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 3.19 p.m. by welcoming members and friends to the meeting in the Glebe Hall. The Master thanked all concerned in the Basingstoke District for organising the day, including Lynne Jordan and team for providing an excellent tea. He also thanked Alan Hoar for taking the service and Paul the organist. He asked Canon Barry Fry to say an opening prayer.
The Master thanked all concerned with organising, judging and participating in the 8-bell Inter-District Striking Competition held on the challenging bells at Bramley earlier in the day. The results were:
| 1st | Christchurch and Southampton District | |
| 2nd | Portsmouth District | |
| 3rd | Winchester District |
The Master presented a representative of each team with a certificate.
The following Thirty-seven members signed the attendance book: Alan Hoar (St. Michael, Basingstoke), Martin Rye (Baughurst), Mark Esbester (Catherington), Alan Barsby (Eversley), Andrew Craddock, Tony Smith, and Pam & Richard Thompson (Hursley), Rosemary Oakeshott, John Palk and David Strong (Lockerley), Francis Mitchell (Netley), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Phil Watts (North Stoneham), Adrian Lewis (Overton), Graham Cane and Robin Winckworth (Petersfield), Ian Carey (Portsmouth Cathedral), John Davey (Ringwood), Andrew Case (Shedfield), Lois Blissett and Keith Gillings (Sherborne St. John), Madge Platt (Silchester), Barry Fry (Southampton), Anne Fraser (St. John, Jersey), Mo & Hugh Routh (Steep), Charlotte Colliss (Swanmore), Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Bubb and Nicky David (Vale), John Colliss, Peter Niblett, Bruce Purvis, Michael Till and Lucy Walpole (Winchester Cathedral) and Ian Rees (Unattached).
Apologies were presented from:
Roger Barber, Diana Bishop, Peter Clarke, Steve Castle, Michael Church, Jen Churchill, Susan Clutterbuck, John and Joyce Croft, Gill Gardner, Clare Griffiths, Derek and Ruth Jackson, Maureen Kelly, Christine Knights-Whittome, Avril Massey, Polly Osborne, Ruth Saint, Ramon Stone, Anne Strong, Barbara Townsend.
The meeting stood to remember:
Helen Mary Allcard of Droxford, Hazel Bailey of Jersey, Charles Blackham of Winchester College, Ruth Cooper of Blackmoor, Joseph Cripps of Bramshott, Colin Inman of Overton, Pamela Joergenson of Alderney, Cynthia Kemp (LM) of Overton, Dorothy Leach of Alderney, Margaret Taylor (LM) of Basingstoke, Tim Wyeth of Ropley.
Minutes of the 2009 AGM at Goodworth Clatford had been circulated to all towers via District Secretaries. The copy to be signed had already been amended in the heading of minute 4 to read “…2008 AGM”.
They were accepted as a true record and signed by the Master.
Hugh Routh was thanked for his technical skill and his persistence in adding an upward extension to the Guild Library cabinets in Winchester Cathedral Ringing Chamber.
Bruce Purvis outlined the state of the Guild handbells and the cost of refurbishing them to varying degrees to cope with fair wear and tear. They were George William’s bells, mainly used for change ringing at Guild functions. The Guild Executive recommends only the repair or replacement of fittings where needed and that their historical integrity should be maintained rather than having them polished and tuned as an orchestral instrument. A new bell will be purchased to make a light twelve and there were concerns that one new bell would look odd if the others were not cleaned and polished.
Tony Smith proposed “The handbells should not be polished by Taylors”. This was seconded by Hugh Routh and carried by a large majority with two votes against. Bruce Purvis was thanked for his efforts in this matter.
Chris Caryer was thanked for his efforts in acquiring a new trophy for the Guild 8-bell striking competition.
Ray Stone of West Meon achieved fifty years membership in 2010 and automatically becomes a life member. He was congratulated by the Guild Master and will be presented with a life member certificate.
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.
| i. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The last part of the report had been omitted from the Guild Report booklet and was read to the meeting. There were also differences in the Accounts. | |||
| ii. | Communications Committee | No comment. | |
| iii. | Education Committee | No comment. | |
| iv. | Honorary General Secretary | No comment. | |
| v. | Honorary Librarian & Archivist | No comment. | |
| vi. | Honorary Peal Recorder | No comment. | |
| vii. | Honorary General Treasurer | No comment. | |
| viii. | Social Committee | No comment. | |
| ix. | Public Relations Officer | No comment. | |
| x. | Striking Competitions Committee | ||
| There had been problems with printing the accounts. | |||
Peter Niblett reported on this year’s Central Council meeting at Derby which was friendly and well run, being chaired by Tony Smith. He mentioned some points which may be of interest to Guild members:
In future there would be “Additional members” instead of “Honorary members”;
The Roll of Honour book is full and will be replaced with additional names. This is a good opportunity to put forward any more ringers killed during the World Wars or subsequent conflicts;
The Ringing Trends Committee confirmed the average age of ringers is older than it used to be and posed the questions of what should be done about it? Do we need young ringers? If so how do we recruit them?
Barry Peachey was standing down from the Central Council;
This Guild’s invitation to host the Central Council meeting in 2016 was gratefully accepted.
