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2008 AGM Day

Saturday the 4th of October saw the election of 4 new members, a new Master, a new Senior Steward and a new Junior Steward at the Society's AGM. The business meeting and AGM were preceded as usual by peal attempts, general ringing and pub refreshment - the extent of which varied according to the number of changes rung! For the third year in a row now we ate post meeting at a Turkish restaurant, the Haz.

The peal attempts were mixed in success! St Martin's attempt was achieved - see below, but there was a non starter at Foster Lane due to a complaint even before the start, whilst a rare technical failure (rope untying itself from the wheel) resulted in early demise at Bermondey. Some of us made up for this loss in peals the following day, including one to welcome the new Master at Beckenham. See below for the peal details.

However, speaking as one who was at Bermondsey, there's always an upside to these losses... a good couple of hours in the Market Porter - yes they do serve food too! And then time enough to get to Shoreditch for the general ringing before the meeting. I know there were people still in pubs scattered nearby but there were plenty in the tower to give the Simon a final chance to tell us what to do, and the for the potential members to show what they were made of.

The actual meeting was a remarkably calm affair given some of the excitement on the website and uncertainty in the days preceding it. I'm always grateful for a short meeting, and it was over in a flash with a good result. We elected a new Master, John Loveless, a ringer of much experience who commands respect from all around the ringing fraternity, a new Senior Steward, Peter Harrison, who has been running ringing in Adelaide and Kensington for some years and is also the web master; and a new Junior Steward, Alex Britton, who has returned to London ringing in the past couple of years. The other officers were all elected nem con. Many warm thanks were given to Simon Holden, the retiring Master; also to Olly Cross, the retiring Senior Steward, to Shirley McGill, the retiring Junior Steward, and to the continuing officers for their hard work and commitment.

There's a very active interest in the Society and its health, and this was reflected in discussions both before and after the day, as well as the very healthy 60+ attendence at the meeting. Also, although there were some nominations from the floor, there were many others who were willing to put themselves forward.

After the AGM, there was more than an hour to explore at least 3 pubs (for some) before the dinner, which I thought was the best yet at the Haz. It's SO convenient to pay via the website, and the fact that service was included for the meal, and drink bills as you go made it stress free. There were over 60 people at the meal too, so the whole day was very well supported. Thanks to all resposible for organising it.

Its always good to renew friendships at society events as well as meet new members. Hopefully we can see more of you in the coming months, both supporting the new Master in London on Wednesdays and at the regional practices which I hear are very successful and popular! I think I shall have to venture out and try one...

Penelope Sharpe

View photos from this event in our gallery.

Society of Royal Cumberland Youths
WESTMINSTER, Gtr London
St Martin-in-the-Fields
Sat Oct 4 2008 3h34 (29)
5007 Stedman Cinques
Arr. J W Belshaw
1 Paul A Caruana
2 Linda M Garton
3 Joanne R Fielding
4 George M Unsworth
5 Joanna K Dorling
6 James W Belshaw (C)
7 Stephanie J Pattenden
8 Jonathan C Hetherington
9 Douglas J Beaumont
10 Mary E Holden
11 Alan Regin
12 Simon R Holden
Rung with the band's best wishes to Muriel Reay on her 90th birthday.

BECKENHAM, Kent
St George
Sun Oct 5 2008 2h49 (14)
5088 Bristol S Major
Comp. R R Horton
1 Ian R Fielding (C)
2 Fiona M Wheeler
3 Penelope J V Sharpe
4 Lee Pinnington
5 Alexander J Britton
6 Roderick R Horton
7 Stephen A Wheeler
8 Richard M Hobbs
For Harvest Festival.
Rung to welcome the new Master of the Society, and with the band's best wishes to Jo Horton who was to have rung in this peal.
This composition is now rung for the first time.