The meeting was chaired by the Immediate Past Master Gilian Davis in the absence of the Master, Rev. Canon Barry Fry who had to attend the General Synod. After congratulating the Master on his appointment as Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Ruvuma Diocese, Province of Tanzania, she welcomed everybody to the Glebe Hall and supported by the Honorary General Secretary Robert Cater, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, started proceedings at 2.00 p.m by presenting Striking Competition Trophies to: Mark Esbester on behalf of the Portsmouth District who won the Guild Inter District competition earlier in the day; St Michael’s Basingstoke, winners of the Guild 6 bell competition held in May.
The following 41 members signed the attendance book: Alan Hoar, and Lynne & Pete Jordan (St. Michael, Basingstoke), Francis Mitchell (Bishop’s Waltham), Roy LeMarechal (Bishopstoke), Rachel & Andrew Byford, and Mark Esbester (Catherington), Gilian Davis (Christchurch), Terry Collins and Val Williams (East Meon), Michael Lynds and Gladys Matcham (Eling), Andrew Banks and Roger Barber (Hawkley), Andrew Craddock (Hursley), Ceri & Andrew Dodd, Ian McCallion, David Salter and Tony Smith (Hursley), Elizabeth Johnson and Wendy Ling (New Alresford), Phil Watts (North Stoneham), Lee Pinnington (St. Mary, Portsmouth), Jan Allnutt (Purbrook), Elizabeth & John Davey (Ringwood), Colin Belsey, Joy Jackson and Prisca Tremeer (St. John, Jersey), Chris Caryer and Brian Oakes (St. Mary Bourne), Mike Collins (St. Peter Port), Rachael Barber and Jemma Rhodes (Selborne), June Mitchell (Shanklin), Michael Bubb (Vale), Gail & Robert Cater, John Colliss and Jack Walters (Winchester Cathedral) and guest Robin Winckworth (Old Woking).
Apologies were presented from:
Toby & Kathy Arkless, Marie Boniface, Philip & Margaret Carter, Peter Clarke, Susan Clutterbuck, Ben Constant, Rex Corke, Geoff Dodd, David Forder, Barry Fry, Graham Grant, David Hughes, Ruth & Derek Jackson, Maureen Kelly, Barbara Townsend, Les Tremeer, Martin Waldron, Margaret & Michael Winterborne,
The meeting stood in silence to remember members: Ted Barnett (Upham), Elisabeth Goulson (Hambledon), Elizabeth Hillier (Alverstoke), Maurice Manship (Curdridge). Also remembered were Elizabeth Winckworth of Woking who regularly attended Guild meetings and Jeffrey Kershaw of the Lancashire Association.
Minutes of the 2001 AGM held at Minstead Village Hall had been circulated to all Towers.
They were accepted by the meeting as a true record and signed by the Immediate Past Master.
There were no matters arising.
Mike Goss and Jane Tarrant of Andover District, Peter Smith of Freshwater were congratulated on achieving 50 years membership of the Guild and were awarded Life Membership. Production of their Life Membership certificates had been delayed by Graham Grant’s incapacity, they will be presented at a later date.
Gillian Davis named the reports, already published in the Guild Report after approval by the Executive Committee, and asked for comments.
Ceri Dodd, Guild Peal Recorder, explained the note on page 60 to a peal rung at Haslemere on 18 September 2001 to mark the centenary of the first Peal on the bells, which the band wished to associate with our Guild, in addition to The Guildford Diocesan Guild, as the Tower was in Winchester Diocesan Guild when the first peal was rung. However, the band did not include enough resident members of The W&P for a valid tower election of a compounding member. The member has since been elected at a District meeting.
Publication of the peal in the Guild report had been recommended by the Executive on a majority vote, subject to approval by the AGM. Terry Collins, Chairman of the Alton & Petersfield District, proposed that the meeting should approve the acceptance of the peal as being rung for the Guild. This was carried by an overwhelming majority of members present, with one vote against and one abstention.
Mike Bubb introduced the Accounts, adoption of which was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Roy Le Marechal and carried unopposed.
Mike Bubb explained that the Guild Report contained the abridged BRF Accounts. The full set was available onm request. Acceptance of the BRF Report & Accounts was proposed by Phil Watts, seconded by Mark Esbester and carried unopposed.
Tony Smith reported that all 5 of the Guild’s Central Council Representatives attended the Council Meeting at Norwich on 3 June, details of which will appear in The Ringing World shortly. This was a long meeting as it included Triennial elections, one of the most significant being Derek Sibson as Vice President.
The Annual Meeting of The Ringing World Ltd was notable for the election of a new Board including Mike Winterbourne, after the existing Board members did not offer themselves for re-election.
All of our Guild Representatives are on Central Council Committees: Gail Cater - Ringing Centres (Chairman); Andrew Craddock - Computer Coordination; Tony Smith - Method Committee (Chairman); Phil Watts - Redundant Bells (Chairman); Mike Winterbourne - Education and Director of The Ringing World Ltd.
Gilian Davis congratulated the Guild on having such an effective set of CC Representatives, all of whom were active at Guild and local level as well as nationally. She thanked them on behalf of the members for their hard work and dedication.
