Minutes of the East Grinstead & District Quarterly Meeting

Held at Caterham St John on Saturday, 9 September 2017

The meeting commenced at 6.07 pm.

The Chairman, David Threlfall, thanked the band of Caterham St John for providing tea and the use of their bells.  He welcomed all who were in attendance.

David Threlfall advised the meeting that Jean Kimber had died since the last Guild Quarterly Meeting.   The funeral is to be held on 22 September 2017 at 11.45 a.m. at Beddington, with open ringing afterwards.   It was noted that both Jean and Stuart Kimber’s names were on a Peal Board in the Caterham St John ringing chamber.

1.          Apologies for Absence

These were received from: -

            Ian and David Cochrane, Margaret and Chris Funnell, Anthony Leeves, Robin Grant, David Tomsett,     Mike Bullett, Ruth Goodsir, Candy             O’Donovan

2.          Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting on 14^th January 2017 at Limpsfield

Patrick Wills read out the Minutes.  David Finch proposed acceptance of those Minutes, and Andrew Brock seconded that proposal.

3.          Matters Arising (not covered by the Agenda)

              Re Item 3.1 - Kate Wills showed the meeting the design logos for the Guild clothing.   She had identified specific clothing, and the next step was to obtain costings.

              Re Item 5 - It was noted that the Westley Group Ltd (a company based in Stoke on Trent which undertakes marine castings) had taken over the rights to tower bell production from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, having acquired some of the Whitechapel machinery.

              Re Item 6 - David Threlfall thanked all those whose hard work went into organising the Guild’s 90^th Anniversary Dinner.  Patrick Wills expressed thanks in particular to those members who helped him out with those arrangements whilst he had been away on holiday.   Sheila Marsh’s wonderful Anniversary cake was worthy of specific mention: it had been much appreciated.

              Re Item 9.1 - It was suggested that Minutes of meetings should be sent out with the emails advising members of the next business meeting, notwithstanding that these Minutes are also available on the Guild website.

              Re Item 9.3 - Unfortunately, nobody present had knowledge of the current level of funding that had been raised on behalf of Julie McDonnell’s “Strike Back Against Blood Cancer” group.

4.          Election of New Members

              The meeting was informed that Mark Chittenden-Pile and William Stungo had been elected members of the Guild in the tower at Colemans Hatch prior to the successful Peal attempt on 10 June 2017, and that such election needed to be ratified.  David Threlfall proposed and Ian Davey seconded that ratification, which was approved unanimously by the meeting. 

5.          Any other Business

5.1       Patrick Wills informed the meeting that after payment of the hall hire and expenses for today’s meeting, there was a surplus from the tea takings of £11.  He proposed that this should be credited to the Rope Fund account.  Kate Wills seconded this, and the meeting unanimously voted in favour.                 

5.2       The meeting was informed that ringing could continue at Caterham St John after the meeting until 8 p.m.

The meeting closed at 6.35 pm.