The Master Rev. Barry Fry, supported by the Honorary General Secretary Robert Cater, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, opened the meeting at 10.18 a.m. with a prayer.
He welcomed everybody, especially those attending for the first time.
The others attending were:
Andrew Banks, Brian Baverstock (for Portsmouth District Rep), Tony Buttle (for Portsmouth District Secretary), Andrew Byford, Terry Collins (for A&P District Secretary), Ben Constant, Andrew Craddock, John Davey, Ceri Dodd, Mark Esbester, David Forder, Alan Hoar, Maureen Kelly, Wendy Ling, Michael Lynds (for C&S District Secretary), June Mitchell, Brian Oakes, Tony Smith, Barbara Townsend, Louise Marett, Jack Walters, David Weir, Margaret Wolverson.
Petra Ballantyne, Gail Cater, Peter Clarke, Gillian Davis, Lyndon Hatfield, Martin Waldron, Phil Watts, Mike Winterbourne,
Elisabeth Goulson of Hambledon, Elizabeth (Liz) Winckworth of Woking - not a Guild member but regularly attended Guild meetings.
Minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2001 were accepted and signed by the Master as a true record.
Tony Smith reported that Rev. David Cawley had taken photographs for the book and was checking on bells in some Roman Catholic Churches. This final material will be with Tony by end of January for incorporation into the publishable book.
Mark Esbester reported no further progress in the construction of a wooden frame for the small bell, so it can be used for demonstration and teaching purposes.
Andy Byford had raised a team for this 10 bell competition at Saffron Walden on 15 September 2001, but it had been cancelled due to the tragic events in America on 11 Sept.
Bob Cater had received a letter from the new Winchester DAC Assistant Secretary promising further contact by August 2002 about the De minimis Faculty Jurisdiction proposals.
The September 2001 edition has been successfully produced, though some queries were raised about distribution, which was to District Secretaries by volunteers from the Mid Monthly Meeting. Items for the March 2002 edition will be welcomed by David Forder by early February.
A successor to Philip and Margaret Carter is still needed to organise the Mid Monthly Meetings, preferably someone who attends them. Meetings are currently being organised locally by individuals on a one-off basis.
Notification had been received of Mike Goss and James Tarrant of Andover District, Peter Smith of Freshwater. District Secretaries were asked to check for any others.
Tony Smith handed out forms to District Secretaries for completion ASAP. District details and reports are needed by the end of February. Committee reports were preferred in electronic form, plain text.
He reported a best ever income of £230 from adverts in the 2000 Report. BRF Rules will be printed in the 2001 Report. Photographs can be included if space is already available.
Margaret Wolverson’s report and accounts had been circulated with the Agenda and were accepted.
Peal Recorder Ceri Dodd asked for an Executive Committee decision on whether a peal at Haslemere was valid for acceptance by the Guild. It was rung to celebrate the centenary of the first peal on the bells and the band wished it to be credited to both the Guildford Diocesan Association and the W&P. However a tower election did not have a majority of W&P Ringing members present.
Terry Collins explained the peal was to be credited to the Association to which the tower was affiliated when the first peal was rung (The Winchester Diocesan Guild), as well as to its current Association and presented an interpretation of Rule 7 showing the tower election to be valid. It had been published in the Ringing World of 25 Oct with an explanatory article.
The gesture of including the W&P in the peal accreditation was generally appreciated, though it was noted that Central Council records will show it under Guildford DA only. However, it was not considered to conform to Guild rules regarding the tower election of one of the band.
A motion that “The Executive should recommend to the next AGM acceptance of this peal as being rung for the W&P and it should be printed in 2001 Report with a note to this affect.” was passed with a majority of 14 for 9 against. The Executive also recommended that it would be helpful for the nonmember in question to get himself elected at an appropriate District meeting as soon as possible.
A letter had been received from Derek Jackson querying whether member’s insurance cover could be put at risk by teaching youngsters to ring when not cleared by the Parish under the terms of The Child Protection Act. Mike Bubb advised that this would not compromise Guild Public Liability Insurance.
