The meeting was chaired by the Master, Andrew Craddock who welcomed everybody to the meeting in St Peter Port, especially the Very Revd Canon K Paul Mellor Dean of Guernsey and Guild Vice President. Supported by the Honorary General Secretary Steve Castle, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, he started proceedings at 14.50 pm by asking Canon Barry Fry to say a prayer.
The Master thanked Roger and Rachael Barber for standing in at short notice to judge the Guild Inter District striking competition held at this Church earlier in the day. Four teams entered, all rang Grandsire Triples.
The result of the competition was:
| 1. | Portsmouth District | 34 faults | ||
| 2. | Channel Islands District | 38.5 faults | ||
| 3. | Winchester District | 42 faults | ||
| 4. | Andover District | 73 faults |
Canon Mellor presented the trophy to Mark Esbester on behalf of the winning team:
The following 54 members signed the attendance book: Ann Wheeler (Alderney), Gwen Mackrell (St. Lawrence, Alton), Ann & Roy LeMarechal (Bishopstoke), Lizzy Asbury, Jonathan Hetherington and Mark Place (Bitterne Park), Rachel & Andrew Byford, and Mark Esbester (Catherington), Gilian Davis (Chawleigh), Gladys Matcham (Eling), Roger Barber (Hawkley), Andrew Craddock, Tony Smith and Richard Thompson (Hursley), Francis Mitchell (Netley), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Phil Watts (North Stoneham), Mo Routh (Petersfield), John Davey (Ringwood), Timothy Knight and Peter Routier (St. Helier), Anne Fraser and Justin Read (St. John, Jersey), Chris Caryer and Liz Thornton (St. Mary Bourne), Paul Lawrence, the Very Rev’d Paul Mellor, Maureen Nicholson, Sue Park and Liz Tucker (St. Peter Port), Richard Pearson and Valérie Tucker (S. Pierre du Bois), Rachael Barber (Selborne), Mary Tester (Shorwell), Val Cleaver (Sopley), Bill Harris (Southwick), Hugh Routh (Steep), Charlotte Colliss (Swanmore), Barbara Townsend (Tangley), Michael Church (Upton Grey), Michael Bubb, Nicky & John David, Gary Marsh, and Anne & David Strong (Vale), Paul Rampton (Whitchurch), John Colliss and Jack Walters (Winchester Cathedral) and Steve Castle, and Joyce & John Croft (Unattached).
Apologies were presented from:
Pauline Bartlett, Marie Boniface, Colin Cook, Sue Craddock, Peter Gallienne, Maureen Kelly, Jane & Phil Le Conte, Vivien Nobbs , Mary Sterry, Les & Prisca Tremeer, Mike Winterbourne, Carolyn Wright.
The meeting stood in silence to remember members:
Connie Clark of Brockenhurst; Leslie Duguid (LM) of Portsmouth; Robert Fowle of Southampton; Rev. William Hall of Jersey (LM); Malcolm Harper of Sherfield English; Fred Mouland of Nether Wallop; Audrey O’Leary of Hambledon; Keith Reynolds of Kingsclere; Cecily C Roberts (LM) of Steep; Edward Roberts of Chale; Nicholas A Weaver of Basingstoke.
Minutes of the 2004 AGM held at Privett Church had been circulated to all towers via District Secretaries. Their acceptance as a true record was proposed by Jonathan Hetherington seconded by John Davey and agreed unopposed by the meeting. They were signed by the Master.
Crawley bells are to reinstalled shortly.
Ruth Jackson and Gladys Matcham of Eling, and R Andrew Routh of Steep will achieve 50 years membership in 2005. They automatically become Life Members.
A proposal to confer Honorary Life Membership on Canon Barry Fry, the Immediate Past Master, for outstanding service to the Guild was proposed by Ann Fraser, seconded by Michael Bubb and passed with an overwhelming majority. The new Life Members were congratulated by the Guild Master.
The Master named each report published in the Guild Report, invited questions and proposed their acceptance en bloc. Their acceptance was proposed by Charlotte Colliss, seconded by Jonathan Herrington and passed with no questions asked and no votes against.
