Held on Saturday 10th March 2001 at St Martin of Tours, Epsom
Present: The Master, Mrs B R Norris, 66 members from 28 towers and 1 visitor.
During the afternoon, ringing had taken place at Ashtead, Christ Church Epsom Common and St Martin of Tours, Epsom. The service was held at St Martin of Tours, Epsom followed by tea and the business meeting at the nearby Church Centre. The Master thanked the Rev'd Geoff Morgan who had conducted the service, Mr R Walker for playing the organ, the Leatherhead District officers and ringers who had organised the venue and afternoon ringing, and the members and helpers of St Martins, who had prepared an excellent meal.
The Master opened the meeting by welcoming all members and visitors.
1. Apologies for absence
The Secretary reported that apologies had been received from 33 members and one tower, as recorded below:-
JR Anthony, T Arkless, Mrs JJ Barton, SW Barton, Mrs PA Bird, Mrs D Blamire, H Blamire, M Bryant, R Bull, R Burton, Mrs M Coldicott, J Cowburn, Mrs J Cowburn, Miss LA Davis, MER Gill, Mrs R Gill, Mrs J Heyworth, DM Hodgson, Mrs J Hodgson, GL Nayler, DE Parsons, Mrs J Parsons, Mrs AS Patterson, P Payne, Mrs M Payne, M Pidd, Mrs PJ Pidd, Mrs AS Pratt, F Rice, Mrs C Stay, H Walton, Mrs E Winckworth, R Winckworth, and Esher Tower.
2. Minutes of the 72nd Annual General Meeting
Minutes of the 72nd Annual General Meeting, held at Aldershot, having previously been circulated to all towers, were taken as read.
It was proposed by Mr CH Rogers, seconded by Mrs AE Pierce, and agreed that they be signed as a true record, subject to two minor amendments.
3. Matters Arising.
Item 3. The Secretary said he understood the video of the Dorking rehanging was owned privately and would not now be made available
to the public. Mr MS Loveday and a number of members felt that a copy of the video should be obtained for the Guild Library. The
Secretary was asked to make enquiries to find out whether a copy could be obtained or purchased from the copyright holders.
4. Election of new members:
The following new members were elected:-
| Name: | Tower | Proposer |
| Miss E Giovacchini | Compton | Mrs AE Pierce |
| J Renton | ||
| M Byron-Thomas | ||
| Mrs C Croxson | Aldershot | T Page |
| Mrs C Ugbo | ||
| Mrs C Hodnett | ||
| Miss L Appleton |
5. Annual Report 2000
The Master presented the Report of the Executive Committee.
The meeting stood in silence in memory of the former members who had died in 2000.
The Master highlighted the fact that the number of ringing members exceeded 700 for the first time. She drew attention to the Bell Restoration Fund financial statements which showed a healthy position following receipt of £7,000 from Dorking Tower Fund as a part repayment of grant monies following their successful fund-raising project. She especially thanked those who had been involved in fund-raising activities for the Bell Restoration Fund.
Other highlights included:-
* The completion of two major restoration projects at Crondall and Witley.
* A slight increase in the number of peals rung, including a peal by the local band at Crondall on the old bells which included a first as conductor and four 'first peals'.
* Several new methods rung to peals at the Cathedral, Farnham and Burnham.
* 'Ring in 2000' successes.
* Mini ring demonstration at the County Show.
* Successful 6-bell striking contest, but cancellation of the 8-bell contest.
* Guild Team placed 2nd in Essex Trophy Striking Contest held at Staplehurst, Kent.
The Master congratulated those who had rung their first peals and quarter peals.
The Master thanked Mr IJM Saunders for his continuing work with the Guild bookstall, and Miss J Roberts and the Reports Committee for their work.
The adoption of the Report was proposed by the Master, seconded by Mr WJ Munton and carried.
6. Statement of Accounts:
i) General Account: The Treasurer presented the 2000 accounts for the General Fund. There was a deficit of £347 attributable to the loss on the Guild Dinner, the Public Liability insurance premium and the cost of producing public relations leaflets for the display at the Surrey County Show. The accumulated balance at the year-end was £1,633.
The Treasurer said that the increased Guild subscription was intended to address the General Fund deficit in the current year.
ii) Bell Restoration Fund: The Treasurer presented the BRF account for 2000. This showed income of £17,809 which included a refund of £7,000 of the grant originally made in 1998 to Dorking. There was a deficit of £2,894 for the year following payment of grants totalling £20,483. The accumulated balance stood at £36,117. There were no outstanding commitments at the year-end.
The Treasurer said that the Guild was most grateful for all BRF contributions, great and small. She pointed out that interest earned since opening a CAF Gold account had been double that earned in the previous 12-month period.
The Treasurer proposed adoption of the accounts, which had been approved by the Independent Examiner. This was seconded by Mr J Williamson and carried.
