AGM OF CHANNEL ISLANDS BRANCH

AGENDA

MINUTES

Minutes from September 2024 meeting

CI Branch AGM was held at St. John’s church, Jersey on Saturday 7 September 2024

As the role of Chair is currently vacant, those present voted unanimously for Louise Read to chair the meeting

Attendees: Louise Read, Justin Read, Joseph Blake, Helen McGregor, Peter Bevis, Peter Routier, Mike Halsey, Robin Pittman, Tracey Lucas, Mike Bubb, John David, Nicky David, Phil Le Conte, Anne Dorey, Judy Hall, Aileen Wilson, June Bannister, John Squires, Peter Gallienne, Vivienne Vibert,

Apologies for absence: Jennifer Hill, Jane Le Conte, Donny Brock, Jean Collier, Ollie Blake, Anne Le Cheminant, John Lihou, Tim Wainwright, Rebecca Harrison, Ian Wood, Paul Lawrence, Rachel McCutcheon, Duncan Loweth, Janice Firth, Will Le Ray, William Read, Hannah Read, Beverley Sproats, Ivan Sproats, Eve Sproats, Chris Totty, Fredrica Fitzpatrick, Christopher Hill, Tim Peet, Jocelyn Briggs

No members were lost through death in the past year.

Minutes: These had been circulated in advance of the meeting. Mike Bubb advised that the draft minutes stated that Vale Rector Transwell should in fact be Reverend Bev Hervé. Louise Read advised that the 8-bell test piece was not PBPBPS x 2. Instead, it should instead read PBPBPBPS x 2.

Subject to the amendment noted above, Peter Routier proposed the acceptance of the minutes, Vivien Vibert seconded, and all those present voted in favour.

Matter arising: none

Declarations of other business not already declared: none

Disbanding the branch as an idea: Peter Routier explained his rationale for proposing that the newly elected Committee be tasked to consider the future of the branch, including undertaking a consultation inviting contributions from all members across the branch and come back with a proposal in due course. Phil Le Conte explained the history of the branch (formally District of the W&P Guild).

The motion was proposed by Peter Routier, seconded by Mike Halsey and all those present voted in favour.

Ringing Master’s Report:

As branch ringing master, Joseph Blake presented his Ringing Master’s Report.

From Guernsey:

• Both Town Church and Forest/St Peter’s remain very grateful to have the wonderful ringers who joined them through the Ring for the King scheme, they continue to invigorate each practice they attend, and the band thoroughly enjoy watching them progress in the leaps and bounds that they are making.
• Vale has this year celebrated John David’s 85th birthday with an enjoyable quarter peal of mixed doubles.
• Elizabeth College continues to enjoy the use of the simulator peal to teach many Elizabeth College students and complete many a quarter peal on, sensible or not.
• Town Church is very grateful to Becky, the new Tower Captain for her efforts to help all ringers to improve striking and put on many a fun practice night.
• Overall, in Guernsey (According to BellBoard): 88 quarter peals, 6 peals, and 1 long length were rung since the last AGM. The long length was the world’s first long length of singles.

From Alderney:

• Alderney have had a plethora of various learning opportunities, including Tulloch trips, Improver’s week, Anniversary week and the 8-bell competition.
• Special mention goes to Alexis who progressed from never having rung Grandsire Triples to performing spectacularly in the Alderney band in this year’s CI 8-bell competition.
• Other special mentions go to Gail’s first quarter peal of bob doubles, Petra’s first quarter peal of St Clement’s bob minor, June and Aileen variously Double Oxford, Woodbine and Crayford Little. A personal best for Helen as well – Orion.
• Overall, in Alderney (According to BellBoard): 60 quarter peals, 10 peals, and 1 long length were rung since the last AGM.

From Jersey:

• Jersey remains strong. It is noted that many BellBoard entries are footnoted as being one of the ringer’s first for various things, from methods to conducting to being away from the tenor for the first time.
• Jersey also hosted the Southampton Universities Guild of Change Ringers mascot this April, for its first trip outside of England.
• Overall, in Jersey (According to BellBoard): 37 quarter peals, and 1 peal were rung since the last AGM.

The islands remain very strong in both ringing ability and in numbers, with many people joining each island as new ringers. We celebrate having such wonderful ringing opportunities for all.

The members thanked Joseph Blake for his time as Ringing Master and wish him well at university.

Treasurer’s Report: Accounts had been circulated in advance of the meeting. Income is largely subscriptions and a small surplus from last year’s lunch, which has gone to the Youth Travel Fund. The main expenses were subscriptions to the Guild, two years’ worth of competition expenses for the judges and travel grant. In the bank the Branch has approx. £5,600 (£4,700: general funds and £900: travel fund). Peter Routier explained that the Branch will receive a 20% rebate from the Guild once we revert to paying online to the Guild. Peter confirmed that Branch funds will be considered when the Committee considers the future of the Branch. There were no objections to adopting the accounts and everyone was in favour.