Mike Bubb requested members to amend BRF Accounts on page 10 line 8 “£7,000” should read “£7,250”.
Andrew Case updated the meeting on work in connection with grants already approved:
Work had been completed at Bishops Waltham, Chawton, Shanklin, East Tytherley, North Stoneham, Hannington, Avington, Bramshott and Portsmouth Cathedral.
St Mary’s, Portsea - Pulley replacement and repairs including cleaning bearings. Grant deferred pending inspection by Belfry Stewardship Committee and possible additional quotes.
St Barnabas’, Southampton, will make a fresh approach when work is about to start.
New requests for grants at Dummer and Newnham were approved with no votes against.
Michael Bubb presented Phil Watts with a cheque for the grant to North Stoneham, which was received with thanks.
The current post of Child Protection Co-ordinator was created at the Executive Committee on 14 November 2008 and filled by co-option at the last Guild AGM. This proposal is to formalise the post so that the holder is a full Officer of the Guild. David Strong proposed “The post of Child Protection Co-ordinator be replaced by that of Child Protection Officer”.
This was seconded by Michael Bubb and carried with no votes against.
The posts of Public Relations Officer and Child Protection Officer should be listed along with other Guild Officers under rules four and five.
Proposed by David Strong, seconded by Michael Bubb that Rule 4, sentence one and Rule 5, sentence two be amended to insert after ‘Minute Secretary,’ the words ‘Public Relations Officer, Child Protection Officer,’. This was carried with no votes against.
Mike Bubb took the chair. David Strong was proposed by John Palk, seconded by John Davey and elected unopposed. David Strong then resumed the chair.
Mike Till was proposed by Lucy Walpole, seconded by Tony Smith.
Clare Griffiths was proposed by John Colliss, seconded by Andrew Craddock.
Michael Bubb was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Anne Fraser.
Pam Thompson was proposed by Michael Bubb, seconded by John Colliss.
Jon Hetherington was proposed by John Davey, seconded by Andy Banks.
Bruce Purvis was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by John Davey.
John Palk was proposed by Elizabeth Johnson, seconded by Hugh Routh.
No Nominations.
John Davey was proposed by Michael Bubb, seconded by Francis Mitchell.
Peter Clarke was proposed by Michael Bubb, seconded by Mark Esbester.
Andrew Case was proposed by Mark Esbester, seconded by Charlotte Colliss.
Barry Fry was proposed by Michael Bubb, seconded by John Davey.
All the nominated officers were elected unopposed.
The Guild Master thanked all the retiring officers for the work done.
Tony Smith was proposed by Hugh Routh, seconded by John Davey.
Mike Till was proposed by Peter Niblett, seconded by Lucy Wapole.
Peter Niblett was proposed by Andrew Craddock, seconded by John Davey.
Michael Church was proposed by Mark Esbester, seconded by Andrew Case.
Mike Winterbourne was proposed by Bruce Purvis, seconded by John Davey.
All the nominated representatives were elected unopposed.
William Bickers-Jones, Christopher Chapman, John David, Hugh Routh, Roger Barber and Hugh Cullings were proposed by Andy Banks and seconded by John Davey.
Andy Banks was proposed by Hugh Routh and seconded by John Davey.
They were all elected with no votes against.
Christine Knights-Whittome, Joy Scanlon, Polly Osborne and David Strong were elected: more members are still needed.
David Forder, Rosemary Oakeshott and Ian McCallion were proposed by Andrew Craddock, seconded by Pam Thompson, and elected with no votes against.
There were no nominations. David Strong appealed for a volunteer to be co-opted. Pam Thompson requested feedback on how many members actually wanted Guild Striking Competitions. This is to be referred to the Executive.
No nominations: to be referred to the Executive.
There were no nominations. David Strong appealed for volunteers.
It is recommended by the Executive Committee that Guild subscriptions should be increased as follows:
Compounded from not less than £7.50 to not less than £10.00
Annual
Ringing Members from not less than £7.50 to not less than £10.00 unless over 60 in which case from not less than £5.00 to not less than £7.50 or in full time education in which case from not less than £4 to not less than £6.50.
Associate Members from not less than £7.50 to not less than £10.00 unless over 60 in which case from not less than £5.00 to not less than £7.50.
Probationary Members to stay at £2.00
And that £4 of each subscription, other than Probationary Members is allocated to the Bell Restoration Fund.
This was proposed by Pam Thompson, seconded by Mike Bubb to increase funds available to the BRF.
After some discussion this was carried by a large majority with 3 votes against. This will be an immediate increase. It was suggested that the Executive review subscriptions annually and consider whether the qualifying age for senior members should be raised to 65.
The next Executive Committee meeting is on 20 November 2010: names are needed for vacant officer and committee posts.
This will be held on Saturday 2 July 2011 in the Isle of Wight District.
It was suggested that written nominations should be required for Officer and Committee posts.
Mark Esbester asked if all members wanted a printed copy of the Guild Report. Distributing it online would save money. Was holding a list of names for this purpose permitted by the Data Protection Act?
Phil Watts gave notice of the celebration of The Ringing World’s centenary on Sat 26 March 2011.
There being no further business, the Master David Strong closed the meeting at 5.01 p.m.
The meeting was followed by the Winchester and Portsmouth 200 Club prize draw.