7. Election of Officers:
There being only one nomination for each post, the following were declared elected 'en-bloc' on a proposal by Mr MS Loveday, seconded by Mr IJM Saunders:-
Master: Mrs BR Norris
Secretary: Mr RM Pierce
Treasurer: Mrs AM Anthony
BRF Administrator: Miss J Roberts
Independent Examiner: Mr RL Pashley
8. Election of Central Council representatives to serve May 2002 to April 2005:
Five nominations had been received for the four posts available, these being:
| Nominee: | Proposer: | Seconder: |
| Mr WJ Couperthwaite | Miss J Roberts | Mr JR Pratt |
| Mrs BR Norris | Mr R Walker | Mr J Williamson |
| Mr PR Humphrey | Mr JG Young | Mr R Wood |
| Mr CH Rogers | Mr JR Pratt | Mrs AE Pierce |
| Mr MJ Turner | Mr T Page | Mrs SJ Page |
9. Motion: Election of new Vice-President.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, the Master said that following the death of the Rev'd. R. Acworth in January 2000, there was a vacancy for a Vice President, and she proposed that Mr WJ Couperthwaite of Farnborough be elected to the post.
She said that Mr Couperthwaite had been a member of the Guild for nearly 40 years during which time he had served Farnham District as Ringing Master, from 1972-1981 and 1995-1997 and as Chairman from 1991-2001. He had served as Guild Master from 1981-1987 and 1996-2000. Mr Couperthwaite had represented the Guild as Central Council representative continuously since 1984 and was currently Chairman of the Publications Committee.
Mr Couperthwaite was currently the Guild leading peal ringer with 683 peals, 318 of which he had conducted. He had given and continued to give loyal and outstanding service to the Guild, being most supportive and giving advice readily on ringing and procedural matters. The Master said that in appreciation of his outstanding service she had great pleasure in proposing that he be made a Vice President. The proposal was seconded by Mr CH Rogers and carried unanimously.
Mr Couperthwaite in reply said he felt privileged to have belonged to many groups connected with the Guild and had devoted much time to supporting local ringing. He had been proud to be a member of three first class peal bands and had greatly enjoyed his periods of time as Guild Master. He found pleasure in visiting towers around the Guild area and valued the support of his wife, Judy, in his activities. He thanked the Master sincerely for her kind words and the honour and said he was delighted to be a Vice President.
10. Any Other Business:
i) Peal at Shalford 1st April 2000. On behalf of Mr SW Barton, Mr RM Wood explained the circumstances surrounding a peal of Bob Major rung for the Guild at Shalford on 1st April 2000. This had been disqualified as a Guild peal since one of the ringers, Mr B Willetts had not at that time been elected to membership. With only four resident members of the band, there had been insufficient to elect him to Guild membership prior to the peal attempt. He had been elected at a District Meeting one week later. Under Rule 32a, it was sought to recognise the peal formally as being rung for the Guild.
Several members then spoke, a number supporting the proposal, with some against.
A formal proposal to recognise the peal was made by Mr RM Wood, seconded by Mr R Walker. On a show of hands, the proposal was overwhelmingly passed.
ii) The BRF Administrator thanked all who had put many hours of work into raising funds for the BRF. She especially thanked Ms SA Schupke and Mr J Morgan for their sales activities, Messrs. M Bryant and D Hester for design work and Mrs AE Pierce, Mrs J Bridge and Mrs J Cowburn for selling goods at Guild events.
She drew attention to the Gift Aid scheme, which would enable the Guild to recover tax.
The BRF Administrator said that although there were no major projects due to start this year, funds for the BRF were still needed, and she outlined proposals for work to be undertaken in future at Alfold.
Mr JR Pratt pointed out that Gift Aid was only applicable where Guild Subscriptions were paid personally, and not where they were paid by Tower or PCC funds.
iii) Mr MJ Turner drew attention to the rules for Guild peals, and the 50p per ringer peal fee, which needed to be remitted to him with the peal details
iv) Mr A Gordon pointed out statistics from the Guild Report showing that despite the additional peals that had been rung during 2000, there were fewer peal ringers and fewer conductors than previously.
v) Mr DP Elsmore thanked those who had helped in the restoration work at Crondall, and thanked the Guild for the grant.
vi) Mr JR Pratt thanked the Guild for the grant at Witley and those who had helped with the work.
vii) Mr P Whewell drew attention to half-muffled ringing at Farnham for Holocaust Remembrance Day. He asked if it was possible to circulate details widely. It was recommended that details be circulated via District Officers.
viii) Mr T Page spoke about a possible carol concert in December at Aldershot and asked members to indicate by show of hands whether they would attend such an event if held. About 20 members then indicated they would attend an event in December if held on a Saturday or Sunday.
ix) Mrs SJ Page drew attention to the date proposed for the Guild Dinner, 27th October 2001, at Guildford Cathedral Refectory, and appealed for support from members.
x) Mr CK Hill asked if it were possible to re-distribute copies of the Guild newsletter to towers in the Chertsey District where they had not been received due to distribution problems. It was agreed that extra copies would be produced and circulated.
xi) Mr J Morgan reminded tower contacts that updates were urgently needed to enable him to produce the third edition of 'Towers and Bells around Guildford' handbook in time for publication at the forthcoming Ringing World Roadshow at Keele on 31st March.
11. Close:
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.21pm.
The meeting was followed by the monthly number Club draw, and evening ringing took place at Christ Church, Epsom Common.
R M Pierce,
Guild Secretary.
The Agenda for the 74th meeting, to be held on 9 March, is also available.