After the considerable activities of 1999, the past year, marking the end of the second, and beginning of the third trimester of the Committee’s life, was rather quieter. The committee met on one occasion, and at the Guild AGM we said “farewell” and extended grateful thanks to two of its founder members, Barry Downer (Whitwell, IoW) and Ken Waller (Nether Wallop).
One outstanding Tower Inspection report was completed and delivered to the church authorities at East Tytherley early in the year, while another for Ringwood remains outstanding. Telephoned advice was offered to towers and ringers on a couple of other occasions. Extensive advice and inspection was also undertaken to support the deliberations of the BRF Trustees in respect of proposals for the rehanging and refurbishment of King’s Somborne bells. It was also a particular pleasure for the committee to be involved in the try out, and subsequent rededication of Ellisfield bells during the spring.
One important practical task completed under the auspices of the committee, was the effective completion of the project to refurbish the bell gear at St Mary’s, Crawley, between Winchester and Stockbridge. The Guild first accepted this commitment in the spring of 1999, but delays securing the necessary Diocesan permissions, and subsequently planning the availability of a project team meant that this work was not actually undertaken until the end of November 2000. However the tower has now been thoroughly cleaned out, the frame and all metal fittings scraped down and repainted, and fifteen new pulley boxes installed to much improve bell handling and roping of this light ring. The thanks of the BSC, (and of the whole Guild) are due to William Bickers-Jones (Purbrook), Margaret and Philip Carter and Caroline Hayes (Winchester Cathedral), Wendy Ling (Hursley); and Mike Winterbourne (Tangley), who all gave time and expertise willingly to progress the work. Their efforts were much appreciated by the local congregation and have prompted a gift of funds to pay for five new ropes that are in the process of being purchased. The second part of our commitment will be discharged in the spring of 2001, when Gail Cater commences the task of teaching a new, local band.
The committee has also been reviewing the scope that ringers have under the provisions of the Faculty procedure, to undertake maintenance and repairs to our bells. As a result of discussions between the Guild Executive and the committee, proposals were drafted and submitted to the Winchester Diocesan authorities. These seek to widen the scope of works that can be undertaken under the “de minimis” provisions (i.e. works that do not require formal submission to the Diocese, and formal written approval). It is to be hoped that these proposals will be accepted in due course, thereby creating a much more positive climate for active care and stewardship of our bell stock, whilst encouraging such work to be undertaken to the highest standards and according to recognised best practice.
Finally the report of works undertaken to our bells over the past year makes for interesting reading, and demonstrates that as a Guild we still have some way to go in developing wholly effective channels of communication. Even in these days of electronic correspondence it is still possible for the Guild to gain two new-cast bells, unknown to committees charged with monitoring such matters!!
As always my thanks is due to my fellow committee members for their efforts during the year.
| Income | Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £.p | £.p | ||
| Balance b/f | 167.24 | Materials | 42.82 |
| Postage | 7.45 | ||
| Interest | 0.67 | Balance carried forward | 117.64 |
| £167.91 | £167.91 | ||
Phil Watts