The Guild Master - Mike Winterborne, supported by the Vice-Master - Pete Jordan, Hon. Gen. Secretary - Heather Frazer, Hon. Gen. Treasurer - Ros Brandwood and Minute Secretary - Tony Smith, opened the meeting at 10.22 a.m. The Master welcomed those present and said a prayer.
The other members attending were Martin Barnes (Belfry Stewardship), Michael Church (CC Rep.), Nici Collins (Basingstoke Sec.), John Davey (Child Protection), Margaret Downer (IoW Exec Rep.), Barry Fry (BRF Trustee), Maggie Hiller (Andover Sec.), Andrew Johnson (CC Rep.), Christine Knights-Whittome (Education), David Mattingley (BRF Trustee, CC Rep.), Viv Nobbs (PRO), Mike Novell (A&P Sec. proxy), John Palk (Report Editor), Bruce Purvis (Librarian & Archivist, Winchester Sec.), Hugh Routh (A&P Exec Rep.), Mary Tester (IoW Sec.), Allan Yalden (CC Rep.) and guests Steve Lutener, Robin Milford and Mo Routh.
Apologies for absence had been received from Lisa Ashforth, Deb Baker, Steve Castle, John Croft, Sallie-Louise Ingram and Peter Niblett. [An apology was received from Barbara Townsend subsequent to the meeting.]
The Hon. Gen. Secretary read the following names and the Master asked members to stand while Barry Fry said a prayer.
| Francis Ensor | Buriton | |
| Valerie Keel | Wonston | |
| Chris Strong | St Mary Bourne |
The minutes of the meeting held on 10th March 2018 were proposed by the Hon. Gen. Treasurer, seconded by Allan Yalden, and signed by the Master as a true record.
There were no matters arising.
Robin Milford of Curdridge and Martin Waldron of Hursley who will have completed fifty years’ ringing membership of the Guild, would be presented with their Life Membership certificates at the AGM. The Hon. Gen. Secretary said that Edwin Cole of Chale and Helen Piper of Kingsclere would qualify in 2020.
£500 requested by the Hon. Librarian and Archivist. In answer to an enquiry from Andrew Johnson, Bruce Purvis explained that this included the binding of 10 volumes of Annual Reports.
£60 requested by the Hon. Report Editor.
Nothing requested by the Belfry Stewardship Committee.
£100 requested by the Communications Committee.
Nothing requested by the Education Committee.
£283 requested by the Striking Competitions Committee.
The Public Relations Officer is carrying forward £508.
Nothing requested by the WW1 Centenary Project in addition to donations made specifically for the Project and up to £1,000 agreed at the March meeting.
The bids were approved en bloc on the proposition of John Davey, seconded by Bruce Purvis.
The Hon. Gen. Treasurer circulated a Budget for 2019 covering the Central Fund and showing a projected surplus of income over expenditure for 2018 that will more than cover expenditure on the WW1 Project in 2019.
David Mattingley reported there were outstanding grants to Ecchinswell, Northington, Silchester, Brading and Wolverton. The Trustees had agreed in November 2017 that, if the grant to Ecchinswell were not taken up by March 2019, it would be withdrawn and the PCC could reapply in the future. A new grant application had been received from St James, Bramley where the mullions in the ringing room had to be replaced at a cost of £4,440 and the Trustees recommended a grant of £650. In answer to an enquiry from Michael Church, the Hon. Gen. Treasurer said BRF rule 3 provided that grants could be made for the maintenance of the fabric to enable the bells to be rung. Viv Nobbs seconded and this was agreed.
WW1 Commemoration. The Master said that 30 November was the cut-off date for commemorative ringing to be published on BellBoard; the first three weeks of January 2019 were when everyone could check the information on the website; all ringers and their families are invited to the services in Portsmouth Cathedral at 6 p.m. on 12 May 2019 and in Winchester Cathedral at 3.30 p.m. on 19 May 2019; he had met with Portsmouth Cathedral staff, who hoped to provide refreshments after the service and display the archive book for two weeks thereafter, and expected to meet with Winchester Cathedral staff early in January; Viv Nobbs had advised that Jessica Littlewood was composing music that could possibly be used for both services; photographs of the “Tommy” statuette in different locations were on the website and the Master asked members to think about where the statuette should be kept after the end of the year.
Viv drew attention to her article “Marking the Great War Centenary in the W&P” in this week’s issue of The Ringing World and thanked David Mattingley for arranging the peal of 7,000 Bristol Surprise Royal rung at Portsmouth Cathedral on 11 November especially remembering the 7,000 inhabitants of Portsmouth who died during WW1. David said that Mark Esbester had been interviewed on Radio Solent the following morning and a clip of the peal was broadcast. David was also interviewed on ITV Meridian News which featured Portsmouth Cathedral “Ringing Remembers” recruit Chris Cockel.
