Officers of the Ladies' Guild

President:  Alison Williams email alison_at_rkw.me.uk

Guild Secretary: Rosemary Hemmings email khemmings123_at_btinternet.com

Guild Treasurer:  Mrs Teresa Brown e-mail teresa.mbrown2011_at_gmail.com

Guild Archivist: Janet Stevenson email dj.stevenson7_at_ntlworld.com

Web Mistress: Janet Garnett email janet.garnett_at_metapurple.co.uk

Annual Report Compiler: Margaret Ingman email margaret.parishmag_at_gmail.com

Central Council Represenatatives: Rosemary Hemmings, Alison Williams, Jan Wyatt.

Contacts

Ladies' Guild Garments: Contact Jan Wyatt email: janwyatt_at_live.co.uk

History of the Ladies' Guild: Contact Janet Stevenson email dj.stevenson7_at_ntlworld.com

Display materials: Contact Janet Stevenson email dj.stevenson7_at_ntlworld.com

Ladies' Guild Holiday: Contact Pearl Jeanes email pearl.jeanes365_at_gmail.com

Officers' Reports for 2016

PRESIDENT’S PIECE Helen Webb

When I took the chair at the AGM in 2016, I said that I was very conscious of the honour in being elected President, and of the legacy that we have from the women who formed the Guild and who have worked to maintain it so that it exists over a century later. Sadly, three former Presidents have been called home to rest in the past year; although each passing creates a sense of loss, it has also been the opportunity to recall the contributions of these women. Few of us can hope to emulate the achievements of Jill Staniforth, but we should each strive to achieve our own potential.

During the AGM last year, we did a goal-setting workshop. How did you get on? I for one did not achieve my goal of learning specific methods; I did learn quite a few methods, all with Julie McDonnell in the name! It does mean that I have improved my skill in learning methods, but that is just one step in the process because ringing truly is a team activity: without the rest of the band we cannot achieve; our capabilities cannot be demonstrated in a solo performance.

In February 2014, I organised the first of the Guild 10-bell practices at St Clement Danes, Westminster; in January this year, members from eight of the nine districts in the UK converged on St Clement Danes to ring 10-bell quarter peals; these were the first by the Guild for nearly fourteen years. 
 
According to Bellboard, the number of quarter peals rung by the Guild in the centenary year of 2012, was 68; although we haven't yet achieved an annual total above 40 since then, the totals are significantly higher than before 2012. In 2012, I started organising multi-district quarter peal days in the south of England; one consequence of this has been an increase in the number of Ladies Guild quarter peals rung by members of, for example, South Eastern district. 
 
Both of these examples demonstrate that once we have proved that we can do it - in this case ring and conduct quarter peals - as a Guild, or as a multi-district collaboration, the capability and the confidence within the districts increases...so, I look forward to seeing 10-bell quarter peals being rung by multi-district and district bands!

GUILD SECRETARY'S REPORT by Rosemary Hemmings

During the year of 2016 – 2017 I have carried out the job of the Guild Secretary. This started with taking the Minutes of the AGM at Timsbury last June.

I have dealt with the correspondence of the Guild that comes my way including new member applications and subscriptions that have been passed to the District Secretaries or Guild Officers as needed. Most of the correspondence that I receive is by email nowadays. I have kept in touch with events and ringing achievements by looking at the Guild Website and the members Facebook page. Both of which I think are very good.

On the 17th of June I will be at the Guild AGM in Bexhill to take the minutes of the meeting.

Officers' Reports for 2015

PRESIDENT’S PIECE by Elizabeth Davey

This is my last ‘President’s Piece’ as my term of office comes to an end at the 2016 AGM and I hand over to the President Elect, Helen Webb from South Eastern District. When I first took over from Jan Wyatt I was more than a little daunted with so many more experienced ringers having already held this post, but I must say how much I have enjoyed my time in office.

Our membership has gradually increased over the years and in the report presented in 2015 we had 396 members including 26 overseas members in three countries. This has been a great achievement. However, we cannot rest on our laurels with the number of ringers throughout the country in decline. I think we should continue to do what we do best by encouraging people to learn to ring in a friendly way and give them the benefit of our experience.

It was good to know we are now in profit on the sale of Centenary Merchandise. There are still items for sale so please check with your District Secretary as to what is available and how to obtain the item.

Before writing this I took the opportunity of reading what previous Presidents had written in their ‘last piece’ and when I looked at my jottings I was surprised at the similarities. All of us were surprised at how quickly our three years passed, visiting districts throughout the country, meeting so many different people and their friendliness. One of the most important things I remember about the Ladies Guild when my mother-in-law took me to my first meeting was the friendliness of its members and their willingness to help less experienced members. Long may the Ladies Guild of Change Ringers continue to expand and flourish.

GUILD SECRETARY’S REPORT by Rosemary Hemmings

I offered to take on the post of Secretary last July when an appeal was emailed to districts and was accepted. I had been unable to go to the AGM in June.

I had a smooth handover of everything to do with the post from Carolyn Dawson in September. I have been a member of the Ladies Guild since about 1990 and have been South Midlands Secretary since 2007. I am learning as I go along and am very grateful for all the help from Officers and Members that has been given.

I will see you at the AGM in June.

Officers' Reports for 2014

PRESIDENT'S PIECE by Elizabeth Davey

What a way to start 2014, Betty Baines from Eastern District was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honour List. Nominated by two members of the Ladies Guild Betty received the award for services to bell ringing. Well done Betty keep up the good work and long may your enthusiasm for our art continue.

2014 was also a year of change. The organisation of this year's holiday was taken over by Pearl Jeanes and her team and was held in Devon. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this year as we were on holiday with the in-laws! Everyone I have spoken to enjoyed themselves and our thanks go Pearl and Co for taking on the holiday.

In September the Ringing Roadshow was held at Newbury Race Course where the Ladies Guild had a stand. The day itself was hectic to say the least I don't think those manning the stand had any time to sit down!

We had lots of visitors to the stand, enquiries about the Guild, handed out 50 application forms for membership, signed up some members on the day, sold merchandise and one of the questions featured in the Roadshow Competition was about The Ladies Guild. All in all it was a very successful day for the Guild.

As I visit different districts I am struck by the enthusiasm and friendliness of our members. Everyone helps each other and visitors are all made welcome. It's these qualities of our members which make the Ladies Guild special and I think the best Guild to belong to.

GUILD SECRETARY'S REPORT by Carolyn Dawson 

At the Guild AGM in June 2014, I took over as Guild Secretary from Rosie Mason - an extremely hard act to follow. The Guild business has motored along very successfully this year with no major hiccups to report. Most of the business has been carried out by telephone between the President and me and, of course, what would we do without email? 

I have not been able to travel much this year but a highlight for me was to ring in a quarter peal at Burrington Church, Somerset, celebrating the presentation of the Dorothy L Sayers Society Young Lady Ringer of the Year award to Kaitlin Jarvis of Western District. It was good to meet up with the Society's Chairman and some of its members again and a really nice afternoon was enjoyed by all. 

I wish every success to whoever takes over this post and I look forward to the Guild going from strength to strength in the future.