Members were advised that Winchester Diocese was running briefing days for adults involved in activities involving children. An explanatory article is to be included in the next Guild Newsletter. Including a reminder of Central Council Guidelines in the back cover of the Ringing World Diary, plus information on other insurance requirements such as the advisability of keeping a record of 2 monthly inspections of the bell installation.
The following bids were approved:
| i. | Librarian & Archivist | £75 | ||
| ii. | Report Editor | £40 | ||
| iii. | Education Committee | No bid yet. | ||
| iv. | Striking Competitions Committee | Nothing | ||
| v. | Belfry Stewardship Committee | Nothing | ||
| vi. | BRF FRC | £20 | ||
| vii. | PR Committee | £200 |
Bob Cater had distributed a paper with the Agenda stressing the importance of timely communications to members and detailing updated mechanisms for doing so. After some discussion of the reliability of distribution by email, the report was accepted for implementation via Committee Convenors, District Secretaries and other interested parties.
Jack Walter’s article had been printed in the Guild newsletter and the Ringing World of 23 November. Bob Cater reported that a poppy wreath had been laid at this memorial to ringers in both The Winchester Diocesan Guild and the Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers who fell in the World Wars. The meeting agreed the Guild should provide a wreath for future Remembrance Sundays.
Following feedback from the Districts of a general preference for the existing bell shape plus Guild initials, designs had been drawn up and circulated. The new die would cost £90 plus VAT, but the new badges could still be sold for £2. One of the two designs preferred was chosen for its design to be finished.
Patrick Matthews had replied to a previous Executive committee decision with the view that service to individual towers should count as service to the Guild for Life Membership purposes. This was noted, but in this case the service was not all to our Guild.
Central Council guidance is for locally based ringing in as many towers as possible on Jubilee Bank Holiday Tuesday 4 June, the day of the service at St Paul’s Cathedral. A press release is planned for May. Another ringing opportunity is 6 February, the Date of Accession.
In Winchester Cathedral Refectory on 6 April 2002, details will be notified in due course.
A special service at Winchester Cathedral on 4 May 2002 will be followed by a Quarter Peal by a representative Portsmouth Diocese band, with general ringing before the service.
The annual cycle of Open Days in each District completed in 2001. A Tower Open Day is planned for the Island on 6 May 2002, profit and expenses to be shared between The Society For The Preservation of Isle of Wight Church Bells and the Guild BRF. Local organisation and publicity is in hand.
Guild tower competition - 18 May.
Inter District 8 bell competition 6 July on the morning of the AGM.
Inter District 10 bell competition 7 September.
Will be held at St Michael’s Basingstoke on Saturday 6 July 2002.
| 9 March | - Listening & Striking | Isle of Wight District. | |
| 27 April | - Calling for Beginners | Basingstoke District. | |
| 19 Oct | - Grandsire | Andover District. | |
| 30 Nov | - Plain Bob Doubles & Minor | Portsmouth District. |
Invitations will be sent out shortly for the official opening of Bishopstoke Ringing Centre on Sunday 27 Jan 2002.
Winchester Cathedral Saturday 22 June. Excellent ringing and good company is expected. Winchester Cathedral band will be taking part.
Suggestions are invited for suitable events to celebrate this anniversary in June 2004.
It was noted that a Channel Island Festival will be held in 2005.
These were agreed as Saturday 2 March 2002 and 16 November 2002 at St Barnabas Church Hall, 10.15 a.m.
The Ringing World is moving to Andover, near St Mary’s Church and require more staff.
June Mitchell has a few Guild T-shirts available.
Shanklin bells will be out of action for 2 months early in 2002.
Jack Walters suggested buying the collected copies of Ringing World 2002 on CD as annual bound copies are no longer available and the Guild Library is running short on space. He was asked to prepare a paper for the next Executive meeting in March.
Guild Treasurer Michael Bubb advised his current email address: valechurchbellringers@yahoo.co.uk
There being no further business, the Master closed the meeting with a prayer at 12.02 p.m.