THE KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Easter Monday, 6[th] April 2026 at St Mildred's, Church Road, Tenterden, TN30 6AT 2pm
Item
1. Welcome by the Chairman – Neil Jones welcomed 58 members to the meeting.
2. Apologies for Absence –
- Sue Atkinson, Roy and Sallyann Barclay, Jacqui Barlow, Malcolm and Marilyn Barden, Margaret Fitzgerald, Andrew Gunstone, Donald and Rosemary Holden, Mike Little, Stuart Palin, Isabel Pearce, Dave Robinson, David J. Wilkinson
3. Minutes of the AGM 2025 held on 21[st] April 2025.
The minutes were proposed for adoption by Peter Joyce, seconded by Adam Moore, and carried.
4. Minutes of the EGM held on 21[st] April 2025.
The minutes were proposed for adoption by Chris Bassett, seconded by Hugo Tracey, and carried.
Matters arising
5. 1. Matters arising from the AGM minutes – none
5. 2. Matters arising from the EGM minutes
- Phil Barnes enquired whether there would be further discussion about the charitable status of the Bell Restoration Fund (BRF); Chairman NJ confirmed there would not, since we are still in discussion with the Charities Commission.
6. Chairman’s and General Secretary’s Report – available on pages 21-22 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook. The report was taken as read.
7. 1. Treasurer’s Report – Annual accounts 2025 available on pages 10-12 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook. The report was taken as read.
- a) Treasurer PJ noted the BRF had received a generous legacy during the year from Mary Andrews.
- b) He also noted a legacy received from Hugh James.
- c) The UK government, through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), has (as of 1 December 2025) increased the bank deposit protection limit to **£120,000** per eligible person/per authorised institution. Nevertheless with these legacies, we’ve superseded this limit and additional bank accounts would be opened with Skipton Building Society.
- d) Treasurer PJ advised the members present of a slight error that had been made following the last AGM: instead of allocating 10% to BRF and 40% to General Fund, 40% of subs had been paid to BRF and 10% to General Fund, meaning that the BRF owed the General Fund£3278. PJ confirmed this would be rectified.
- e) Finally, PJ expressed his thanks to Stephen Marsh for inspecting the accounts.
- 7.2. The annual accounts were proposed for adoption by Sue Bassett (SB) and seconded by Phil Barnes, and carried with none against and no abstentions.
8. To agree the Practising Member’s Subscription 2026 –
- a) The Treasurer’s recommendation is for this to remain at £15 per adult member.
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b) Despite an increase in the Central Council fee per member, the KCACR is able to absorb that increase, given the Association had increased its own membership fee to £15 some years back.
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c) PJ proposed the Practising Members’ Subscription is kept at £15 per member; Jen Thomas seconded, and the motion was carried with none against and no abstentions.
9. Allocation of Subscription Funds
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a) Treasurer PJ’s recommendation was that 50% went to the General Fund, 50% to the Training Fund, and 0% to the Bell Restoration Fund (BRF).
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b) This was proposed by PJ, seconded by Philippa Rooke, and was carried with none against and no abstentions.
10. Election of an Independent Examiner (Rule 6i)
- a) The Treasurer proposed Stephen Marsh, Hazel Basford seconded. This was carried with none voting against, and no abstentions.
11. Peal Secretary’s Report – available on pages 64-78 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook. The report was taken as read.
- b) Phil Barnes congratulated bands that have started ringing more peals, and stated it was good to see new people beginning to ring peals.
12. Quarter Peal Secretary’s Report – available on pages 61-63 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook. The report was taken as read.
13. Officers’ reports
13. 1. Bell Restoration – available on page 22 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook.
13. 2. Youth Officer – available on page 22 of the KCACR 2026 Handbook.
