The meeting was chaired by the Master David Strong, who was supported by the Honorary General Secretary Clare Griffiths, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and the Minute Secretary Pam Thompson.
Canon Barry Fry said a short prayer to open the meeting.
The Master, David Strong, welcomed members and friends to the meeting in Newport. The Master thanked all concerned in the Isle of Wight District for organising the day, especially Mary Tester and team for making the arrangements and providing an excellent tea. He also thanked the Vicar for taking the service.
Mike Hopkins Till had judged the competition which involved three bands.
All the bands rang Grandsire Triples.
The results were:
| 1. | Winchester District | 106 faults | ||
| 2. | Isle of Wight District | 108 faults | ||
| 3. | Alton & Petersfield District | 131 faults |
The following 58 members signed the attendance book: Lizzie Hough (Alverstoke), Viv Nobbs (Arreton), Ian Rees (Basingstoke), Clare Griffiths (Bishopstoke), Jenny Brudenell, Graham Nobbs and Ian Orchard (Carisbrooke), Mary Floyd (Chale), Yvonne Cooper and Peter Smith (Freshwater), Caroline May (Godshill), Andrew Banks and Roger Barber (Hawkley), Gill Wilson (Hinton Admiral), Christine & Rosemary Hill, Tessa & Tony Smith, and Pam & Richard Thompson (Hursley), Jen Churchill, Rosemary Oakeshott, John Palk and David Strong (Lockerley), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Alan Beaton and Heather McNaughton (Newchurch), Ian Carey (Portsmouth Cathedral), Elizabeth & John Davey (Ringwood), Adrian Burns, Jo Davis, Stephen Haynes and Jill Taylor (Ryde), Margaret, Barry & Kieran Downer, and June Mitchell (Shanklin), Andrew Case (Shedfield), Keith Gillings (Sherborne St. John), Mary Tester (Shorwell), Barry Fry (St. Barnabas, Southampton), Maureen & Hugh Routh (Steep), Charlotte & Edd Colliss (Swanmore), Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Church (Upton Grey), Michael Bubb, and Nicky & John David (Vale), Ann Harris (Whitwell), John Colliss, Lucy & Mike Hopkins Till, Peter Niblett and Bruce Purvis (Winchester Cathedral) and guest Gail Terry (Redhill).
Apologies were presented from Diana Bishop, Susan Clutterbuck, Sue Day, Derek and Ruth Jackson, Toni Keele, Christine Knights-Whittome, Polly Osborne and Jack Walters
The meeting stood to remember:
| Peggy Chalk | New Alresford & Ropley | |
| Nan Colley | Bishops Waltham | |
| Ted Colley | Bishops Waltham | |
| Barbara Crook | Bramshott | |
| C I Dando | New Alresford | |
| Tom Drew (HLM) | Romsey Abbey | |
| Don Exell | Arreton | |
| Robert Field | Ringwood | |
| Michael Goss (HLM) | Burghlere | |
| Martin Harbord | East Meon | |
| Jack King | Winchester | |
| Rose Lee | Curdridge | |
| Patrick Matthews | Bournemouth | |
| John R Philips | Southampton | |
| Cynthia Rolph | Wickham | |
| The Venerable Ronald Scruby | Isle of Wight | |
| Ken Tipper (HLM) | Petersfield |
The minutes of the 2010 AGM at Basingstoke had been circulated to all towers . It was noted that on under 13 (ii) (a) Belfry Stewardship, the name Hugh Cullings should be Keith Gillings and under (b) Education Committee, that Jen Churchill’s name should be added. With these amendments, the minutes were accepted as a true record and signed by the Master.
There were no matters arising.
Jill Taylor of Ryde, Isle of Wight, had achieved 50 years’ life membership of the Guild.
The Master invited comments on each report in turn:
| i. | Hon General Secretary | No comment. | ||
| ii. | Hon General Treasurer | No comment. | ||
| iii. | Education Committee | No comment. | ||
| iv. | Social Committee | It was noted that the dinner at the Holiday Inn, Winchester, had been highly successful. | ||
| v. | Honorary Librarian & Archivist | No comment. | ||
| vi. | Striking Competitions Committee | No comment. | ||
| vii. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | No comment. | ||
| viii. | Hon Peal Recorder | No comment. | ||
| ix. | Communications Committee | No comment. |
David Strong proposed a vote of thanks to all the Report writers.
