The Master Andrew Craddock, supported by the Honorary General Secretary Steve Castle, the Honorary General Treasurer Michael Bubb and Minute Secretary Francis Mitchell, opened the meeting at 10.16 a.m. by asking Canon Barry Fry to say a prayer. He welcomed everybody, especially those attending for the first time.
The others attending were:
Andrew Banks, Val Cleaver, John Davey, David Forder, Barry Fry, Gill Gardner, Theo Johnson, Maureen Kelly, Sue Park, Hugh Routh, Mo Routh, Tony Smith, David Strong, Mary Tester, Barbara Townsend, Phil Watts, Val Williams.
Apologies had been received from Marie Boniface, Michael Church, Mark Esbester, Keith Gillings, Jonathan Hetherington, Jack Walters and Mike Winterbourne. Steve Castle apologised for inadvertently not sending Andrew Byford the pre-meeting emails, which probably explained his absence.
The meeting stood to remember George Evenden (LM) of Southampton City Centre, John Hunt (LM) of Southwick, Kevin Mintram of Netley Abbey and Fred Webster of Lymington.
Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2005 were accepted by the meeting with three minor corrections:
Minute 8 heading should read “Budget Bids for 2006”;
Minute 8 vii. Should read “Guild Report Editor £70”
Minute 10 vi. Second paragraph, second line should read “showing Executive meetings on the second Saturday in March … ” (instead of the first Saturday).
The amended version was signed by the Master as a true record.
Guild Dinner tickets were still available and must be paid for by 1 April.
There were no further notifications of members who will achieve 50 years membership in 2006. Alan Buswell was confirmed as joining the Guild in 1957.
Barbara Townsend proposed Brian Oakes to be elected Life Member for exceptional services to the Guild. He had recently stood down after many years service as District officer and on the Executive Committee. This was seconded by Phil Watts and after some discussion on the general criteria for Honorary Life Membership, was approved by a large majority for recommendation to the AGM.
(This item was confidential to the Executive Committee until the 2006 AGM)
Steve Castle’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed after the correction of some minor typographical errors..
Mike Bubb’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed with minor corrections.
Tony Smith’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed after changing the Brought Forward figures in line with the Guild accounts.
Jonathan Hetherington’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed subject to resolution of two queries.
Phil Watt’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed with a minor amendment.
Mike Winterbourne’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed with a minor amendment.
David Forder’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed unchanged.
Andy Byford’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed after the correction of two minor typographical errors.
Phil Watt’s report was distributed at the meeting and was agreed with some minor amendments.
The Trustee’s report had been circulated with the agenda and was agreed after the correction of two minor typographical errors.
No urgent requests for grants had been received which need consideration by this meeting.
Mike Bubb reported on a very informative meeting between the Bell Restoration Fund Trustees and the Belfry Stewardship Committee regarding the state of bells in the Guild area and the status of the Bell Stock Survey. The information gained from the survey is of vital importance to the effective use and planning of BRF assets. John Davey offered to show after the meeting a list of all towers for which the survey had not been completed . This information will be sent to the appropriate District Secretaries for progress chasing.
John Davey pointed out that under current Guild rules somebody who had been a Probationary Member for 50 years would be eligible for Life Membership, which was not what probationary membership was intended for. Tony Smith proposed this be clarified by a change to rule 6b by replacing “50 years membership” by “50 years Ringing or Associate membership”. This was seconded by John Davey and passed unopposed.
John Davey reported some confusion over the procedure for Probationary Members becoming Full Members.
The role of Probationary Membership was restated as providing Guild Public Liability Insurance cover to new recruits who may or may not actually learn to ring and become Ringing Members of the Guild.
Probationary Members may not vote at Guild meetings, nor hold office. If they do learn to ring, they would usually be expected to be proposed for election as Ringing Members within about a year of starting their Probationary Membership, when the £2 Probationary Membership subscription would count to their subscription as a Ringing Member if elected within the same calendar year. There is no provision for any form of transfer between these membership classes.
Some cases had been known of full subscriptions being received for Probationary Members. District Treasurers were asked to watch out for this and to ensure that the Probationary Members concerned were put forward for election as Ringing Members at the next District meeting.
No rule change was required, just an explanation of the correct procedure for electing members.
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers had requested permission to hold the address details of selected Guild officials on a CCCBR database to aid communication between Central Council Committees and appropriate Guild officers. Steve Castle will contact each person concerned individually.
The Essex Trophy will be held at Haslemere on 9 September 2006.
The AGM will be on Sat 1 July 2006 in Christchurch Priory. Nominations are required for Vice-Master and Guild committee elections.
The November 2006 Executive meeting will be on 18 November 2006 at St Barnabas Church Hall, at 10.15 a.m.
The March 2007 Executive meeting is scheduled for Saturday 11 March 2007.
Alan Buswell’s report and analysis of Quarter Peals rung at Guild towers and published in the Ringing World was approved, with some editing, for publishing in the Guild Report if there was space.
There was some discussion on the merits and practicalities of officially recording Guild quarter peals.
Papers were invited for the next Executive meeting if this was considered to be relevant.
Districts were requested to continue to hold their Annual District Meetings on separate dates as per the usual rota to enable Guild Master and Secretary to attend as many as possible.
Restoration of the Rayner memorial on the Isle of Wight had been planned to mark the Guild’s 125th anniversary, a paper on the current position is expected soon.
Steve Castle showed the latest Central Council Recruitment leaflet to the meeting. It is available free, details are on the CCCBR website.
Phil Watts reported plans at North Stoneham to build a Parish Room on the side of the Church which may disturb the graves of George and Martha Williams and Bill Tucker, all well known ringers. It was felt appropriate for the Guild to be represented at any reinterment.
The Master closed the meeting with The Grace at 12.04 p.m.