14 Election of Officers
a) The following officers were all proposed, seconded and elected unopposed as shown.
| General Committee role Nominee Proposer Seconder Chairman Rona Joiner Peter Joyce Stuart Cox Secretary Rhiannon Meredith Rona Joiner Philippa Rooke Treasurer Peter Joyce Doug Davis Joanne Pohl MembershipSecretary Doug Davis Joanne Pohl Neil Jones Safeguarding Officer Emma Jarvis Joanne Pohl Mark Elvers Training Officer Neil Jones Sue Bassett Peter Joyce Youth Officer Jennifer Thomas James Carter Charlotte Elvers, Sophia Braithwaite Bell Restoration Officer Brian Butcher Charles Sinden Nigel Spencer |
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|---|---|
| Other necessary officers Nominee Proposer Seconder Central Council Rep 1 Neil Jones Doug Davis Joanne Pohl Central Council Rep 2 Sue Bassett Neil Jones PamMajor Central Council Rep 3 Chris Bassett Neil Jones Central Council Rep 4 David Holdridge Cathy Hall Ian Mills Central Council Rep 5 Role remains vacant Peal Secretary Philip Barnes Peter Joyce Stuart Cox Publicity Officer Joanne Pohl Doug Davis Jennifer Thomas Quarter Peal Secretary Anthony Leeves Michael Worthington Michael Bullett Librarian Philippa Rooke Lesley Barclay Nancy Fisher Health & Safety Officer Role remains vacant Handbook Editor Doug Davis Joanne Pohl Neil Jones Webmaster Doug Davis Joanne Pohl Neil Jones |
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15. Presentation of 50-years’ Membership Certificates – presented to: J Susan Bassett David Edgar Mark Harding (in absentia) Nigel Spencer David Wilkinson (in absentia)
16. Forthcoming events 16.1 27 June – Association 8-bell Competition. Venue Harrietsham. Method: Middlesex Bob Triples
16.2 11 July – Ringing Discovery Day. Venue: Dartford (Lewisham District). 16.3 26 September – Association 6-Bell Competition. Venue: Chalk (Rochester District). 16.4 15 November – Association Evensong. Venue: St Alfege, Greenwich (Lewisham District).
17. Any Other Business 17. 1. b) Steph Barclay asked members interested in taking part in the South East 12-bell competition, and Essex trophy 10-bell competition, to get in touch with herself or Richard Barclay. They would be overseeing the Association entries to those competitions, and interested members are to contact them if interested to be added to the long-list for the team/s.
17. 2. c) On Saturday, 9[th] May at 2pm the Rochester District is holding a forum for tower captains, hosted at Bredgar, for those who are new at being tower captains, or those interested in being a tower captain, or those who show potential. If interested, get in touch with Neil Jones or Rona Joiner.
17. 3. a) NJ shared that an ART M1 course taking place on 6[th] June at Westgate-on-Sea. This is the first step towards teaching bell handling bellringing to novices. Having done the course doesn’t make you a member of ART, but helps you understand what works well when teaching bell handling. The course is listed at https://events.bellringing.org/en/ – alternatively, interested persons should speak to NJ.
- b) PJ pointed out that ART training fees (currently £30pp, rising to £35pp from July) are refundable through Association expenses, for attendees of M1 or M2 courses.
18.
Vote of thanks
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a) The Chairman thanked the following individuals for their contributions to the AGM: i. The Vicar, Rev'd Lindsay Hammond (who is a KCACR member and rings when time permits) for taking the Service and for the use of the bells.
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ii. Ian Vernon for playing the organ
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iii. Richard Edwards and family for the use of their field for car parking and the officials at Kent and East Sussex Railway (KESR) for their cooperation, also to Richard for running the ringing at Tenterden.
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iv. Sue Childs and the Tenterden ringers for the local arrangements and refreshments.
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v. The Ashford District Committee – specifically Charles Sinden, Brian Butcher, Sue Atkinson – for coordinating the day.
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b) The Chairman thanked Joanne Pohl for her contribution to the Association as General Secretary for the past two years.
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c) Joanne Pohl thanked Chairman NJ and Treasurer PJ for their support, guidance and advice during her time as General Secretary, and expressed gratitude for the members of the General Committee for their contributions to the Association through their time, expertise and knowledge.
