The Guild Master - Rachael Barber, supported by the Hon. Gen. Treasurer - Robin Milford and Minute Secretary - Tony Smith, opened the meeting at 10.15 a.m. and Barry Fry said a prayer. The Master welcomed those present and encouraged members to claim travelling expenses.
The other members attending were Martin Barnes (Belfry Stewardship), Ian Carey (Peal Recorder), Michael Church (CC Rep.), Nici Collins (Basingstoke Sec.), John Croft (Winchester Exec Rep.), Anne Deegan (IoW Sec.), Rodolph de Salis (Andover Sec. proxy), Margaret Downer (IoW Exec Rep.), Barry Fry (BRF Trustee), Dan Graham (Safeguarding), Andy Ingram (Education), Sallie-Louise Ingram (C&S Sec.), Pete Jordan (Immediate Past Master, Striking Competitions), Stephen Lutener (Basingstoke Exec Rep.), David Mattingley (BRF Trustee), Micki Nadal (Winchester Sec.), John Palk (Report Editor), Margaret Smith (CC Rep.) and Roger Smith (C&S Exec Rep.).
Apologies for absence had been received from Roger Barber, Lizzie Colliss, Lucy & Mike Hopkins Till, Nick James, Peter Niblett, Simon Poyser, Bruce Purvis and Matthew Wilks.
Tony Smith said that Matthew had just been discharged from hospital following an operation to prepare him to be able to receive a donated kidney sometime in the spring. The Master asked Tony to write to Matthew with the good wishes of the meeting.
The Minute Secretary read the following names and the Master asked members to stand while Barry Fry said a prayer.
| David Atkins | Alverstoke | |
| Tony Ayres | New Alresford | |
| Alan Bentley | Ringwood | |
| Colin Hares | Amport | |
| Derek Jackson (LM) | Eling | |
| Maggie Johnson | Hawkley | |
| Gwen Mackrell (LM) | Chesterfield, formerly of Eling and St. Lawrence, Alton | |
| Alan Price (LM) | Surrey, formerly of Romsey and Lockerley | |
| Angela Brown | formerly of Chale and Brighstone | |
| Chris Kippin | formerly of St. Michael, Southampton and Ellisfield | |
| Canon Gary Philbrick | formerly of Hursley, Fawley, Southampton and Fordingbridge | |
| Kate Rogers | formerly of Wonston | |
| Jack Shovel | formerly of Silchester | |
| Adrian Tumber | formerly of Southampton | |
| Cressida Wheelwright | formerly of Brown Candover | |
| Geoffrey Whitear | formerly of Micheldever |
The minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2024 were proposed by John Palk, seconded by Nici Collins, approved nem. con. and signed by the Master as a true record.
Andy Ingram said that the W&P Youths came first in the SEECON Youth Striking Competition at Bushey and a close second in the RWNYC Eight-Bell Method Ringing Class in London.
Hon. General Secretary. There were no candidates.
Public Relations Officer. There were no candidates.
A message had been received from Christine and Peter Hill thanking the Executive Committee and the Guild for electing them life members at the AGM. They were sorry not to have been present but were touched by the proposal and very pleased with their certificates.
| Roger A Barber | Hawkley | |
| Carol Cooper | Blackmoor | |
| David M Lay | Sopley |
Peal Recorder - Nil.
Librarian and Archivist - £250.
Report Editor - £40.
Public Relations Officer - Position vacant.
Education Committee - Nil.
Striking Competitions Committee - £402.
Belfry Stewardship Committee - £16.
Communications Committee - £500.
Young Ringers’ Group - £935. In reply to an enquiry from Steve Lutener, Andy Ingram confirmed that there were three rather than five towers on the outing making the donations of £45 correct.
The bids were approved en bloc on the proposition of Pete Jordan, seconded by Michael Church.
A Budget for 2025 prepared by the Hon. Gen. Treasurer had been circulated. Robin said insurance premiums were up by 18% but income was still expected to exceed expenditure.
