The AGM began at 6 pm with a welcome by the President, Alistair Donaldson. The prayers and act of remembrance for those members who had passed away had been recorded by the Rev Stephen Burrow, the Rural Dean of Daventry. This was the branch that would have been hosting the AGM had we been able to meet in person.
There were 5 members who were announced as due to receive their 50 year membership certificates:
Pam Bailey, Rushden
Michael Fiander, Guilsborough branch
James Hedgcock Guilsborough Branch
Andrew Parker, Bulwick
John Weaver, Kettering
We hope to be able to present these at an upcoming meeting.
The minutes and accounts of the Guild for 2020 were both approved by the meeting. The treasurer’s update on the accounts so far in 2021 included a reminder that you can contribute to Guild funds through Amazon’s Smile fund, just select the Guild and it will receive 0.5% of your Amazon spend. And as the treasurer had just received the first payment, even that small percentage makes him smile.
Moving on to fees, the membership subscriptions are to remain unchanged. However, it was agreed that peal ringers will no longer have to pay their 20 per rope peal fee from January. So if you were planning a peal it’s just got a tiny bit lighter on the pocket.
Grants were agreed to 3 towers, Towcester, Great Oakley and Pitsford. The Guild’s BRF currently holds a little more in it than Charity Commissioners might consider necessary and so grants were increased over previous years, being in the range 15 to 20%.
There then followed the election of officers. There were only 2 changes, both volunteers in the meeting. For Newsletter Editor, Chris Pearson stood down after over a decade to be replaced by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. And Guild Public Relations Officer is now This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., taking over from Alison Byrnes. We wish them well in their new posts. There remains a new post outstanding, that of Safeguarding Officer. This does not require any safeguarding experience, it is as much an administrative role, ensuring that the Guild has adequate safeguarding training for those in a position of leadership at tower, branch and Guild level. The role description is attached. If you have any questions, please get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Looking forward, the Guild’s Spring meeting or (Not the) Spring meeting will (hopefully, fingers crossed, touching wood and any other superstitions you care to enact) be held on 21st August in the Northampton branch. Details still to be arranged, government announcements permitting. The Summer Festival will follow in short order, on 25th September, in the Thrapston branch. Arrangements to be announced when they are made.
At the Summer Festival it is hoped to restart the 100 Club after a long period of inactivity. This has had a number of changes to improve it, you can now pay by bank transfer into the Guild account, and you can opt in to receive e-mails reminding you of when your subscription is due. For these and any other queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., the 100 Club co-ordinator.
For towers or branches that want to return to ringing the Master is instigating a “Flying Squad” (name to be changed if someone can think of a better one!) This is to comprise ringers who would be prepared to go out to a tower or a branch for a specific practice or quarter and provide some support. Need an extra body or two to give you a framework to refresh your ringers on a method they used to know and are now rusty? The flying squad can help. Get in touch with the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to both request and offer assistance.
Looking at getting back to ringing, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is going to be starting a youth ringing group. He’ll be contacting branches to find young ringers and bring them together. If you have young ringers in your tower, or would be interested in helping out, please get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The meeting concluded with a discussion of the project the CCT are leading at St Peter’s and the Old Black Lion pub. For more information on this exciting project, see the earlier news item, here.
Helen Allton
