Mary Bourne), Charlotte & Edward Colliss (Swanmore), Barbara Townsend and Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Church (Upton Grey), Michael Bubb (Vale), Paul Myers (Whitchurch) and Margaret & Philip Carter, Gail & Robert Cater, John Colliss, Carrie Eisenhauer, Jack Walters and Margaret Wolverson (Winchester Cathedral).
Apologies were presented from:
The Kings Somborne band, Marie Boniface, Lucy Church, Peter Clarke, Ben Constant, Rex Corke, Susan Craddock Gilian Davis, Derek Jackson, Elizabeth Johnson, Patrick Matthews, Paul Mason, Roger Smith, Martin Waldron, Faith and Tony Webster, and Margaret Winterbourne.
The meeting stood in silence to remember:
Ed Bellis of Wickham, Stephen Kirby of Southampton, Harold Moody (LM) Alton, Frank Rich of St Marybourne, Flora MacDonald Stocker of Milford on Sea, Enid and Ernie Treagus of Westbourne, unattached members in the Portsmouth District and Colin Steers (not a member but Partner of Gilian Davis).
Minutes of the 2000 AGM held at Winchester Cathedral Refectory had been circulated to all Towers. They were accepted by the meeting as a true record and signed by the Master.
Gilian Davis was thanked by the Master on behalf of all who attended this most enjoyable event at Winchester Cathedral and the Cathedral Refectory.
The Master expressed the Guild’s gratitude to Peter & Wendy Claridge for their efforts in organising the Raffle which raised £1500 for the Bell Restoration Fund.
Thanks were expressed to all involved in organising this year’s extremely successful Open Day which raised £816 for the BRF. One of the highlights was the ringing and wine at Botley, where the new six was open to visitors for the first time.
Terry Tarrant of Andover and Ken Tipper of Petersfield were congratulated on achieving 50 years membership of the Guild and were awarded Life Membership.
The Executive had recommended that Life Membership be awarded to Jack Worrall for his outstanding contribution to the revival and current good health of ringing in the Channel Islands District, including the installation of the ring of bells at St Mark’s Jersey. This was agreed by the meeting and the Master presented him with a Life Membership Certificate
Tony Smith was thanked for a well-produced 2000 Guild Report which had been distributed earlier in the year. It includes the details of an anniversary peal at Wonston which was rung in good faith for the Guild, but did not include enough resident members for a valid tower election of a compounding member. The member has since been elected at a Winchester District meeting.
The AGM approved the acceptance of the peal as being rung for the Guild, in accordance with rule 19. The reports as printed in the Guild Report were adopted by the meeting, proposed by Rachael Seamons, seconded by John Colliss.
There were no comments on the Accounts, which were adopted by the meeting without opposition.
There was no comment on the BRF Report & Accounts, which were adopted unopposed.
Gail Cater reported on the 2001 Central Council Meeting at Liverpool over the Spring Bank Holiday, which was attended by all five of the Guild’s representatives. Mike Winterbourne was elected to the Education committee, so all five are now serving on a committee or the board of The Ringing World.
Members were advised to read the full report in The Ringing World. There was some discussion on the “Peal” of Spliced Surprise 16 at Birmingham and the Review of the Ringing World, during which it was revealed that supplying bound volumes of the Ringing World had been discontinued for financial reasons, but it is hoped to make collected copies available on CD ROM.
Mark Esbester gave details of applications for grants received from 7 churches:
Overhaul clappers, replace pulleys and check the wheels. Total cost £3,310, recommended grant is £400.
A two part application. The first part concerns “running repairs” to the clock hammers, bell frame, replacing at least one pulley, overhauling bearings and rebuilding wheels. Cost is £12,384 recommended grant £1,250.
The second part is a possible augmentation to ten. Cost £15,301, recommended grant is £1,500.
Following discussion at last year’s AGM, this ring of six has been retuned, rehung and refurbished. The job has been completed, but money is still owed. The total cost of the work was £23,000 and the grant recommended is £2,300.
This application also has two parts. The first is to replace or adjust the clappers so as to reduce the oddstruckness of the bells. This part will cost £3,758 and a grant of £500 is recommended.
The second part is to remove the old bell chamber floor, just above the bells which has a very detrimental effect on the sound of the bells. A new walkway around the inside of the tower walls will give access to the louvres. This work will cost £6,155 and a grant of £500 is suggested.
Substantial repairs to the fittings, including bearings, pulleys, and softwood fittings. The cost is £8,755 recommended grant £1,000.
Refurbishment of all fixtures and fittings, including bearings, gudgeons, turning the clappers etc. The total cost is £3000; as there is no congregation at this redundant church where the bells are readily available to Guild members, a larger than usual grant of £750 is recommended.
