A very successful joint meeting of the Newbury Branch of the Oxford Guild and the Andover District of the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild was held at Highclere, Hants, on Saturday, May 18th, over 40 members and friends being present. The following towers were represented: Binfield, Brightwalton, Bucklebury, East Ilsley, Newbury and Thatcham from the Oxford side, and Highclere, North Stoneham, St. Mary Bourne, Winchester, Wootton St. Lawrence, and Woolton Hill from the Winchester area. Ringing, carried on in various methods up to Cambridge Surprise Major, commenced upon the musical ring of eight at 3 p.m., and continued, with a break for service and tea, up to 9 o’clock, a feature of the ringing being the handling and striking of the band of ladies from Bucklebury.
The service was conducted by the Vicar of Highclere, the Rev. G. G. D. Dunlop, M.A., who, after welcoming the members to Highclere, gave a very interesting and helpful address upon ‘Fellowship,’ which the Church and the ringing Guilds, as part of the Church, stood for.
A splendid tea was enjoyed in the school, the Vicar of Highclere very generously paying half the cost. The Rev. L. R. Majendie (Rector of Newbury) presided, and was supported by Rev. F. C. Sear, Rev. G. G. Dunlop, Mr. W. Andrews, etc.
The Rev. L. R. Majendie said that all present would be sorry to hear of the illness of Mr. H. W. Curtis (Newbury Branch secretary), who was thus prevented from being present. Mr. Curtis had looked forward to this meeting, and was keenly disappointed.- Mr. Andrews, in reply, voiced the regret of all present at the absence of Mr. Curtis, and the Chairman promised to convey to him the best wishes of the members.
The Chairman said that it was hoped to arrange a return meeting at Newbury on August 10th.
The Ringing World No. 949, May 31st, 1929, page 348