Mike Hopkins Till reported that Tony Smith had now stepped down as Central Council President. The Ringing Foundation and the Central Council were looking at ways of recruiting younger people into the exercise and were looking for major funding from outside ringing to do further training. A new Stedman composition book had been published which concentrated on Stedman Caters and above. If members were interested in variable hunt bell compositions for calls in Grandsire, then Peter Niblett would be able to assist them.
Mike Winterbourne proposed that the report and accounts be formerly accepted by the meeting and this was seconded by John Davey and carried unopposed.
Barry Fry updated the meeting on the following proposals
Bullington - a ring of three. Restoration work was required on the bellframe which would cost in the region of £25,000 - £26,000. The work would also involve strengthening the tower.
The recommendation was for a grant of £2,000
St John the Baptist, New Alresford. The cost varied depending on the work required but was in the region of £7,300 - £11,000.
The recommendation was for a grant of £1,000.
Brading and Portsea were also in the pipeline for considerataion at a future meeting.
Hugh Routh confirmed that he had set up a company to do bell restoration work.
These proposals were agreed unopposed at the meeting. Elizabeth Johnson thanked the meeting on behalf of New Alresford.
David Strong explained that this was an opportunity for discussion between Districts in an informal way. The main items discussed were:
District operations - combining business meetings with other events; supplementing general practices with training events.
Inter-District co-operation
Websites/electronic newsletters to facilitate more effective communication
Recruitment/retention of ringers
Guild membership and subscriptions
The next meeting would take place on Saturday 29th October 2011 in Southampton.
The posts of Public Relations Officer and BRF Fundraiser were still vacant. There were no nominations for these posts.
Clare Griffiths reported that she was putting in a bulk order for Guild sweatshirts and polo shirts by the end of June. If anybody was interested in buying a shirt, Clare could give them the details after the meeting.
Clare Griffiths reported that the Guild stock of badges had now expired. This has been discussed at the Executive Meeting but there was no consensus of opinion as to whether the Guild still wanted badges or some other item. The minimum order was 450 badges for £250 plus an £80 one off dye for a new design. The Isle of Wight District gave badges to all its new members.
Tony Smith proposed that the Guild reorder 250 badges which would cost £250 and this was seconded by Barry Fry and carried unopposed.
Mike Hopkins Till had kindly offered to form a committee to make the arrangements. Anybody interested in offering help should speak to Mike. There was discussion over whether the visit should take place in one location or several locations. However, the Central Council representatives agreed that one location was better especially for those travelling by train. Portsmouth seemed a good choice.
| Inter-district 10 Bell Striking Competition | 3.9.11 | Whitchurch, Hants | ||
| District Officers’ Forum | 29.10.11 | Southampton | ||
| Executive Committee meeting | 19.11.11 | Southampton | ||
| Guild Dinner | 28.4.12 | Holiday Inn, Winchester |
This would be held on Saturday 7th July 2012 in the Alton and Petersfield District (probably East Meon) and would include Committee elections.
Mike Hopkins Till agreed to provide Striking Competition certificates on thin card as this was more durable than paper.
Tony Smith reported that the Central Council and the Ringing Foundation were liaising together to organise a conference in the Midlands on 12th November 2011 to look at a brighter future for ringing. Each Guild would be invited to send representatives to the meeting and Peter Niblett had been invited to attend. Originally it had been intended that Education Officers would attend but that had now been broadened to include other members. Tony Smith agreed to find out if there would be a formal invitation. There was an urgent need to encourage younger ringers into the exercise as the senior membership was rapidly increasing.
Bruce Purvis told the meeting that the book “Church Bells of the Channel Islands” had almost broken even but there were only two sales in 2009/2010. Jack Walters was currently storing the books but would now like to hand over this responsibility. Suggestions were made to offer the books as raffle prizes or to contact museums or bookstalls on the Islands.
There being no further business, the Master, David Strong, closed the meeting.