LAST MEETING OF THE YORKTOWN DISTRICT.
PRESENTATION TO THE SECRETARY.
The members of the Winchester Diocesan Guild in the new diocese of Guildford are now reaching the parting of the ways. The Guildford Diocesan Guild will come into being on January 1st, and on Saturday [Nov. 12th] the last meeting of the Yorktown District of the Winchester Guild was held at Hawley. This district has embraced the area from Yateley, in Hants, to Esher, in Surrey, and on account of its poor means of intercommunication has been one of the most difficult to work. Nevertheless, it has been not the least successful of the districts of the old Guild, and a great deal of this success has been due to the quiet but painstaking efforts of Mr. J. B. Hessey, of Chertsey, the hon. secretary.
At Saturday’s meeting the members showed their appreciation of his services by presenting Mr. Hessey with a handsome barometer, with a suitable inscription. There were representatives present from Ash, Bagshot, Chertsey, Camberley, Egham, Hawley, Pirbright, Weybridge, Woking, Yateley and Yorktown, and visitors from Finchampstead and Maidenhead.
The presentation was made by the Rev. G. R. M. Ellwood, who was formerly at Chertsey, and who paid a warm tribute to the work which Mr. Hessey had done for the Guild.- Mr. Hessey, who was taken by surprise, suitably acknowledged the gift.
Prior to the presentation, a service, at which the Rev. G. R. M. Ellwood gave an address, and the final business meeting had been held. The latter was presided over by the Vicar, the Rev. R. Armitstead. The year had closed with a membership of 95 in the district, and a balance of nearly £7. Mr. Hessey thanked the members for the support which they had given him, and particularly Mr. Chaffey (Chertsey) and Mr. Armstrong (Weybridge) for their assistance during the time that he was laid aside by sickness.
A vote of sympathy was passed, by the members standing in silence, with the widow of the late Mr. G. Attfield, of Ottershaw, an old member of the Guild, who had died suddenly on the preceding Monday.
A vote of thanks was accorded to the Vicar and the Rev. G. R. M. Ellwood, and also to the ladies who had provided the tea.
The hope was expressed that, although the towers in that district would now be divided, there would be a frequent interchange of visits in the future.
Mr. J. S. Goldsmith, who is hon. secretary of the Organising Committee of the new Guildford Diocesan Guild, gave an outline of the proposals which it was hoped to carry through, and made an appeal to the ringers in all the churches not only to come into the Guild, but to pull their weight in the endeavour to make it a success.
Ringing took place on the bells of the Parish Church, both in the afternoon and evening.
The Ringing World No. 869, November 18th, 1927, page 731