MEETING AT OLD ALRESFORD.
The Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild held a meeting at Old Alresford on Saturday afternoon, June 4th, when ringing took place on the bells of the Parish Church and also at the churches of New Alresford and Bishop’s Sutton, by the kind permission respectively of the Rev. Canon Robertson and the Rev. Lindsay Browne. Members of the Guild were present from Old and New Alresford, Bishop’s Sutton, Bishopstoke, Farnborough, Micheldever, North Stoneham, Owslebury, Overton, Portsmouth, Stockbridge, Twyford, Tichborne, Titchfield, Wonston and Winchester.
A service was held in the Church of St. Mary-the-Virgin, Old Alresford, at which the office of the Guild was said by the Rector (the Rev. G. H. Preston), and a short address was given by the Rev. Canon Braithwaite (chairman of the Guild). Mrs. Geoffrey Pain, of Pinglestone, Old Alresford, presided at the organ.
After the service about 46 members and friends sat down to tea at the Christy Memorial Hall, Old Alresford. Amongst those present were the Rev. Canon Braithwaite (who presided), the Rev. G. H. Preston, Mr. George Williams (Master of the Guild), Mr. F. W. Rogers (hon. general secretary), Mr. George Noice (hon. district secretary), Mr. A. T. Greenwood (hon. secretary of the Portsmouth District), Mr. F. S. Bayley, Mr. Geoffrey Pain, Mrs. G. Williams, Mrs. R. S. Routh, Mrs. G. Pain, the Misses Braithwaite and Noice, etc.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr. G. Pullinger (Bishopstoke) and Mr. S. B. Carey (Stockbridge).
Three new members of the Guild were elected, viz., Mr. A. Bulpitt (Old Alresford), Mr. R. J. Pritchard and Mr. F. Smart (Tichborne).
A vote of thanks was proposed and heartily accorded Canon Braithwaite for his presence and for his helpful address at the service.
Canon Braithwaite, in reply, said he was very glad to be able to be present, and spoke of the valuable work the Guild was doing in the service of the Church.
A vote of thanks was also passed to the Rector of the parish for making arrangements for the service, and for the visit of the members to Old Alresford.
The Rev. G. H. Preston replied by stating that he was very glad to welcome the Guild to the parish, as he believed that this was the first visit that had been paid by the Guild in that way during his incumbency, which had extended over 19 years. During his ministry in New Zealand, some 40 years ago, there was nothing, he stated, which he had missed more than the sound of the church bells of the Mother Country.
The Ringing World No. 1108, June 17th, 1932, page 403