ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1996
The Master, Rev Barry Fry, supported by the Honorary General Secretary, Robert Cater, the Honorary General Treasurer, Michael Bubb, and the Minute Secretary, Andrew Case, opened the meeting at 4.15 with a prayer and welcome. Terry Collins, the Chairman of the Alton and Petersfield District then warmly welcomed everyone to the District. The Master expressed thanks to the Reverend Norman Smith for taking the service.
Apologies were received from:-
Helen Tucker, the Selborne ringers, Barbara Townsend, Les Duguid, Andrew Palk, Faith and Tony Webster, Mavis Whitehead, Andrew Craddock, Margaret Thomas, Heidi Richardson, Helen Winter, Lyn Breslain, Andrew Johnson, Jacqueline Davis, John Davis, and Michael Church.
The meeting stood in silence to respect the following deceased members:-
Dennis Oram and Tom de Paravechini of Abbotts Ann, Revd W F Godfrey formerly of the Christchurch and Southampton District, Bill Barnes of Hursley, David Savill a member of the Executive Committee and of St Michael Basingstoke, Philip Taylor of Highclere, Dorothy Chamberlain and Patrick Handley Garland of Fawley, Ted Green of Freshwater, Alan Betsworth (Honorary Life Member) of Liss, Jack Mussell (Honorary Life Member) of Breamore, Dorothy Brunnen of Bitterne Park, Jack Hull (Honorary Life Member) of Brockenhurst, Eric Packham of Whitwell, Ron Pipe of Church Oakley, John Froome of Baughurst, and Gladys Burgess of Greywell.
Minutes of the 1995 AGM held at Newport had been circulated by the Minute Secretary in 1995. The minutes were approved and signed.
Open Days in aid of the BRF. The Christchurch and Southampton District Open Day in May had raised £440 and the Winchester District Open Day in September had raised £300.
Betty Daysh, tower captain of Shedfield had completed 50 years membership of the Guild and accordingly became a Life Member. The Master spoke of her work for ringing at Shedfield and also for the Portsmouth District.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, the Master proposed that Graham Grant of Winchester Cathedral also be elected to Life Membership for his service to the Guild and to ringing over many years.
The proposal was accepted and both the new Life Members were greeted with acclamation.
June Mitchell spoke of the future plans of the BRF fundraising committee which included: the production of a questionnaire about the BRF; more Guild pens; the tea towel design on other products eg notelets; sweatshirts; calendars (possibly by Roy LeMarechal). June ended with a plea for all members to support the BRF and the worthwhile work it does in helping to prevent bells falling into disuse.
The reports were all printed in the Guild Report. Adoption of the reports en bloc was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Michael Thomas and carried nem con.
The accounts were printed in the Guild Report. Tony Smith proposed that the accounts be adopted. This was seconded by Derek Jackson and carried nem con.
The Master thanked all the Guild Officers and Committee Convenors offering special thanks to the committee responsible for producing the new Guild Resource Book for Worship which had been used at the Service before the meeting - Bob Cater, Gilian Davis, Alan Hoar, Canon Keith Walker, and Tony Smith for producing camera ready copy.
The Treasurer thanked all towers which had made donations to the BRF, especially Froyle. Adoption of the Report and Accounts as printed in the Guild Report was proposed by Tony Smith, seconded by Kevin Mintram and carried nem con.
The Treasurer commended to Districts the idea of lending surplus district funds to the BRF on the basis of a temporary loan. One district had already agreed to loan £700 to the BRF.
The Treasurer had received a cheque for £89 in the post, but had been unable to send a receipt as he had no address for the sender.
No requests for grants had been received by the Trustees, St Marybourne having raised all the money they needed. This was the first year since the BRF was set up that no requests had been received.
Gail Cater reported on items relevant to the Guild from this meeting which had been held in Shrewsbury on Monday 27 May rather than the usual Tuesday. All five of the Guild's representatives had attended. This was election year and Jane Wilkinson from West Sussex had been elected as the first woman President of the Council. Three of the Guild's representatives sought election to various committees and Gail Cater was elected to the Education Committee, Tony Smith to the Methods Committee, Andrew Craddock was elected to the Computer Coordination Committee and also the Publications Committee and to the Board of the Ringing World. Tony Smith and Andrew Craddock are also members of the Administrative Committee by virtue of becoming Committee Chairmen. The various Committee Reports had been published in the Ringing World in advance of the meeting, and a brief report of the meeting had appeared in RW 4441 (June 7 1996). [The Official Report appeared in RW 4447 (July 19 1996)].
The Master proposed the following change or Rule 5 on behalf of the Executive Committee:-
For "A General Meeting of the Guild shall be held annually in one of the following areas in turn:
Area 1 Andover, Area 2 Portsmouth, Area 3 Winchester, Area 4 Christchurch, Area 5 Basingstoke, Area 6 Isle of Wight, Area 7 Alton and Petersfield, Area 8 Southampton"
Substitute "A General Meeting of the Guild shall be held annually in each of the Districts in turn:
District 1 Andover, District 2 Portsmouth, District 3 Winchester, District 4 Christchurch and Southampton, District 5 Basingstoke, District 6 Isle of Wight, District 7 Alton and Petersfield, District 8 Channel Islands"
and that the new rota come into effect following completion of the current cycle with the AGM in the Southampton area in 1997.
The change of Rule and timetable were agreed nem con.
The 1997 AGM would be held at St Barnabas Church, Southampton on 5th July 1997.
The Master mentioned that in 1998 he would be attending the General Synod during the first week in July and he may suggest that the 1998 AGM be held on the second Saturday in July for that year.
| 21 September 1996 | Education Day - raising and lowering, and belfry maintenance | Meon Valley Area |
| 28 September 1996 | Inter District 10 bell striking competition | Newport IOW |
| 26 October 1996 | Education afternoon - teaching handling, hunting the treble, and touches of Plain Bob Minor | Lower Test Valley area |
| 23 November 1996 | Barn Dance (Portsmouth District) | |
| 31 March 1997 (to be confirmed) | Open Day | Basingstoke District |
| 19 April 1997 | Guild Dinner | Ringwood Area |
Mark Esbester conducted a draw for the BRF 200 Club. The winners were as follows:-
| £150 | Jack Wimlett |
| £75 | Colin Cook |
| £50 | R A Routh |
| £25 | Steve Castle |
| £25 | John & Charlotte Colliss |
| £25 | Marie Boniface |
Stuart Heath (Portsmouth District Secretary) advised that he would be moving house on 8 July. (New address is 12 Rannoch Close, Fareham, Hants PO17 6BE Tel: 01329 829255)
Phil Watts advised that the Belfry Stewardship Committee had lost three members in the last six months and was in a position to co-opt new members. Anyone interested should contact Phil.
Bob Cater mentioned that he was arranging to ring around Verona over three days in June 1997 and anyone interested in joining the tour and perhaps adding it to a holiday in the area should contact him.
There being no further business the Master closed the meeting with a prayer at 5.15pm.