MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 3 JULY 1993 AT SACRED HEART CHURCH HALL, BOURNEMOUTH
There were 68 people present at the meeting.
The Master, Rev. Barry Fry, opened the meeting with a prayer. He thanked Patrick Matthews, (tower captain of Sacred Heart) and all his helpers for their hard work and all the detailed arrangements that had been made for the weekend. Patrick welcomed members of the Guild. A letter had been received from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt. Rev. Crispian Hollis, conveying his best wishes for the occasion. The Master thanked Christine McCallion for taking the minutes, (standing in for Andrew Case).
Apologies were received from: Jeffrey Hill and other Basingstoke Ringers, Andrew Case, Les Duguid, David Weir, Barbara Townsend, Julian Atkins, Rita and Andrew Carton, Pat Mitchell, Colin Belsey, Gwen and Brian Mackrell, Richard Harrison, Malcolm Powell, Outram Haythorne, Michael Church, Cecily Roberts, Tony Webster and Heather Peachey.
The Master said a prayer as members stood in silence for those who had died:
Fred Taylor (Sopley)
Peter Stevens (Freshwater)
Gerald Ellison (Former Bishop of London and Chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester)
George Elphick (Lewes, Portsmouth Diocese Bell Advisor)
Stuart McCutcheon (New Alresford)
Jack Weaver (Basingstoke)
Henrietta Bosworth (Woolton Hill)
Clara Fisher (East Meon)
Rev. Hornby (Former Chairman of the Winchester District)
Minutes had been circulated following the AGM, and were approved on the Master's proposition.
There were no matters arising from the minutes not elsewhere on the agenda.
John Hunt becomes a Life Member of the Guild having completed 50 years' membership.
The Executive Committee proposed the election to Life Membership of the following: The Rev. William M. Hall, who was put forward by Jersey ringers in recognition of his achievements at St. Mark's, Jersey, Derek Jackson in recognition of his fifteen years as Honorary General Secretary of the Guild. The proposal was carried unanimously. Derek thanked the Guild for this honour, and recalled his election in 1954.
These are contained in the Annual Report, and the Master asked that they should be accepted en bloc. This proposition was carried unanimously.
Mick Thomas asked when the Guild Rules would be published again. Ruth Jackson, Report Editor, said it would probably be next year.
Andrew Craddock noted that the Report contained an analysis of tower bell peals but not handbell peals, and asked that the latter should be included next year. The Peal Recorder did not comment.
The vote to approve the accounts was carried nem con. The Master offered the opportunity to ask questions of the Treasurer or Auditor but there were none.
On behalf of the Trustees, Martin Waldron outlined the recommended grants:
St. Mary of the Assumption, Froyle. The bells are to be hung in the existing wooden frame with all new fittings at a cost of £20,000. Proposed grant was £2,200.
St. Mary Priory Church, Carisbrooke. Major work is needed to repair the tower stonework at a cost of £71,000. Proposed grant was £750.
Town Church, St Peter Port, Guernsey. There is to be a new ring of bells, (tenor 19cwt.), new frame and concrete ring beams, with the project being completed in 1995. The expected cost is £137,000. Proposed grant was £1,000 to be reviewed next year.
All Saints, Catherington. A grant had been awarded last year towards repairs to the tower, but the cost of the job had risen to £7,000. Proposed extra grant was £50.
Grants totalled £4000.
There were no questions and the recommendations were carried nem con. The Master said that this left approximately £4000 uncommitted in the Fund.
Mark Esbester described the Guild's ongoing fundraising in the form of the 200 Club and covenanting which he particularly encouraged.
Mark also had some "one-off" fund raising ideas. He is looking into selling beer glasses again, and proposed that some funds be made available from the Guild Reserve Fund to finance the initial purchase. He suggested that a similar sale of sweatshirts might be made. There was general approval of both these ideas, and the Executive will discuss them at the autumn meeting.
Lastly, Mark hoped that an Open Day could be arranged in the coming year, possibly organised jointly between the Portsmouth and Alton and Petersfield Districts.
