An active year

The Winchester District’s A.D.M. began with a good attendance for ringing on the six at Owslebury under the direction of the retiring Ringing Master, Mr. Robert McGowan and Mr. Rodney Skinner. Tea at North Stoneham followed. The ringers’ service took place at St. Michael and All Angels, Bassett, a church within the parish of North Stoneham able to provide the necessary accommodation for the tea and meeting. The North Stoneham ringers extended the usual fare to a splendid high tea and from the proceeds were able to give donations to both churches.

Mr. A. P. (Tony) Smith took the chair to welcome the Guild Master, Mrs. Gilian Davis, 86 members and visitors. The Secretary, Mr. Robert Cater gave his report on the year’s activities covering meetings, the ringing school, outings, maintenance course and other business matters before retiring from his office in order to give his attentions to his new office of Guild Public Relations Officer. The Treasurer, Mrs. Rita Carton, said the total membership was slightly down on last year.

The following officers were re-elected: Chairman, Mr. A. P. Smith; Treasurer, Mrs. Rita Carton; Press Officer, Miss Joyce Reed; Guild Executive Committee Representative, Mr. Graham Grant; Auditor, Mr. Charles Kippin. New officers elected: Secretary, Mr. Hugh Hill; Ringing Masters, Mr. Richard Sams and Mr. Geoffrey Emerson; Guild Social Committee Representatives, Miss Anne Bennett and Miss Joyce Reed.

A generous donation of £50 from the Centenary Fund was made to Micheldever for the tower restoration appeal fund.

Mr. Derek Jackson, Guild Secretary exhorted members to buy their copies of The Ringing World by postal subscription.

Mrs. Davis concluded this part of the meeting by thanking the retiring officers, welcoming the new ones and looked forward to working with them during the next three years.

A brisk quarterly meeting followed because time was running out as the hall was needed for another group but not before thanks were expressed to the North Stoneham ringers for their hospitality.

Evening ringing at North Stoneham ended a busy but enjoyable day.

J.R.

The Ringing World No. 3803, March 16, 1984, page 231