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 East Meon. The Master thanked all concerned for organising the day, especially Lucy Hopkins Till for the refreshments in the morning and Mo Routh and her team for providing an excellent tea. He also thanked the organist and the vicar for taking the service.
Ken Davenport of Wokingham had judged the competition.
All the bands rang Plain Bob Major.
The results were:
| 1. | Winchester District | 22 faults | ||
| 2. | Alton & Petersfield District | 26 faults | ||
| 3. | Portsmouth District | 32 faults | ||
| 4. | Christchurch & Southampton District | 35 faults | ||
| 5. | Isle of Wight District | 43 faults | ||
| 6. | Channel Islands District | 45 faults | ||
| 7. | Andover District | 48 faults |
The following 64 members signed the attendance book: Gwen Mackrell, Judy & Andrew Sparling, and Lesley Wilson (St. Lawrence, Alton), Lizzie Hough (Alverstoke), Ian Rees (All Saints, Basingstoke), Peter Clarke, Clare Griffiths, Roy LeMarechal and Graham Wright (Bishopstoke), Kathy & Toby Arkless (Bramshott), Mark Esbester (Catherington). Rosalind Martin (Christchurch), Terry Collins, Rob Ham and Val Williams (East Meon), Margaret Feneley, and Margaret & David Forder (Eling), Teresa Brown (Froxfield), Caroline May (Godshill), Jim Twiney (Hambledon), Andrew Banks (Hawkley), Christine Hill, Tessa & Tony Smith, and Pam & Richard Thompson (Hursley), Joy Martin (St. Mary, Liss), John Palk and David Strong (Lockerley), Elizabeth Johnson (New Alresford), Mary Austin, Graham Cane, Madeline King, Christine Rushton and Robin Winckworth (Petersfield), Malcolm Powell (Portsmouth Cathedral), Diana Bishop (Purbrook), John Davey (Ringwood), Jennifer & Nigel Herriott (Romsey), Viv Nobbs and Jill Taylor (Ryde), Chris Caryer and Liz Thornton (St. Mary Bourne), Betty Daysh and Matthew Wilks (Shedfield), Mary Tester (Shorwell), Barry Fry (St. Barnabas, Southampton), Mo & Hugh Routh (Steep), Charlotte & Edd Colliss (Swanmore), Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), Michael Church (Upton Grey), Michael Bubb (Vale), Peter Niblett (Whitchurch), John Colliss, Lucy & Michael Hopkins Till and Bruce Purvis (Winchester Cathedral) and Alan Buswell (Unattached).
Apologies were presented from Andrew Case, Jen Churchill, John and Joyce Croft, Gary Davies, Francis Ensor, Derek and Ruth Jackson, Andrew Glover, Jon and Lizzie Hetherington, Christine Knights-Whittome, Anthony Manship, Ian and Christine McCallion, Graham Nobbs, Rosemary Oakeshott, Brian Oakes, Bren Palk, Alan Price, David and Ceri Salter, Barbara Townsend, Robin and Gill Wilson.
The meeting stood to remember:
| Muriel Brown | Alton St Lawrence | |
| Cecil Lock | Romsey Abbey | |
| Heather Foot | Titchfield | |
| Mike French | Headbourne Worthy |
The minutes of the 2011 AGM at Newport had been circulated to all towers. It was noted that under 13 (ii) the word “minimum” should be deleted and “dye” changed to “die”. With these amendments, the minutes were accepted as a true record and signed by the Master.
There were no matters arising.
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 | No comment. | ||
| v. | Honorary Librarian & Archivist | No comment. | ||
| vi. | Striking Competitions Committee | Tony Smith pointed out that the first line of the accounts should read “Balance brought forward £19.62” and a line inserted for “6 bell IT rope fees £19.00”. | ||
| vii. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | No comment. | ||
| viii. | Hon Peal Recorder | It was noted that the number of handbell peals for James Croft had been consolidated with those rung by John Croft. James Croft had rung 5 and John Croft had rung 23. | ||
| ix. | Communications Committee | No comment. |
David Strong proposed a vote of thanks to all the Officers and Committees for their work.
Tony Smith reported that four representatives had attended the meeting in Chester over the Jubilee weekend.
Bill Butler was elected a life member of the Council. Andrew Barnsdale, a member of the Alton & Petersfield District now representing the Sussex County Association, had proposed that peals rung on the simulator should be statistically analysed in the peals report.
Peter Niblett reported that discussion focussed on issues around the recruitment and retention of younger ringers as the average age of ringers was increasing with a large proportion now being over sixty years old. In order to encourage and improve the teaching of new ringers, the Integrated Teacher Training Scheme (ITTS) had been created and a paper giving information on this was circulated at the meeting. This initiative was particularly aimed at those ringers who had not taught at all or only a little and a course at Bishopstoke would be run in November 2012.
Nigel Herriott, Chairman of the Ringing World Ltd and ex-officio member of the Central Council, urged everyone to subscribe to the Ringing World and encourage others to do so as well. It was now possible to subscribe to receive an electronic copy.
