The Master David Strong, supported by the Honorary General Secretary, Clare Griffiths, and the Honorary General Treasurer, Michael Bubb, asked Canon Barry Fry to open the meeting by leading in prayer. The Master then welcomed everybody.
The others attending were: Andrew Banks, Roger Barber, Diana Bishop, Andrew Byford, Michael Church, Charlotte Colliss, Nicky David, John Davey, Barry Fry, Gillian Gardner, Keith Gillings, Lucy Hopkins-Till, Michael Hopkins-Till, Christine Knights-Whittome, Viv Nobbs, John Palk, Bruce Purvis, Mo Routh.
Andrew Case, Janet McCoy, Peter Niblett, Tony Smith, Mary Tester, Pam Thompson, Barbara Townsend.
The meeting stood to remember:
| Muriel Brown | Alton St Lawrence | |
| Mike French | Headbourne Worthy |
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2011 had been distributed with the agenda for this meeting. The Master altered several spelling errors; following these alterations, the minutes were agreed with no votes against, and signed by the Master as a true record.
None.
Bruce Purvis proposed a bid of £300.00. This increased amount was to cover the predicted expenditure of employing a commercial binder to bind five years editions of the Ringing World. Seconded by John Davey and carried.
Bruce Purvis also gave details of two purchases for the Library: the Church Bells of Somerset, and a publication of 18th Century newspaper articles on bells and ringing.
John Palk proposed a bid of £50.00, mostly to cover postage. Seconded by Mike Hopkins-Till and carried.
No bid received.
No bid received.
David Forder proposed a bid of £495.50, covering the usual expenditure on printing, post and packing. Seconded by John Davey and carried.
No bid received.
Mike Hopkins-Till proposed a bid of £50.00 to cover expenses, seconded by Bruce Purvis and carried.
Report on Trustees’ Meeting
Barry Fry reported that all the Trustees had met.
The work at Bullington was complete, with the bells up and ringing.
Work at New Alresford by Whites of Appleton was due to start in January 2012. It was noted, as a caution to other towers, that they had undergone a Safe Tower Access survey which recommended costly work, possibly compromising the bells being rung.
A new Grant application had been approved for West Tytherley of £500.00, following the satisfactory completion of the restoration work on their three historic bells. Seconded by Christine Knights-Whittome and carried.
Viv Nobbs presented a full report on the Wellesbourne “Change Ringing for the Future” conference on 12 November, which she had attended on behalf of the Guild, with Graham Nobbs, Barry Downer and Kieran Downer.
Michael Church, who had also attended, added his own impressions.
David Strong thanked them both.
A long and wide ranging discussion then took place.
David Strong summarised the meeting, held on 29 October, which had been a good day of informal discussion. Topics discussed included how Districts operate, awareness of ringers and ringing, teaching the teachers, and tower management. Summary notes could be sent out upon request. Another Forum was confirmed for Saturday 24 March 2012.
David Strong presented a paper offering guidelines for struggling Districts, with the aim of creating awareness of District roles and easing the problems of finding Officers. He proposed the paper should be included in the Guild Report and made available on the Guild website. Seconded by Mike Bubb and carried.
Nicky David requested clarification on Executive Committee Representatives: Mike Bubb confirmed only Districts with more than 100 members were required to elect an EC Rep.
Charlotte Colliss had prepared a comprehensive paper proposing:
That the Guild Dinner be held on Saturday 28 April 2012 at the Holiday Inn, Morn Hill, Winchester. Seconded by Mo Routh and carried.
Ratification of the advance loan of £100.00 from the Guild Treasurer towards the deposit of £250.00 for the Guild Dinner venue, which Social Committee funds had been unable to meet. Seconded by John Davey and carried.
The cost of the four Guest tickets and wine for them be paid from Central Funds rather than from increasing the ticket price. With Guild funding, the price could be kept at £34.50, without it would be £36.50. After some discussion, this was seconded by Diana Bishop and carried, by 11 votes to 4.
