The meeting was chaired by the Master David Strong, who was supported by the Honorary General Secretary Pam Thompson, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell.
He started proceedings at 17.00 p.m. by welcoming members and friends to the meeting in Goodworth Clatford Village Club. The Master thanked all concerned in the Andover District for organising the day, especially Barbara Townsend and team for making the arrangements and providing an excellent tea. He also thanked the Vicar and organist and asked Canon Barry Fry to say an opening prayer.
Chris Caryer thanked the judges Neil Rossiter and Peter Ellis of Reading and all who took part in the 8-bell InterDistrict Striking Competition held at Highclere earlier in the day. All the bands rang Grandsire Triples.
The results were:
| 1. | Winchester District | 26 Faults | ||
| 2. | Portsmouth District | 28 Faults | ||
| 3. | Andover District | 42 Faults | ||
| 4. | Alton & Petersfield District | 69 Faults |
The Master presented a representative of each team with a certificate and thanked Chris Caryer for organising the competition.
The following 39 members signed the attendance book: Gwen Mackrell (St. Lawrence, Alton), Ian Rees (St. Michael, Basingstoke), Peter Clarke (Bishopstoke), Michael Goss (Burghclere), Rita (guest) & David Hughes (Buriton), Rachel & Andrew Byford, and Mark Esbester (Catherington), Christine Knights-Whittome (Goodworth Clatford), Andrew Banks (Hawkley), Andrew Craddock, and Pam & Richard Thompson (Hursley), Jen Churchill, Bren & John Palk. Joy Scanlan, and Anne & David Strong (Lockerley), Francis Mitchell (Netley), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Jan Allnutt and Allan Yalden (Purbrook), John Davey and David Wilson (Ringwood), Rosemary Oakeshott (Romsey), Andrew Case (Shedfield), Keith Gillings (Sherborne St. John), Barry Fry (Southampton), Chris Caryer, Brian Oakes and Liz Thornton (St. Mary Bourne), Charlotte Colliss (Swanmore), Barbara Townsend and Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Bubb (Vale) and John Colliss and Peter Niblett (Winchester Cathedral).
Apologies were presented from:
Toby and Kathy Arkless, Anne Bailey, Roger and Rachael Barber, Isobel Broome, Steve Castle, Val Cleaver, Susan Clutterbuck, Gill Gardner, Clare Griffiths, Mike Hayward, Ruth and Derek Jackson. Maureen Kelly, June Mitchell, Bruce Purvis, the Shannon family, Tony Smith, Mary Tester, Jack Walters, Margaret Winterbourne.
The meeting stood to remember:
Alan French of Niton, Brig. Martin Lance of Froxfield, Michael Morley of Brockenhurst, Jenny Orchard of Christchurch Priory, Jack Page of Romsey, Kathleen Pooles of Wootton St Lawrence, David Reed of Ringwood, Jenny Scott of Vale.
Minutes of the 2008 AGM at Hursley had been circulated to all towers via District Secretaries. They were accepted as a true record and signed by the Master.
Election of Life Members
A Proposal put to the 2008 AGM regarding changes to the procedure for the nomination and election of Honorary Life Members had been deferred to the Executive Committee.
After considerable discussion by the Executive Committee, it had been recommended to the AGM that this motion should not be carried forward. This was agreed by the meeting without comment.
David Hughes of Buriton, Gwen Mackrell of St Lawrence Alton and David Wilson of Ringwood achieved 50 years membership in 2009 and automatically become life members. They were all congratulated by the Guild Master and presented with life member certificates.
The Master reminded the meeting that reports and accounts published in the Guild Report had already been approved by the Executive Committee and invited questions and comments on each report in turn (in alphabetical order)
| i. | Belfry Stewardship Committee Report | No comment. | |
| ii. | BRF Fund Raising Committee Report | No comment. | |
| iii. | Communications Committee Report | No comment. | |
| iv. | Education Committee Report | ||
| Thanks were expressed to the Committee and helpers by Mike Winterbourne and David Strong. | |||
| v. | Honorary General Secretary’s Report | No comment. | |
| vi. | Honorary Librarian & Archivist’s Report | No comment. | |
| vii. | Honorary Peal Recorder’s Report | No comment. | |
| viii. | Honorary Treasurer’s Report | ||
| The figure at the bottom of the Central Fund Balance Sheet on page 7 should be £36.37, not 6.37. | |||
| ix. | Public Relations Officer’s Report | No comment. | |
| x. | Social Committee Report | No comment. | |
| xi. | Striking Competition Committee Report | No comment. | |
Mike Winterbourne’s vote of thanks to all report authors was greeted with applause from the meeting.
Peter Niblett reported on this year’s Central Council meeting at Worcester which was ably chaired by Tony Smith. The Guild was also represented by Michael Church, Peter Niblett, David Strong and Mike Winterbourne. Phil Watts also attended as a Director of the Ringing World.
He mentioned some points which may be of interest to Guild members:
The Biography Committee which keeps a record of Central Council members has had its remit widened to include past and present well known ringers;
The Roll of Honour of ringers who lost their lives in war is kept in St Paul’s cathedral and is now online. Please can this be checked for those known to our Guild;
The next implementation of the Child Protection Act will be clearer with different requirements for CRB checks. Guilds are recommended to appoint their own Child Protection Officers.
The Ringing Foundation is one year old. It raises funds for training and teaching ringers rather than maintaining bell hardware.