Election of Officers: Peter Routier (Treasurer), Jennifer Hill (Secretary) and Peter Bevis (Webmaster) were willing to remain in post and Justin Read and Helen McGregor were willing to stand as Ringing Master and Chair respectively.

John David and Nicky David expressed their concern that not all roles laid down by the Guild are filled and it was agreed that as no one else was willing to stand, the Committee would pick this up in the general review of the Branch.

Louise Read as Chair suggested that the election of officers was therefore made en bloc. This was proposed by Peter Routier and seconded by Mike Halsey. All those present at the meeting voted in favour with, the exception of John David, Nicky David and Mike Bubb who abstained.

Election of new members: Sarah Couchman (Town Church), Jack Le Flem (Town Church). Tim Phillips of the Guild expressed his concern that only 50% of the Branch members have registered online and noted that Jennifer Hill would be able to advise each tower captain which of their members had registered online. Tim also confirmed that it is still possible for towers to pay their members’ subs. The Branch secretary is to send a message to all tower contacts to remind their members to pay their Guild subs.

Any other business: none

Striking Competition results (in order of ringing):

Team A – Alderney: Plain Bob Doubles in 4m 10s. Rang some stead rounds which settled down. Quite a nervous start when they went into changes. Most faults were between the working bells and the tenor, gaps or crunching, but not necessarily the tenor’s fault. Otherwise, faults from leading too fast or too slow. Grew in confidence and finished quite strongly. 27 faults 7th place

Team B – St. Peter: Plaint Hunt on 5 in 3m 59s. Quite a lot of Plain Hunt to ring in one go! Good speed in rounds. In changes were some inaccuracies but had a good underlying rhythm. Hit rounds every time. We were willing this team on to get to the end…and they did, so well done. 72 faults 9th place

Team C – St. Mark: Plain Bob Doubles in 3m 46s. Fastest ringing of the afternoon. Practice had some confident, quick rounds and changes, with a few hesitations. Rounds in the test piece felt too quick, or at least not everyone wanted to go as quick as that. Gaps opened up in the middle where the front bells outpaced the back bells. Fundamentally good rhythm with very few whole faults. 23 faults 6th place

Team D – Forest: Plain Bob Doubles in 4m. Practice rang a lot of rounds, quite steady, but improved. Translated into the test piece. Very strong rhythm. To ring slowly needed to be disciplined and band had that by and large, only a few faults where bells lost rhythm slightly. Imagine the band would have been quite pleased with this. 16 faults 2nd place

Team E – Elizabeth College All Youth Team: Plain Hunt in 5 in 4m. Practiced plunged straight into changes, quite uneven. Test piece – rang lots and lots of rounds (which allowed a tractor to go past!). Quite a few inaccuracies. Again, rounds generally came up, so band were able to reset even if the ringing had been quite turbulent. Steady underlying rhythm. Stuck it out and got to the end. 88 faults 10th place

Team F – Elizabeth College: Grandsire Doubles in 3m 48s. Practice rang quite a few rounds. Changes got quicker with time, with occasional differences of opinion between the tenor and the other bells. Test piece – rang a lot of rounds. Consistent speed, perhaps sped up slightly. In changes the differences between the tenor and the rest came back, not necessarily the tenor’s fault but a disagreement. Faults spread throughout, very few whole faults. Last part (2nd touch) the sun came and finished strongly with a nice piece of ringing. 22 faults 5th place

Team G – St. John II: Call Changes in 3m 54s. Know from experience can be hard to ring call changes in competitions. Good practice, even, although when the lead bell changed could feel it. Test piece – lots of solid rounds. Met criterion for each bell leading approximately the same amount. Faults associated with a) called changes and b) leading or 2nd’s place. Long periods with few faults. Thought the band would/should be pleased with it. 21 faults 4th place

Team H – Town Church: Grandsire in 3m 55s. Practice – solid rounds, nice and even. Slightly quicker in changes, but still even. Test piece – lots of rounds, some clipping in the middle (2/3/4) but allowed that to settled before starting. Changes really solid rhythm underpinning the ringing, no fault faults at all. Some really nice ringing to listen to. 17 faults 3rd place

Team I – St. John’s I: Grandsire in 3m 48s. Practice – straight into confident rounds. Promising I wrote. Test piece – again, rounds solid. Controlled speed with very few deviations. Band had a single purpose with everyone signed up. Faults at different places throughout the piece, not one recurring issue. 4 faults 1st place

Team J – Town/scratch: Grandsire in 3m 51s. Practice – didn’t really settle. Changes had rhythm but were quite slippy. Test piece – rounds were steady and settled down. Started well and with as good ringing as we had heard but struggled to maintain. Quite eventful. Generally, a solid piece of ringing but something kept happening. 36 faults 8th place

The judges presented the trophy to Justin Read, Conductor of the winning team.