Minutes of the East Grinstead and District Guild Quarterly Meeting

Held at Warnham on Saturday 9 January 2016

Ringing commenced at Warnham at 3.00 pm under the direction of the Ringing Master, Robin Grant.

A service of Evening Prayer was conducted by the Curate, Rosemary Cattell, in the church at 4.30 pm.

Following the service tea was taken in the Parish Room.  24 members and friends were present.

The Guild Chairman, David Threlfall, opened the Business Meeting at 6.03 pm.  He thanked the Warnham ringers for allowing the Guild to use their bells, and Rosemary for taking the service.  He said that although she was a lapsed member of the Guild, it was good to see that she was wearing her Guild badge.

Apologies for Absence were received from Mike Bullett, Rosalind and Roger Cowsill, Yvonne Cooper, John warner, Oliver Thompson, Gail Terry, John Harriyot, Chris Funnnell and Mary Ayres.

The Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting held at Merstham on 12 September 2015 were read by the Secretary, Patrick Wills.  Acceptance was proposed by David Finch, seconded by Margaret Funnell.  The Minutes were accepted nem con.

There were no Matters Arising.

The following New Member was elected to the Guild:  Lynda Johnson of East Grinstead; proposed by Helen Goldstraw, seconded by Sheila Marsh.  All present were in favour of Lynda’s election, and the Chairman welcomed her to the Guild.

Patrick Wills spoke about the Annual Dinner which was to be held at Rowfant House on Saturday 13 February.  The price this year was £30.  Patrick had distributed menus to those present, and would be sending them to all members via email.

The Guild Library is currently located at David Threlfall’s house.  David said that he would prefer the library to be located elsewhere.  Various possible locations were discussed, including:  Horley ringing room; East Grinstead tower; East Grinstead Museum; and Stella Bianco’s house (with the Sussex Association Library).  Andrew Brock agreed to speak to Betty Green (Tower Secretary at East Grinstead) and the Curator at the East Grinstead Museum.

Any Other Business:

The Guild’s Central Council Representative, Kate Desbottes, gave a report of the meeting at Hull in May 2015.  She said that a new post of Public Relations Officer had been created and that Kate Flavell (currently Master of the Surrey Association) had been elected to that post.  £14,900 had been raised for the appeal to rehang the bells at Christchurch, New Zealand, following the destruction of the Cathedral tower in an earthquake.  The Admin Committee had decided not to change the way the Affiliation Fees paid by Associations and Guilds were calculated, but had decided to increase the fees to £35 per delegate from 2017, then to £45 and £50 subsequently.  A motion that from 2018 onwards meetings should be held in September (rather than May) was defeated.  Before lunch, delegates were split into four regional “break out groups” to discuss “Change Ringing for the Future”, and it was agreed that a survey of “grass roots” ringers should be conducted.  At The Ringing World AGM (which took place, as usual, immediately after lunch), it was disclosed that the paper made a loss of £8,100 in 2014, and was anticipating a loss of £15,000 in 2015.  This is obviously not sustainable and various options were discussed.  The RW has subsequently produced a Questionnaire which all ringers have been invited to complete.  Kate said that the remainder of the Council’s routine business was concluded with little discussion.  The annual meeting of the Ringing Foundation, which normally takes place over the CC Weekend, was postponed.  When the meeting did eventually take place in August it was decided to wind up the Foundation.

The Chairman thanked Ian Oram for letting us in to the tower, and Kate Desbottes and Patrick Wills for producing the tea.  He also thanked those who had provided cakes – in particular Helen for her splendid shortbread bells.

The meeting closed at 6.44 pm.

Ringing continued at Warnham until 8.15 pm.

Minutes approved at the Quarterly Meeting at Chiddingstone on 11 June 2016 and signed by the Chairman, David Threlfall