The meeting was declared closed at 14:39. SIGNED by the Chairman as a true record, as adopted by members at the AGM 2027:
………………………………………. Chairman
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THE KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS BELL RESTORATION FUND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 261294 for year ending 31st December 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Fixed assets | |||||||
| Subscriptons transferred as per AGM | 1,423.00 | 6,556.02 | Equipment | 60.27 | 86.10 | |||
| Donatons Indvidual | Dobbie's Jubi-Peal | 100.00 | ||||||
| PCCs | 160.50 | 157.50 | Current Assets | |||||
| Others/Legacies | 50,460.07 | 2,439.20 | NatWest Current | 32,651.50 (a) | 22,260.29 | |||
| Spliced Fund | 25.00 | 110.00 | NatWest 95 day | 45,385.17 | ||||
| 120 Clubs | 2,327.64 | 3,610.93 | CCLA Deposit | 76,610.22 | 82,891.44 | |||
| NatWest 95 day Liquidity Interest | 385.17 | Skipton BS | 42,541.04 | 46,286.47 | ||||
| CCLA Interest | 3,718.78 | 4,177.98 | Total Assets | 197,348.20 | 151,524.30 | |||
| Skipton interest | 1,254.57 | 1,286.47 | ||||||
| Gif of Historic Bell Frame | 100.00 | Current Liabliltes | ||||||
| Total Income | 59,854.73 | 18,338.10 | Creditors | |||||
| Expenditure | NET ASSETS | 197,348.20 | 151,524.30 | |||||
| Grants Paid | Boxley | 3,465.00 | Margate 2,000.00 | Represented by | ||||
| Sundridge | 540.00 | Marden 8,000.00 | Available Assets | 157,688.20 | 107,524.30 | |||
| Tonbridge | 10,000.00 | Ash 2,000.00 | ||||||
| Grant Commitments | Rochester | 20,000.00 | Rochester | 20,000.00 | ||||
| Other Expenditure | Goodhurst | 4,600.00 | Tonbridge | 10,000.00 | ||||
| Tool Hire/Maintenance | 2,113.20 | Goodnestone | 60.00 | Loose | 1,000.00 | |||
| Depreciaton | 25.83 | 36.50 | Penshurst | 12,000.00 | Penshurst | 10,000.00 | ||
| Total Resources Expended | 14,030.83 | 14,149.70 | Boxley | 3,000.00 | Boxley | 3,000.00 | ||
| Net Income/Expenditure | 45,823.90 | 4,188.40 | Total Grant Commitments | 2025 | 39,660.00 | 2024 | 44,000.00 | |
| Movement in Funds | ||||||||
| Bal Brought Forward 1st Jan. | 2025 | 151,524.30 | 2024 147,335.90 | Balance at 31 Dec | 2025 | 197,348.20 | 2024 | 151,524.30 |
| Net Incoming/Outgoing | 2025 | 45,823.90 | 2024 4,188.40 | |||||
| Balance at 31 December | 2025 | 197,348.20 | 2024 151,524.30 |
£3,278 belonging to General Fund, from 2024 subs
Independent Examinerfs Report of the Flnanclal Accounts of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers Financial Year Ending 31 December 2025 I have been requested to exarnine the flnancial accounts of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers for the financial year l January 2025 to 31 December 2025. An examination of the accounts is required In accordance with Rule 13 of the Association. The Independent Examination of the accounts has been undertaken to address the following objectives: a} To ascertaln the correctness of the accounts. bl To optionally recomrnend procedural enhancements to the accountlng process. My fltness to undertake thls examinatlon Is In accordance with the requlrements of the Association. That is, l am a person, independent of the trustees and General Committee rnembers, who is reasonably believed by the offirS of the Association to have the requisite ability and practical experience to cary out a complete exarnlnatlon of the accounts. I have accordingly undertaken the examlnation, and my conclusions are: a) That the records of the account5 are complete, and accurately record the flnancial transattions and assets of the Kent County Association of Change Rin8ers. b) That the processes and procedures adopted by the Treasurer a in accordance with standard practice. Stephen J. Marsh PhD, C.Eng. 28 January 2026 108 Beltinge Road Herne Bay Kent, CT6 6HW