Mike Bubb reported that the funds were available for use and members were welcome to make applications. Nigel Herriott raised the issue of putting money towards the training of new ringers and David Strong stated that this would be addressed at the next Executive Committee meeting.
Barry Fry updated the meeting on the following proposals:
Cost of work £14,361 plus VAT and £11,500 had been raised.
The recommendation was for a grant of £2,000
Cost of work was £3,975 plus VAT and £4,000 had been raised.
The recommendation was for a grant of £500.
Cost of work was £33,854 plus VAT and £20,000 had been raised.
The recommendation was for a grant of £4,000
Tony Smith proposed that these recommendations be taken en bloc. Seconded by Mike Winterbourne and carried nem con.
Mike Bubb told the meeting that the Trustees had withdrawn the grant to New Alresford at their own request.
Hugh Routh commented that the bell stock survey forms that had been completed (over 90) were now on the Guild website. The future work that might be needed on the bell stock had not been quantified financially.
David Strong reported that three meetings had so far taken place and the objective was to increase communication between the districts. The Education Committee had put on a course for “teaching the teachers” in a response to Forum discussions.
10(a) Life Membership of the Guild
This item was added to the agenda. Alan Price of Lockerley and East Tytherley had been a member of the Guild since 1962 and had therefore completed 50 years’ membership of the Guild. David Strong said he would send him congratulations and his Life Membership Certificate.
10(b) Transfer of Bullington to the Winchester District
This item was added to the agenda. Bullington had requested transfer from the Andover District to the Winchester District as this tower was looked after by the Barton Stacey ringers in the Winchester district. This was carried nem con.
Charlotte Colliss reported that they had only managed to sell just enough tickets for the 2012 Guild dinner in order to break even. There followed discussion on whether members wanted a formal dinner or something more informal. A straw poll showed a slight majority in favour of a formal dinner rather than a less formal event. David Forder suggested that this should be left to the Social Committee to consider what arrangements could be made.
Mike Hopkins Till had circulated a paper proposing that:
The Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild should seek to form a Striking Contests Committee comprising at least one and not more than four members. This was not seconded.
Should a Striking Contest Committee be formed, the members of the committee should be actioned to arrange an Inter-District six-bell competition (rules and details to be developed), an Inter-District eight-bell competition (as is currently run), and an InterDistrict ten-bell competition (as is currently run). The current Inter-Tower eight-bell competition should be abandoned until more support is found throughout the Guild.
An amendment was proposed by Peter Niblett and seconded by Viv Nobbs and supported by Mike Hopkins Till that the inter-tower six bell competition be kept and the eight-bell competition be abandoned. This was carried.
As a result of further proposals, the meeting recommended that the matter should be left in the hands of the new Striking Committee to take on board the indications given by the meeting.
Hugh Routh proposed Roger Barber, Andrew Banks, Christopher Chapman, John Davey, Hugh Routh, Keith Gillings and Charlie Barrett.
Seconded by Kathy Arkless and carried.
There were no nominations.
John Davey proposed David Forder, Rosemary Oakeshott and Ian McCallion.
Seconded by Toby Arkless and carried.
David Strong proposed Ros Brandwood, Chris Caryer, Andy Ingram, Sallie Ingram, Polly Osborne and, with the meeting’s permission, himself.
Seconded by John Davey and carried.
There were no nominations so Clare Griffiths agreed to email to try and find volunteers.
Christine Hill proposed Nigel Herriott and John Davey proposed Peter Niblett. These people were seconded by Richard Thompson and elected.
David Strong proposed a vote of thanks to all members of the committees.
Edd Colliss Proposed by Clare Griffiths, seconded by Graham Wright, and carried.
There were no nominations.
Malcolm Powell Proposed by Lizzie Hough, seconded by Andy Banks, and carried.
David Strong told the meeting that ringing had taken place in 85 different towers and this included 12 peals, 61 quarter peals plus 13 on the Isle of Wight by the Bath & Wells Association and 60 other pieces of ringing. (This has now increased to 17 peals and 66 quarter peals - a total of 143 pieces of ringing in 100 towers).
Members agreed the greeting which had been circulated at the meeting with the addition of “the” before members which would be sent with the book detailing the celebratory ringing.
| Executive Committee meeting | 17th November 2012 | Southampton |
This would be held on Saturday 6th July 2013 in the Channel Islands District and would include Guild Officer elections. Mike Bubb confirmed that there would be an afternoon meeting followed by an evening function.
Viv Nobbs told that the meeting that Kieran Downer had organised a team of young ringers from the Isle of Wight to ring in the Ringing World National Youth Contest. Congratulations were in order especially as four of the ringers had never rung in a striking competition before.
It was noted that the Honorary General Secretary, Clare Griffiths, would not be standing for re-election next year as she now lives in Devon.
There being no further business, the Master, David Strong, closed the meeting.