The Master reminded members that the Gift Aid limit had been lowered to £250, where tax could be reclaimed straight away. Towers where major work was being undertaken might be able to take advantage of this.
Andrew Craddock reported that the new Central Council President is Professor Ron Johnson.
The Guild Representatives elected to committees are: Bob Cater to the newly formed Ringing Centres Committee, Tony Smith, to the Methods Committee, (remaining as chairman), and Andrew Craddock to the Publications Committee and the Computer Coordination Committee, (as Chairman). All three also join the Administration Committee. Derek Jackson did not stand for a committee.
Following a rule change, the W & P will be entitled to a fifth Council Representative in 1996 if membership remains over 1000.
The Master invited questions. Michael Bubb asked about the £100 loan to the Central Council used towards the purchase of the bells of St. Martin in the Bull Ring. The Master explained that the Central Council requested Guilds to underwrite money to buy rings of bells which might otherwise be scrapped. The W & P had agreed to loan £100 which was called on for rescue of St. Martin's bells. The loan becomes repayable in September. The Master thought there would be no problem if an extension was needed.
There were no questions on this matter. Philip Watts proposed that the Guild should buy a Ringleader Simulator, seconded by Tony Smith. The proposal was carried with three votes against.
The simulator to be purchased will have one photo head and cable, enabling one ringer at a time to use it; but it will be possible to buy further photoheads for all eight bells. (Later a member anonymously donated money to buy these).
The General Secretary said if the order was placed now, the simulator should be available in September. He would like it to go to each District within the next year.
The Guild could contribute to the cost of transporting the simulator to the offshore Districts.
The next AGM will be on July 2nd, 1994 in the Basingstoke District.
An invitation had been offered to compete in the Essex Trophy at Rickmansworth on 18 September. As this coincided with the Isle of Wight and the Winchester District Outings, it was decided to decline. However, the Secretary will indicate the Guild's wish to be asked in future years, requesting six month's notice.
The Channel Islands District has arranged an outing to Villedieu on August 7th. Tricia Belsey said all Guild members were invited and would be welcome in Jersey, with accommodation available for anyone who required it.
A message from Rita Carton, the convener of the Social Committee, said that the Committee planned to arrange a Dinner/Dance on 19 March, 1994 in Southampton. The Master is investigating possible venues. This would be the 25th Annual Guild Dinner.
An invitation had been received from Colin Belsey to hold a Guild event in Guernsey in to coincide with the dedication of the proposed Town Church bells on the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Channel Islands. The Master suggested that another Festival might be arranged, including a Dinner and a Special General Meeting, with some business transferred from the AGM. It was the general wish of the meeting that preliminary plans for this should go ahead.
Mark Esbester held the 200 Club Draw. The winners were:
| Christine Hill | £100 |
| Martin Waldron | £50 |
| P. J. Smith | £50 |
| Fred Hales | £25 |
| Heather Hartridge | £25 |
| Peter Hill | £25 |
Julia Cater invited everyone to a Winchester District Practice at Winchester Cathedral on August 4th at 7.30p.m.
Tony Smith asked why there was no attendance book. The Secretary had forgotten it, but asked everyone to sign a sheet of paper.
John Colliss said that no entries had been received for the Guild 6 bell Striking Competition on the Isle of Wight on June 19th, so it had been decided to try an evening competition instead. It will be on Friday 10th September at Owslebury.
A. Barsby drew attention to the fact that only 16 towers contributed to the Bell Restoration Fund, and suggested that others should consider doing so.
Martin Waldron asked for clarification of the £4000 left in the Bell Restoration Fund. The Master explained that money had been promised to various projects but had not yet been withdrawn. After all grants promised had been claimed, the balance would be approximately £4000.
Geoff Dodd said he would be applying to the Bell Restoration Fund in 1995 and was hoping for a generous grant to Augment Highclere from eight to ten bells aiming for an October 1998 dedication.
Roy LeMarechal had some copies of Towerbase for sale at £10, with proceeds going to the Bishopstoke Tower Fund.
The Master expressed thanks to all those who had given permission for ringing throughout the day, and brought the meeting to a close within an hour.