Mark Esbester reported on two applications considered by the Executive Committee in March 2002 following a change in the BRF rules which permits grants from the BRF to be approved by the Executive Committee. where time is pressing:
Lockerley, the ring of six have been retuned, quarter-turned and rehung with new headstocks and bearings in the repaired existing frame. This cost just over £26,000, a grant of £3,000 was approved.
Shanklin, have had problems with the go of the bells in their two-tier frame for many years. Various works have been carried out including removal of canons and cast-in crown staples, new headstocks for all the bells, tightening of the frame and insertion of new tie-rods. The cost of this work was £12,200 and a grant of £1200 was approved.
Since the last AGM grants have been paid to King’s Somborne, Newport, Ringwood, Niton, Arreton, Eling, Shanklin, St Barnabas, Southampton, Carisbrooke and Privett. One grant previously approved, for work at Bitterne Park, was withdrawn as all the money had been raised locally.
The trustees are only able to release a grant from the BRF, a registered charity, when work is satisfactorily completed. They have now taken this to mean when all fittings are reinstated, the bells rehung and ringing satisfactorily. In some cases the trustees ask for an inspection by the BSC upon completion.
Mark Esbester reported two new applications for grants:.
St Mary’s Crawley, where the cracked third bell (1789) is to be repaired by welding by Soundweld. The cost, including removing the bell from the tower, transport and rehanging, is £1750. The trustees recommend a grant of £200.
All Saints Hursley. Bells 4,6,7,8,9 and 10 hang in a wooden frame built in 1880 from poor material, too slight for the weight of the bells which has deteriorated with age. The proposal is to replace the wooden frame with a new steel frame, rehanging the bells with their existing headstocks, bearings etc. The cost will be £33,000 and the trustees recommend a grant of £3750.
Mark also reported that the grant of £4750 approved for a ring of six at All Saints, Alton three years ago had to be reconsidered under present BRF Rules. The trustees are aware that fundraising is still underway, with over £35,000 already raised or promised towards the original cost of £67,000. As this is still very much a “live” project, the trustees recommend that approval of this grant be renewed.
All the recommendations were approved by the meeting, with no votes against.
June Mitchell had resigned from the BRF Fund Raising committee after eight years as convenor. She was thanked for her efforts in raising money for the BRF. Gilian Davis sought nominations of someone else to join the committee, currently consisting of Peter and Wendy Claridge. No nominations were received, so the post remains open. Tony Smith confirmed that according to Guild rules, it was up to the committee to elect its own Convenor.
The Guild Treasurer Mike Bubb had circulated a paper pointing out the effect on Insurance Premiums of the tragic events in America on 11 September 2001. The Guild’s Public Liability Insurance premium has doubled and to meet it subscriptions need to increase by £1 a member. The importance of maintaining insurance cover for members carrying out Tower maintenance was endorsed by the meeting, so ruling out a possible cheaper alternative.
Michael Bubb proposed that all Subscription rates be increased by £1, seconded by June Mitchell and carried unopposed. It was noted that the increase applied immediately.
Francis Mitchell of the Public Relations Committee invited members to let himself or David Forder have their suggestions for ways of celebrating this significant milestone in 2004. The AGM that year will be held in Alton & Petersfield District. District Representatives were asked to pass on the request for ideas to their Districts. A paper will be prepared for the Executive.
The Channel Islands District is due to host the AGM in 2005. A Ringing Festival may be organised.
The Guild Dinner will be held on the Saturday after Easter as usual. (26 April 2003).
Mike Winterbourne had provided dates of Education events in 2003, distributed to all towers.
15a. Transfer of Barton Stacey to Winchester District.
Now that Barton Stacey in the Andover District, has the same Incumbent and mostly the same ringers as Wonston in the Winchester District, the local band would like Barton Stacey to be in the Winchester District.
This proposal is supported by both Districts concerned and the Executive.
The transfer was proposed by Elizabeth Johnson, seconded by Brian Oakes and carried unopposed.
This is being organised by the Isle of Wight District on 5 July 2003.
The Inter District Striking Competition will be held in the morning.
Phil Watts reported that the Council for the Care of Churches had almost finished compiling their list of Bells and Bell Frames to be recommended for Listing. The list of bell frames, though not complete, contained mainly 2 and 3 bell frames so would not impact the maintenance of ringing peals.
Francis Mitchell draw attention to a Ringing World article about planned celebrations for the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 2005. As many events will be centred on HMS Victory in Portsmouth Dockyard, it was thought appropriate for the Portsmouth District to suggest suitable ringing, possibly in conjunction with the Royal Naval Guild.
The Public Relations Committee has a fresh supply of Ringer Recruitment leaflets produced by the Central Council. Most Districts took some at the meeting, more can be obtained from Francis Mitchell.
There being no further business, the Immediate Past Master thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting with The Grace at 3.00 p.m.
Tony Smith proposed a vote of thanks to Gilian Davis for her excellent Chairmanship of the AGM, which was warmly applauded by all present.
A draw for the W&P 200 club took place after the meeting.