Steve Lutener described the format and content of the archive books, displayed the draft projected on a screen and answered questions. Both the Master and Viv thanked Steve and Rachel Anderson for all their work (applause).
Viv said that Gary Marsh was helping with publicity for the services.
Communications. A report from the new Guild Webmaster, Andrew Glover, had been distributed. The Master said that Webmasters and/or News Co-ordinators were needed in each District and appealed for volunteers.
It was agreed that the 2020 AGM would be on 20 June and, in accordance with rule 5, in the Alton & Petersfield District.
| Surprise Minor Course | 24th Nov 2018 | Shedfield | ||
| ART Course | 26th Jan 2019 | New Alresford | ||
| Education Course | 9th March 2019 | Venue TBA | ||
| Executive Committee Meeting | 16th March 2019 | St Barnabas’ Church Hall | ||
| Education Course | 6th April 2019 | probably Grandsire Doubles & Triples, Goodworth Clatford | ||
| WW1 Service | 12th May 2019 | Portsmouth Cathedral | ||
| WW1 Service | 19th May 2019 | Winchester Cathedral | ||
| Inter-District 8-bell striking competition | 15th June 2019 | Brighstone, IoW | ||
| AGM | 15th June 2019 | IoW | ||
| Essex Trophy competition | 14th September 2019 | Christ Church, Southgate | ||
| Inter-Tower 6 & 8-bell striking competitions | 14th September 2019 | Portsmouth District | ||
| Education Course | 12th October 2019 | Lockerley | ||
| Executive Committee Meeting | 16th November 2019 | St Barnabas’ Church Hall | ||
| Education Course | 23rd November 2019 | Hawkley |
The Hon. Gen. Secretary said Dan Graham had offered to organise a band for the Essex Trophy. The Vice-Master said the Inter-Tower striking competitions had been moved from the usual third Saturday in May because that fell between the WW1 Services. However he would reconsider the date after members questioned whether it was a good idea to hold them on the same day as the Essex Trophy and pointed out that the previous weekend might be the next Central Council meeting and the following was the College Youths peal weekend.
Christine Knights-Whittome offered to organise a further order for Guild polo shirts and sweatshirts. If there were sufficient interest she could place an order early in the New Year.
Michael Church expressed disappointment with the state of the Central Council following adoption of the new constitution at the Lancaster AGM in May. He referred to the letter from Mike Chester “The sound of silence” in the issue of The Ringing World dated 19 October that he did not feel had been adequately answered; there had been no minutes published either of the last Administrative Committee meeting in March or the Lancaster AGM and there had been no news of the AGM next September; all the power was now vested in the Executive of eight members and apart from the successful “Ringing Remembers” project (initiated by the since abolished Public Relations Committee) there had been little news. Allan Yalden, who was a member of the Stewardship & Management Workgroup, said that his sub-group was active. Tony Smith said the only power remaining with representative Council members was to elect the Executive members who retire in rotation. He thought it possible that some societies might consider whether it was worthwhile sending more than one representative or, indeed, remaining affiliated. Viv Nobbs and Mike Novell thought that we should take action but there was no consensus.
Nici Collins said that when the Basingstoke District had hosted this year’s AGM it had been hard to know what was wanted. She suggested it would be helpful if there were guidelines for host districts including, for example, names of contacts and expenses that could be reclaimed from the Guild. Nici agreed to collaborate with the Hon. Gen. Secretary in drafting some guidelines.
John Palk sought guidance on the content of the Annual Report in view of GDPR. The Master said he would arrange a meeting to discuss. Tony Smith said that Guild and District Officers and Tower Secretaries already provided only that contact information that they were happy should appear in the Annual Report.
Viv Nobbs said there would be an Isle of Wight “Teaching the teachers” training day at Carisbrooke on 8 December and unfilled places may be offered to ringers from other districts.
Viv Nobbs encouraged towers to review and update their entries on the Guild website..
The Hon. Gen. Secretary had received a letter from the Stockbridge Tower Secretary, Michaela Nadal, asking for the transfer of their tower from the Andover District to the Winchester District. In accordance with rule 13 this was subject to consent by the AGM.
There being no further business, the Master closed the meeting at 11.48 a.m.
[Before the meeting Robin Milford conducted a draw for the W&P 200 Club. The winners were as follows (given by club number and name) and Robin would calculate the prize amounts and publish them on the Guild website.
16 Graham Nobbs; 27 Christine Hill; 14 Ros Brandwood; 4 Rob Hatch; 25 Nikki Brown; 9 Margaret Winterbourne.]