The meeting was chaired by the Master, Canon Barry Fry who welcomed everybody to Privett. Supported by the Honorary General Secretary Steve Castle, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, he started proceedings at 3.20 p.m. with a prayer.
The Master announced the results of the Guild Inter District striking competition held at Hawkley earlier in the day and presented the trophy to the winning team:
| 1. | Winchester District | 80.4 % | ||
| 2. | Alton & Petersfield District | 78.6 % | ||
| 3. | Portsmouth District | 77.0 % | ||
| 4. | Andover District | 73.2 % |
The following 73 members signed the attendance book: Francis Mitchell (Bishop’s Waltham), Jonathan Hetherington (Bitterne Park), Marie Boniface, and Rachel & Andrew Byford (Catherington), Terry Collins, Bill Harris and Val Williams (East Meon), Judy Bishop (Easton), Jeremy Boyd-Wallis and Teresa Brown (Froxfield), Jim Twiney (Hambledon), Andrew Banks and Roger Barber (Hawkley), Sue & Andrew Craddock, Ceri Dodd, Christine, Peter, Katie & Rosemary Hill, Chris, Ian & Jamie McCallion, David Salter, Christine & Barry Saunders, Jenifer Smith, Tessa & Tony Smith, Pam & Richard Thompson, and Liz Thornton (Hursley), Pam Bridger and Jen Churchill (Lockerley), Robert Cater (Long Preston), Rex Corke (Lymington), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Maureen Kelly (Newchurch), Phil Watts (North Stoneham), Mo Routh (Petersfield), Marguerite & William Bickers-Jones (Purbrook), John Davey (Ringwood), Michael Hayward (Romsey), Peter Routier (St. Helier), Colin Belsey and Prisca Tremeer (St. John), Chris Caryer and Brian Oakes (St. Mary Bourne), Rachael Barber and Anita Seamons (Selborne), Andrew & Richard Case, and Betty Daysh (Shedfield), Mary Tester (Shorwell), Steve Castle and Barry Fry (Southampton), Hugh Routh (Steep), Charlotte & Edward Colliss (Swanmore), Barbara Townsend and Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Bubb and David Strong (Vale), Paul Rampton (Whitchurch), John Colliss, John Downham, Caroline Eisenhauer, Philip Gorrod, Jack Walters and Margaret Wolverson (Winchester Cathedral) and Joyce Croft (Unattached).
Apologies were presented from:
Bitterne Park ringers, Gail Cater, Michael Church, Val Cleaver, Colin Cook, Crawley ringers, Gilian Davis, Mark Esbester, David Forder, Derek & Ruth Jackson, Roy LeMarechal, Les Tremeer, Martin Waldron, Ray Walsh.
The meeting stood in silence to remember members:
Alex Bleasby of St John Jersey, Valerie Brown of Whitwell, Ann Esbester of Catherington, T John Frodsham previously of Godshill, Teddie Gaffikin of Headbourne Worthy, William Hall previously of St Mark Jersey, Norman Howbrook of Hordle, Gavin Martin-Taylor of Shanklin, Mabel F Mitchell of St John Bournemouth, Bill Poulter of Greywell, Harold Reed (brother of Reg) previously of North Stoneham, Peter Slater of St Peter Bournemouth, Rev’d Bob Southwood previously Chairman of Christchurch & Southampton District, Myrtle Swain of Overton.
Minutes of the 2003 AGM held at St Saviour’s Church Hall, Shanklin Isle of Wight had been circulated to all towers via District Secretaries. The correct version has a footnote of “AGM 07/2003 V2 24/11/03” and was distributed after the November Executive meeting.
They were accepted by the meeting as a true record and signed by the Master.
In response to a question about the distribution of the AGM notice and Agenda, Steve Castle apologised for not ensuring that paper copies were made available to all towers that needed them.
Following the non-election of an Honorary General Secretary at the 2003 AGM to replace Bob Cater, the Executive had appointed Steve Castle to perform that role from 1 January 2004. The appointment was duly ratified by the meeting with no votes against.
A proposal to confer Honorary Life Membership on Bob and Gail Cater for outstanding service to the Guild was proposed by Tony Smith and seconded by Gilian Davis. After Tony had read an impressive list of jobs done and posts held for the Guild and also at Tower and Central Council level, the motion was passed enthusiastically. Bob graciously accepted Life Membership certificates on behalf of himself and Gail.
The reports had been published in the Guild Report. Their acceptance en bloc was proposed by Tony Smith and seconded by Bill Harris. They were accepted with no questions asked and no votes against.
Mike Winterbourne reported on the Council Meeting at Colchester on 31 May, details of which have started to appear in The Ringing World. Items of particular note are: a rule change to allow the forming of a Trends Committee; a modest increase in the affiliation fee to £15; distribution of CCCBR Guidance on Child Protection to all towers and their PCCs; and a change to The Ringing World Articles and Memoranda to keep in step with the Charity Commission.
There were no questions regarding the BRF Report and Accounts, which were accepted with no votes against.
Mike Bubb informed the meeting that the November Executive meeting had approved grants for:
Chilbolton - A general overhaul of the fixtures and fittings. Grant £150 out of a cost of £1,002.
Steep - new gudgeons and ball bearings for the four bells with plain bearings, renew ball bearings on tenor and treble, general work to frame. Grant £1,500 out of a total cost of £10,035.
He confirmed that the Executive was only being asked to approve grants in exceptional circumstances when a request was not available in time for an AGM and could not wait for the next one.
