PORTSMOUTH DISTRICT.
A quarterly meeting was held at Shedfield on Saturday last, when, despite the unsettled weather, members were present from Bishop’s Waltham, Curdridge, Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth (St. Thomas’ and St. Mary’s), Shedfield, Swanmore and Wickham, and visitors from King’s Somborne, North Stoneham, Highclere and Romsey. By kind permission of the Vicar (Rev. I. J. Best) the peal of six were available during the afternoon and evening, and were made good use of.
At 4.30 a short service was held in the church, at which the Vicar officiated and addressed the members. Tea was partaken of in the Shirrell Hut, and the business meeting followed. As the Vicar had unavoidably to leave at the outset, the Master (Mr. G. Williams) was voted to the chair.
The election of the Vicar as an honorary member was confirmed, and it was decided to hold the annual district meeting at Fareham on Saturday, January 26th, 1929, and that Titchfield be coupled with it.
A vote of thanks was accorded the Vicar for the use of the bells and also addressing the members. The general secretary (Mr. G. Pullinger) appealed to those towers who had not yet contributed to the memorial to the late Rev. C. E. Matthews (a former Vicar of Titchfield and vice-president of the Guild), to do so at the earliest opportunity.
At the close of the meeting the members returned to the tower for further ringing, whilst others went to Wickham to ring on the peal of six there. It is interesting to note that both the Vicar of Shedfield and the Rector of Wickham are ringers, and both took part in the ringing during the day, which included Grandsire and Stedman Doubles, Bob and Treble Bob Minor and Cambridge Surprise.
The Ringing World No. 919, November 2nd, 1928, page 700