David Mattingley said the grants to Binsted (£350) and All Saints’, Basingstoke (£500) had been paid since the last meeting and provided brief updates on the outstanding grants:
SMV, Brading (£20,000) waiting to hear the result of their application to the Heritage Lottery Fund;
St. Peter, Ropley (£10,000) completion expected in December with rededication by the Bishop of Winchester on 12th January;
St. Mary, Portchester (£800) there has been no ringing for some time and the project is no longer that for which the application was made, grant withdrawn but they can reapply;
St. Mary & All Saints’, Droxford (£1,000) completion expected March 2025;
Blessed Mary, Upham (£1,000) done;
St. Mary, Southampton (£300) awaiting work by the church to exclude pigeons from the belfry;
St. James, Bramley (£5,750) £32,000 of £50,000 raised.
A new grant application had been received from SS Peter & Paul, Ringwood for augmentation from 8 to 10, replacement of existing wheels and reconfiguration of belfry access, at a cost of £127,082 inc VAT (assuming LPW Scheme ends March 2025). On behalf of the Trustees, David proposed a grant of £15,000 which was seconded by Margaret Smith and agreed nem. con.
The Master proposed and Andy Ingram seconded that a new Guild committee be created, specifically there should be a motion at the AGM to add “Youth Ringing Committee” as rule 9.b.v and the following Terms of Reference as rule 10.e.
To encourage and promote youth ringing within the Guild; to arrange regular practice and events for young ringers under the age of 19 within the Guild area, providing youth ringers an opportunity to ring with people their own age; to coordinate, when appropriate, participation in national and regional youth ringing events, such as the Ringing World National Youth Contest and the South East England Youth Contest.
Following discussion this was agreed nem con.
Tony Smith explained that the new committee would be appointed when the rule change was agreed at the AGM but there was no reason why an interim committee should not be appointed immediately. The Master proposed and Roger Smith seconded Andy Ingram; Andy Ingram proposed and Tony Smith seconded the Master; and the Master proposed and Ian Carey seconded Dan Graham. These appointments were approved nem. con.
Dan Graham presented a verbal report including a plan to conduct a Guild-wide survey of safeguarding in the New Year, to determine which towers are doing safeguarding well and could share experience with towers that could benefit from additional support, and safeguarding requirements for visiting ringers.
Following discussion Dan proposed and Martin Barnes seconded that the form to be completed by visiting bands from outside the Guild area be endorsed, subject to the correction of the use of the adjective “Diocesan” as a noun to “Diocese” (four occurrences) and the addition of the date when the form was approved by the Portsmouth Diocesan Safeguarding Team. This was agreed nem. con.
The Master proposed and the Vice-Master seconded that the Central Council Code for Ringing be adopted as a Guild policy. This was agreed nem. con.
The Master said that Simon Linford had given a presentation during the Central Council weekend, Changes in churches - What are we going to do? highlighting the likelihood of 10% of churches closing over 10 years which could include churches with important rings of bells. (Recording, Slides). She had written to Simon asking if he could produce a general summary of the main points (with links etc.) in email format which could be cascaded down to the districts and towers. He had agreed that it was a good idea and was thinking about how it could be achieved.
| 11th January 2025 | Alton & Petersfield ADM - East Meon | |
| Andover ADM - Goodworth Clatford | ||
| 18th January 2025 | Basingstoke ADM - All Saints’, Basingstoke | |
| 25th January 2025 | Christchurch & Southampton ADM - Lyndhurst | |
| 1st February 2025 | Portsmouth ADM - St. Mary, Portsmouth | |
| 8th February 2025 | Winchester ADM - Northington | |
| 15th February 2025 | Isle of Wight ADM - Newport | |
| 15th March 2025 | Executive Committee Meeting | |
| 17th May 2025 | Inter-Tower 6-bell striking competition | |
| 14th June 2025 | Inter-District 8-bell striking competition - New Alresford | |
| AGM - Ropley | ||
| 5th July 2025 | RWNYC - Birmingham | |
| 20th September 2025 | Inter-Tower 8-bell striking competition | |
| 15th November 2025 | Executive Committee Meeting |
John Croft said that the Dean of Winchester, the Very Revd Catherine Ogle, a Patron of the Guild, was retiring “for personal reasons” on 1st May 2025.
There being no further business, the Master closed the meeting at 11.45 a.m.