THE 1969 annual general meeting of the Guild was held on July 5th at Christchurch. The morning was spent ringing in the New Forest area, the route ending at the Priory.
The meeting itself, held in the pleasant surroundings of a newly-refurbished Priory Hall, was attended by about 60 members and friends, who were welcomed by the Master of the Guild. Mr. R. R. Savory.
In presenting his balance sheet for 1968 the general treasurer, Mr. T. H. Francis, revealed a healthy financial situation. The balance was down by only £14 even though over £90 had been donated to restoration and augmentation funds.
RECORD PEAL YEAR
A record peal total of 106 was reported by Mr. D. T. Matkin, the peal recorder. This was the first time a century had been scored, a major contribution having been made by the Andover District of 35 peals, under the leadership of Mr. G. K. Dodd, to celebrate their 40th anniversary. In 62 towers peals had been rung, 237 ringers taking part under 38 conductors, with 38 members ringing their first peal.
Unfortunately the librarian was not present at the meeting and he had not submitted a written report, thus this was not available.
The Master, as junior member, summarised the 1969 C.C. meeting at which, once again, the Guild was fully represented. All our representatives were unanimous in rating this meeting the dullest they had attended.
RISE IN MEMBERSHIP
The general secretary, Mr. D. J. Forder, reported on the Guild’s activities of the past year. Membership at the end of 1968 stood at 800, an increase of 150 in three years. Restoration work had been completed at Upper Clatford, Crawley and Overton, the Guild having contributed to all these. At last year’s A.G.M. Mr. R. R. Savory had been elected Master: the secretary expressed his thanks to Canon Felstead, the previous Master, for the assistance he had received during his first three years as general secretary. Mrs. M. Chapman, on leaving the area, had retired after nine years’ service as general treasurer, for which the Guild was most grateful.
The first Guild dinner was held in March 22nd at the Royal Hotel, Southampton, at which 98 were present; in fact it was oversubscribed by about 30. The event had been unanimously declared a success and it is to be hoped that this will become an annual occasion.
A change of rule, proposed by the Master and seconded by the secretary, which included Southampton in the list of A.G.M. venues, was carried unanimously.
GRANTS TO TOWERS
Requests for grants for tower restoration work were received from Heckfield, Easton and Bishop’s Waltham. Donations were voted to all three.
Mr. A. V. Davis proposed that the Guild once again donate £10 10s. to “The Ringing World”. This was seconded by Mr. T. H. Francis. After some debate and a show of hands this was carried by a 2 to 1 majority.
Mr. L. D. Duguid, secretary of the Portsmouth District, proposed the election of Mr. Morgan Marshall, of Havant, as a life member, he having completed 50 years’ Guild membership. Canon Felstead seconded and it was carried unanimously.
Basingstoke was agreed as the venue of the 1970 meeting, and after some pleading by Canon Felstead for a change in date the first Saturday in July was decided upon.
D. J. F.
The Ringing World No. 3046, September 5, 1969, page 683