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 10.15 a.m. The Master welcomed those present and said a prayer.
The other members attending were Deb Baker (Communications), Martin Barnes (Belfry Stewardship), Nici Collins (Basingstoke Sec.), John Croft (Winchester Exec Rep.), Margaret Downer (IoW Exec Rep.), Barry Fry (BRF Trustee), Maggie Hiller (Andover Sec.), Andy Ingram (C&S Exec Rep.), Sallie-Louise Ingram (C&S Sec.), Christine Knights-Whittome (Education), David Mattingley (BRF Trustee, CC Rep.), Mike Novell (A&P Sec. proxy), Hugh Routh (A&P Exec Rep.), Matthew Wilks (Portsmouth Exec Rep.), Allan Yalden (CC Rep.) and guests Steve Castle, Robin Milford and Mo Routh.
Apologies for absence had been received from Lisa Ashforth, Michael Church, Edd Colliss, Andrew Johnson, Peter Niblett, Viv Nobbs, John Palk, Bruce Purvis and Mary Tester.
The Hon. Gen. Secretary read the following names and the Master asked members to stand while Barry Fry said a prayer.
| Graham Grant (Life Member) | Winchester Cathedral | |
| Alan Sturgess (Life Member) | Fareham | |
| Maurice Stupart | Alderney | |
| Ian Cole | formerly of Chale | |
| Norah Morey | formerly of Chale | |
| John Rawson-Smith | formerly of Farley Chamberlayne (died in October 2018) | |
| Ivor Truman | formerly of Romsey Abbey | |
| Joyce Warstat | formerly of Selborne |
Also remembered was Simon Milliken, Ringing Master of the Durban Guild, and sometime visitor to Winchester Cathedral and Hursley, who was brutally stabbed for his camera while bird-watching in Burman Bush nature reserve on 31 August 2018.
The minutes of the meeting held on 17th November 2018 were proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Hon. Gen. Treasurer, and signed by the Master as a true record.
There were no matters arising.
Richard G Sherfield of Bentley who has completed fifty years’ ringing membership, would, in addition to those members identified at the previous meeting, be presented with his Life Membership certificate at the AGM.
The following reports and accounts had been distributed and were considered.
Hon. Gen. Secretary. No comments.
Hon. Gen. Treasurer. No comments.
Education Committee. No comments.
Hon. Librarian and Archivist. No comments.
Striking Competitions Committee. Tony Smith requested that the accounts should be presented in the usual format.
Belfry Stewardship Committee. Tony Smith requested that the accounts should be presented in the usual format.
Hon. Peal Recorder. No comments.
Communications Committee. No comments.
Public Relations Officer. No comments.
Subject to these corrections, the reports and accounts were accepted en bloc on the proposition of Deb Baker, seconded by John Croft.
Reports and accounts. The Hon. Gen. Treasurer said the report and accounts as distributed had been approved by the Trustees that morning.
Report on Trustees’ meeting. The Hon. Gen. Treasurer said the Trustees intended to propose at the AGM an amendment to BRF rule 8a to reduce the notice required for an application or proposal from two months to one month before the meeting. The rules had been drafted before the days of email when most communication was by post.
David Mattingley reported that three new grant applications had been received and that one, where less than two months’ notice had been given, would be considered at the next meeting of the Trustees. At the Church of the Ascension, Burghclere the cracked tenor headstock was being repaired at a cost of £2,387 and the Trustees recommended a grant of £400. At St Peter, Over Wallop the cracked tenor was being welded at a cost, including associated work but excluding repairs to the clock, of £12,003 and the Trustees recommended a grant of £1,800. The Hon. Gen Treasurer seconded and these were agreed.
A draft action plan for the next three years had been distributed. The Vice-Master highlighted points and invited feedback either to Viv Nobbs or himself. In response to an enquiry from Allan Yalden about the absence of names against the actions, the Vice-Master said that it was at present still a framework.
The Master said there would be a project meeting after the Exec meeting, the books were at the printers, invitations to the services had been sent to clergy and ringers, and he sought support for erecting and ringing the Charmborough Ring in Winchester Cathedral Close. The Hon. Gen. Secretary said the electronic version of the books would continue to be updated until the end of the year and would be linked from the Guild and both Cathedral websites.
| Education Course | 6th April | Grandsire Doubles & Triples, Goodworth Clatford | ||
| Education Forum | 17th April | “Tell us what you want”, Undercroft, Winchester Cathedral Close | ||
| WW1 Service | 12th May | Portsmouth Cathedral | ||
| Inter-Tower striking competitions | 18th May | Wickham (6-bell) and Shedfield (8-bell) | ||
| WW1 Service | 19th May | Winchester Cathedral | ||
| Inter-District 8-bell striking competition | 15th June | Brighstone, IoW | ||
| AGM | 15th June | Freshwater, IoW | ||
| RWNYC | 6th July | Pier Head, Liverpool | ||
| Essex Trophy competition | 14th September | Christ Church, Southgate | ||
| Education Course | 12th October | Listening Skills, Lockerley | ||
| Executive Committee Meeting | 16th November | St Barnabas’ Church Hall | ||
| Education Course | 23rd November | Belfry maintenance, Hawkley | ||
| Education Course | 23rd November | Plain hunt & trebling to Doubles, Hawkley |
The Hon. Gen. Secretary said all officers were up for election at the AGM, namely the Master, Vice-Master, Hon. Gen. Secretary, Hon. Gen. Treasurer, Hon. Peal Recorder, Hon. Librarian and Archivist, Hon. Report Editor, Minute Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Safeguarding Officer, five Central Council Representatives (for the triennium commencing in 2020) and BRF Trustees for the Winchester and Portsmouth diocese. Nominations could be made either from the floor or in advance until Friday 14th June. It was not necessary for the candidates or their proposers and seconders to be present at the meeting. She had already received a nomination for Master. The AGM would be preceded by lunch and a service and followed by tea and coffee. The bells at Niton, Chale and Freshwater were expected to be available.
Christine Knights-Whittome had a good response to her offer to organise a further order for Guild polo shirts and sweatshirts and had samples for inspection.
There being no further business, the Master closed the meeting at 10.52 a.m.
[After 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.
3 Alexander Gray; 15 Viv Nobbs; 27 Christine Hill; 11 David Hughes; 21 Heather Frazer; 5 Christine Knights-Whittome.]