Four further requests had been received in time for presentation for approval at this AGM:
Bramley - Work on the headstock, gudgeons and bearings of the 6th. Total cost £1,782. Grant recommended £150
Crawley - Remove canons from the 2 trebles, remove iron staples from the five bells, provide new
fittings for the five bells and rehang. Total cost £16,275. Grant recommended £1,750Fawley - Remove canons from the three smaller bells, provide all new fittings and rehang. Total cost £14,203. Grant recommended £1,500
St Barnabas, Southampton - Augment from 6 to 8 by the addition of two new trebles. Total cost £12,807. Grant recommended (by the Trustees excluding the Guild Master) £1,500.
Approval of all four requests was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Phil Watts and agreed unopposed.
Master
Michael Bubb took the chair for the election of Guild Master.
Barry Fry was proposed by Martin Waldron, seconded by Steve Castle;
Andrew Craddock was proposed by Phillip Gorrod, seconded by Maggie Wolverson.
Two tellers were appointed to distribute, collect and count ballot papers in a secret ballot, which was won by Andrew Craddock with an undisclosed majority. The successful candidate was welcomed to the officer’s table by Canon Barry Fry, who chaired the remainder of the meeting.
Bob Cater commented on his 11½ years as Honorary General Secretary working with Canon Barry Fry as part of his 18 years as Guild Master. He thanked Barry for his contribution to the well being of the Guild and to the forward thinking developments that had made our Guild one of the most active and well respected Ringing Guilds in the country.
Secretary.
Steve Castle was proposed by Barry Fry, seconded by Andrew Craddock and elected unopposed.
Treasurer
Michael Bubb was proposed by Jack Walters, seconded by David Strong and elected unopposed.
Minutes Secretary
Francis Mitchell was proposed by Steve Castle, seconded by Mike Winterbourne and elected unopposed.
Peal Recorder. Ceri Dodd was thanked by Barry Fry for her 9 years service.
Jonathan Herrington was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Ceri Dodd and elected unopposed
Librarian / Archivist Jack Walters was thanked by Barry Fry for his 5 years service.
Tony Smith was proposed by Jack Walters seconded by Carrie Eisenhauer and elected unopposed.
Report Editor Tony Smith was thanked by Barry Fry for his 7 years service.
David Strong was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Mike Bubb and elected unopposed.
Independent Examiner
Peter Clarke was proposed by Barry Fry, seconded by John Davey and elected unopposed.
Bell Restoration Fund
Trustee for the Portsmouth Diocese
Mark Esbester was proposed by Steve Castle, seconded by Barry Fry and elected unopposed.
Trustee for the Winchester Diocese
Martin Waldron was proposed by Barry Fry, seconded by Mike Bubb.
Jack Walters was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Peter Hill.
After voting by a show of hands counted by the same members who acted as Tellers for the election of Guild Master, Jack Walter was declared elected by an undisclosed majority.
Central Council Representatives : to serve May 2005 - 8
Andrew Craddock did not wish to stand; he was thanked by Barry Fry for 12 years service.
Michael Church was proposed by Steve Castle, seconded by Mike Bubb;
Tony Smith was proposed by Jonathan Hetherington, seconded by Carrie Eisenhauer;
Phil Watts was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Mike Winterbourne;
Mike Winterbourne was proposed by Chris Caryer, seconded by Peter Hill;
Hugh Routh was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Chris Caryer.
The five candidates were elected unopposed.
BRF fund-raising
No candidates were forthcoming, so the committee remains inactive.
Janet Chatfield of Bishop’s Waltham is the contact for Guild Garments, Polo Shirts this year.
Public Relations
David Forder and Francis Mitchell were proposed by Tony Smith seconded by Mike Winterbourne and elected with no votes against. Other committee members are needed, but no other candidates were forthcoming so it was stressed that they can co-opt more Guild members as required.
Social
No candidates were forthcoming, so the committee remains inactive.
The 2005 Guild Dinner is being provided as part of the Channel Islands Festival.
The Guild has been invited to enter this competition to be held on 11 September at Hornchurch. Andy Byford and Chris Kippin are organising a band.
This will be held at Hursley on 4 September 2004.
This is being organised by the Channel Islands District on Saturday 2 July as part of the Channel Islands Ringing Festival which is arranged for 30 June - 3 July 2005.
David Strong described the arrangements for the Festival, which will include the Guild Dinner, AGM, Inter-District Striking Competition and visits to all the Towers in the Channel Islands except Torteval (3) which has an unsafe staircase. The AGM will be held on Guernsey at St Peter Port despite Death Watch Beetle in the church roof. He urged members to apply early to get cheaper flights. Application forms were available at the meeting and on the Guild Web site.
Bob Cater invited the Executive to consider introducing a fixed term of office for Guild Master.
Peter Hill congratulated Colin Cook on his recent PR efforts with school children at Winchester Cathedral. Mike Winterbourne reported that over 200 youngsters had a go on the Lichfield Diocesan mobile belfry which had been hired for this 3 day event and proposed that the Executive Committee take responsibility for organising something similar on an annual basis.
Barbara Townsend, Andover District Secretary reminded senders of Guild messages that a reference to the Guild website was inadequate as she (and others) could not download files from the website.
Andrew Craddock thanked the meeting for electing him as Guild Master and stated that he intended to serve only one three year term of office.
There being no further business, Canon Barry Fry thanked Terry Collins and helpers for making the local arrangements and those present for attending . He closed the meeting with The Grace at 4.54 p.m.