Weld the cracked seventh, remove canons and cast-in crown staples from 4 (not very old) bells, quarter-turn some bells and replace headstocks, bearings and pulleys. Cost £14,716, a grant of £1,500 is recommended.
The seven recommended grants come to a total of £9,700. The proposal was accepted without dissent.
It was reported that recent income to the BRF included a legacy of £10,000 from Enid Treagus’ will.
The Master thanked Ian McCallion for his efforts as Guild PRO and convenor of the Public Relations Committee, from which he had to resign due to family commitments. David Forder has taken over as Convenor of the Public Relations Committee.
Michael Church proposed a vote of thanks to Ian for his efforts as Editor of the Guild Newsletter over many years, which was heartily endorsed by the meeting.
A revised copy of the BRF rules had been circulated to members after discussion at District Meetings.
It included provision for urgent grants to be approved by the Executive to avoid a long wait for the next AGM, as well as a general tidy up of the rules.
There were no questions asked and the revised rules were adopted by the meeting with 47 votes for and none against.
Bob Cater took the chair for the election of Guild Master, for which Barry Fry was proposed by Dennis Chapman, seconded by Gladys Matcham and elected unopposed.
The Master expressed his and the Guild’s appreciation of Bob Cater’s hard work and commitment to the Guild and proposed him from the chair, he was elected unopposed.
Michael Bubb was proposed by Jack Worral, seconded by Prisca Tremeer and elected unopposed.
Ceri Dodd was proposed by Roy Le Marechal, seconded by Andrew Craddock and elected unopposed.
Jack Walters was proposed by Bob Cater, seconded by Brian Oakes and elected unopposed.
Tony Smith was proposed by Mark Esbester, seconded by Francis Mitchell. Tony indicated his willingness to stand for one more term only and was elected unopposed.
Francis Mitchell was proposed by John Colliss, seconded by Phil Watts and elected unopposed.
Mark Esbester was proposed as Trustee for the Portsmouth Diocese by Rachael Leach, seconded by Jan Allnut. Martin Waldron was proposed as Trustee for the Winchester Diocese by Ruth Williams, seconded by John Dodd. They were both elected unopposed.
Five representatives were required, to serve from the Central Council meeting at Norwich in 2002.
Mike Winterbourne was proposed by Barry Pointer, seconded by Ben Waterson;
Tony Smith was proposed by John Colliss, seconded by David Salter;
Phil Watts was proposed by Mike Winterborne, seconded by Jack Walters;
Andrew Craddock was proposed by David Salter, seconded by Ian McCallon;
Michael Church was proposed by Michael Bubb, seconded by Andrew Craddock;
Gail Cater was proposed by Margaret Wolverson, seconded by Ruth Jackson; In a secret ballot, Mike Winterbourne, Tony Smith, Phil Watts, Andrew Craddock and Gail Cater were elected.
Peter Clarke was proposed by Jack Walters, seconded by Mike Winterbourne and elected unopposed.
This is being organised by the Basingstoke District on 6 July 2002.
It was requested that the AGM details be placed on the Guild Website.
Next year’s open day to raise funds for Bell Restoration will be held on the Isle of Wight on 6 May 2002, organised jointly with the Society for the Preservation of Isle of Wight Church Bells, with whom the profits will be shared..
Margaret Wolverson requested comments from members on their preferred format for the Guild Dinner.
Mike Winterbourne thanked all those who had helped with the very successful Education events so far this year, or were going to help with the remaining ones on 20 October and 10 November 2001.
Suggestions were requested on how to mark the Guild’s 125th birthday in 2004.
All Towers are encouraged to organise special ringing to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee on Monday or Tuesday 3-4 June 2002.
Tony Smith thanked John Dodd for his help in preparing the Guild Report. He agreed with a request that the collection of Peal Compositions from the Guild Report be put on the Guild web site.
Phil Watts had been asked by the Council for the Care of Churches to look at the list of listed bells and bell frames in the two Diocese. He asked to be informed of any more modern bells which may be considered worth listing.
Roy Le Marechal informed the meeting that the “Hampshire Bells” CD was selling well, He had already donated £1,000 to the BRF with another £500 collected. He was warmly thanked for this major success in creating good quality recordings of very good quality ringing.
The results were announced of the Inter-District Eight Bell Striking Competition, held earlier in the day at Milford on Sea and judged by the Guild Master, Fr Barry Fry. He congratulated all concerned on the high turnout, with only 1 (mainland) District not represented and on the good standard of ringing. Winchester District were declared the winners with only 3 faults between the first 3 bands, and the shield was presented to Roy Le Marechal.
There being no further business, the Master thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 3.14 p.m.
A draw for the W&P 200 club took place after the meeting.