Charlotte Colliss then circulated details of the Dinner and order forms. The Social Committee also agreed to organise a raffle to boost funds.
Mike Hopkins-Till circulated a paper discussing firstly the necessary expenditure to repair the Inter-Tower 6-Bell and Inter-District 8-Bell Striking Competition Trophies. Secondly, he then looked in detail at the future of Guild Striking Competitions.
David Strong thanked him for all his work.
The meeting was strongly in favour of competitions, but decided that the questions should be discussed further, at District ADM level in the spring, the next Executive Committee Meeting and District Officers’ Forum, and finally the AGM, to formulate new ideas.
Mike Hopkins-Till agreed to go ahead with his organisation of all existing Guild Striking Competitions up until the 2012 AGM, and David Strong offered to assist if necessary. The dates were set as:
| Inter-Tower 6 and 8-Bell competitions | 28 April 2012 | |
| Inter-District 8-Bell competition | 07 July 2012 |
David Strong proposed that as the boards were rarely used and in need of costly and extensive repair, they should be disposed of. Viv Nobbs offered to take the Display boards for repair and use on the Isle of Wight. David Strong accepted this offer, withdrew his proposal, and thanked her.
The meeting was reminded that the posts of BRF Fund Raising Committee and Public Relations Officer still remained vacant, and suitable candidates should still be considered.
The next Executive Committee Meeting would take place on 10 March 2012 at St. Barnabas’ Church Hall, Southampton.
Another District Officers’ Forum would take place on 24 March 2012 at St. Barnabas’ Church Hall, Southampton.
The Guild Dinner would be held on 28 April 2012 at the Holiday Inn, Winchester.
The Guild AGM would be held at East Meon, in the Alton & Petersfield District, on 07 July 2012.
Nicky David confirmed details of the 2013 Guild AGM, to be hosted by the Channel Islands, on Jersey for the first time. No ringing festival would be planned as before, instead, just a meeting and buffet lunch was suggested. She added that the new ring of 10 bells on Alderney should be ringing by then, which could be of interest to many visitors.
Mike Hopkins-Till spoke on initial arrangements for the Central Council visit in 2016. An informal committee, also including Charlotte Colliss, Mo Routh, Tessa and Tony Smith, had been researching suitable hotel venues in Portsmouth. Two had been shortlisted, the Marriott Hotel in Cosham, and the favoured option, the Royal Beach in Southsea.
It was agreed that the Master, Treasurer and Secretary could make decisions on behalf of the Executive Committee, should a deposit be needed from Guild funds.
It was noted, following New Alresford’s commission of a Safe Tower Access Report, that other towers should be cautious, as costly work had been found there that would compromise use of the bells.
John Davey raised two points:
That the documents available on the Guild website should be updated, with both Executive Committee and AGM minutes currently available only up to 2009.
Child Protection. Following communication concerning a Vicar who had requested all ringers be CRB checked, he clarified the status thus: All local PCCs are advised by the church, but it is ultimately the PCCs who set the policy, and as such, it is not illegal for a church to request this.
Bruce Purvis raised three points:
On 30 November at 1430, Whitechapel Bell Foundry would be inspecting the bell frame at Wherwell.
He drew attention to the performance artist, Martin Creed, and his aim for a nationwide three minute ringing of bells at 8am on 27 July 2012, to mark the start of the Olympics.
He enquired if anyone wished to purchase two oversized Guild Polo Shirts.
Viv Nobbs raised two points:
Regarding CRB Checks, she had heard from Chris Mew that changes were coming soon, with a relaxation of checks.
She raised a query on whether Guild Subscriptions still needed to be paid in full, even if a member was elected halfway through the year. It was confirmed that this is indeed the case, and that to request a change in Subscription rules, a paper would need to be presented at the next Executive Committee Meeting in March, and then the subsequent AGM.
Christine Knights-Whittome made a plea for young ringers to attend the organised Guild Education Days, they provided good tuition, and in some Districts their fees are funded.
The Master closed the meeting at 12.30pm.