There were no questions regarding BRF Report and Accounts,
Andrew Case updated the meeting on work in connection with grants already approved:
Bishops Waltham - overhaul the fittings and recast the fourth, scheduled for October this year.
Chawton - New six, work to be completed soon.
North Stoneham and St Barnabas Southampton - No known progress.
Requests for grants already approved by the Executive Committee:
Shanklin - The last phase of work is to replace pulley blocks and fit flapper boards. Cost £3,433. A grant of £450 had been approved by the Executive in November 2008 as a matter of urgency. Work should be completed later this year.
East Tytherley - New hardwood rollers and boxes at a cost of £783. The recommended grant of £250 had been agreed by the March Executive meeting as a matter of urgency. Work has been completed.
New requests for grants:
Hannington - Augment from three to six hung lower in the tower. An increased grant had been requested due to increase in costs from £59,000 to £66,000 with almost £59,000 raised. Another £250 was recommended in addition to £5,000 already approved;
Avington - Augment from three to six, cost £37,000, recommended grant £2,000;
Bramshott - Rebush and realign clappers on bells 2,5 and 6. Cost £1,376, recommended grant £250;
Portsmouth Cathedral - Augment from 10 to 12. Cost £35,000, recommended grant £4,500;
St Mary Portsea - Pulley replacement and repairs including cleaning bearings. Grant deferred pending inspection by Belfry Stewardship Committee and possible additional quotes.
These recommendations were seconded by Barbara Townsend and carried unopposed.
There were no nominations. The Guild Master appealed for volunteers to be identified.
The sole member of this committee, June Mitchell had stood down. She was thanked by the Guild Master. There were no nominations. The Guild Master appealed for volunteers to come forward.
David Strong outlined the need for this new post to ensure the Guild obeyed the legal requirements of the latest tranche of Child Protection legislation. John Davey agreed to stand. He was proposed by Anne Strong, seconded by Jen Churchill and elected with no votes against.
Jack Walters wished to stand down as Winchester Diocesan BRF Trustee, so a replacement was needed for one year. Canon Barry Fry was proposed by Andy Byford, seconded by John Palk and elected unopposed.
A proposal by Tony Smith had been circulated with the Agenda, explaining the Central Council’s practice of holding its annual meeting by invitation of the major territorial Guilds and suggesting that the Guild should offer to host such a meeting on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend in 2016 or a later year, possibly in Portsmouth. This was seconded by John Davey.
A venture of this size would involve the whole Guild and would need organisers capable of handling a turnover of up to £10,000, though most of the cost would be borne by the Central Council. John Colliss and Mark Esbester were on the organising committee for the 1980 Central Council meeting held in Southampton and gave favourable reports of the effort involved and their experiences.
Andrew Craddock felt there was a degree of apathy amongst Guild members and feared the organisation of this event would run out of go over the next seven years. He proposed an amendment to the proposal setting up a working party to investigate the feasibility of inviting the Central Council in 2016, to report back to the March executive meeting, who would then issue the invitation or not. This amendment was seconded by Keith Gillings but lost with 11 votes for and 16 against.
The original proposal was carried with 25 votes for and none against.
Mike Winterbourne proposed that by the next Executive Committee meeting in November a committee should be put together to report back to the next AGM on possibilities for the meeting. This was seconded by Anne Strong but it was pointed out that the Central Council had not yet accepted the invitation, so setting up the committee now was somewhat premature. The motion was lost by an overwhelming majority.
Chris Caryer reported that the existing Alec Gray trophy had been repaired, but it was not a permanent job and a replacement cup was required to fit on the existing engraved plinth, to be paid for either by the Guild or a donor. John Colliss proposed that a new harder wearing cup be acquired and a donor be sought, but the Guild would pay if a donor was not forthcoming. This was seconded by Mike Bubb and passed with no votes against.
Following discussion at the Executive prompted by the Guild Librarian and Archivist, Bruce Purvis, it was confirmed that the Guild handbells are in basically good condition and are usable, but need smartening up. Mark Esbester proposed a formal quote be obtained from Taylors and Whitechapel. This was seconded by Peter Niblett and carried.
An increase in the capacity of the Guild Library in Winchester Cathedral Ringing chamber had been progressed by the Executive Committee. The scheme for extending the cabinets upwards had been approved by the Cathedral fabric committee and their architect had approved the increased floor loading.
The Guild just needs to sell 17 more copies of “The Bells of the Channel Islands” to break even on it. Mark Esbester was thanked for the funds raised by the W&P 200 Club. Mark stressed that all members, especially new ones, are welcome to join.
A 10 bell Inter-district striking competition is arranged for 5 Sept 2009 at Portsmouth.
Details of the 2010 Guild Dinner will be announced shortly.
This will be held at Basingstoke on Saturday 3 July 2010 and will include triennial elections.
The Guild minutes on the website will be checked by the Minute Secretary for completeness and accuracy.
Chris Caryer appealed for more towers and Districts to enter the Guild competitions. After making efforts to get venues and judges it was disappointing to get few entries. He appealed for ideas on how to encourage more teams to take part. Several Districts reported difficulties in raising bands for striking competitions. It was suggested that District Officers should encourage towers, especially winners of District competitions, to enter the Guild contests.
David Strong thanked Chris Caryer for his enthusiasm in sorting out the trophy and encouraging more teams to try and win it.
There being no further business, the Master, David Strong closed the meeting at 6.55 p.m.
The meeting was followed by the W&P 200 Club prize draw.