Hugh Routh reported on this year’s Central council meeting at Harrogate.
Tony Smith was congratulated on his election as Vice President. Committee elections for the W&P’s representatives had resulted in Hugh Routh joining the Tower and Belfries Committee, Tony Smith remains as chairman of the Methods committee, Phil Watts is a director of Ringing World Ltd and Michael Church was elected to the Admin committee and the newly created Tower Stewardship committee.
Hugh was impressed by the dedication and hard work of the 234 members of the Central Council.
There were no questions regarding the BRF Report, acceptance of which was proposed by Jonathan Herrington, seconded by John Croft and passed with no votes against.
There were no questions regarding the BRF Accounts, acceptance of which was proposed by Phil Watts, seconded by John David and passed with no votes against.
Mark Esbester informed the meeting that three requests for grants, all for augmentations had been received for presentation for approval at this AGM:
Bitterne Park - Augmentation from 8 to 12. Total cost £32,000, work possibly to be staged. Grant recommended £5,000, to be paid when all work completed.
Approval of this grant was proposed by Roy Lemarechal, seconded by John Davey and passed with no votes against.
Hursley - Augmentation from 10 to 12. Total cost £56,000. Local ringers have raised £30,000 with the rest underwritten by a local benefactor. Grant recommended £2,000.
Approval of this grant was proposed by John Croft, seconded by John Colliss and passed with no votes against.
Selborne - Augmentation from 6 to 8. Total cost £15,000. Grant recommended £2,500.
Approval of this grant was proposed by Jon Hetherington, seconded by Colin Belsey and passed with no votes against.
Andrew Craddock outlined the role of Vice-Master who would usually be expected to stand for election as Master. The Executive Committee had recommended a maximum period of office for both Master and ViceMaster of 6 years.
The Guild Master, Andrew Craddock, proposed from the Chair acceptance of changes to the Guild Rules as circulated with the Agenda:
Rule 4 - Administration. First sentence.
After “Executive Committee … consisting of: Master (Chairman),” insert “Vice-Master,”
Rule 5 - General Meeting. Second sentence.
After “Every third year to elect a Master,” insert “Vice-Master,”
Rule 5 - General Meeting. Third sentence.
“Officers elected shall remain members of the Administration (Rule 4) ex-officio for a period of three years when, if desired, they will remain eligible for re-election.”
Replace with
“Officers elected shall remain members of the Administration (Rule 4) ex-officio for a period of three years when, with the exception of the Master and Vice-Master, they will remain eligible for re-election. The Master and Vice-Master will remain eligible for re-election unless they have previously been re-elected.”
After some discussion and clarification the rule change was approved on a show of hands with no votes against.
Andy Byford announced dates of Guild striking competitions:
6 and 8 bell Tower competitions on 8 October 2005;
Junior competition on 3 September 2005;
The Guild has been invited to enter the Essex Shield competition on 17 September at Isleworth.
Andy Byford and Chris Kippin are organising a band.
Next year’s 6 and 8 bell competition on 20 May 2006.
Barbara Townsend commented that the lack of adequate notice of these events had led to a clash of dates with the Andover District. Andy Byford apologised for any shortcomings in previous publication of these competition dates.
Districts were invited to organise and host the Guild Dinner. In case no offers are received, Winchester Cathedral Refectory has already been provisionally booked.
This is being organised by the Christchurch and Southampton District on Saturday 1 July at Christchurch Priory as Andover were unable to take their usual place in the order of AGM hosting.
John Colliss was congratulated on attending 40 consecutive Guild AGMs.
The Guild Peal Recorder, Jonathan Hetherington reminded members of the one month time limit for Peal submissions.
Mike Bubb informed members present that the Guild Reports were posted to District Secretaries in May, as it would appear that some members had not yet received their reports.
The Guild Master and all present warmly thanked David Strong and the organising committee for doing a tremendous job in organising the ringing festival and AGM. Various problems such as no-fly weather and airline changes had been overcome to make the event a great success.
There being no further business, Andrew Craddock thanked all those present for attending and closed the meeting with The Grace at 3.51 p.m.
The meeting was followed by the W&P 200 Club prize draw.