EAST CHESHIRE BRANCH

Secretary’s Report

The 2006 Branch AGM was held at Stockport St George, with ringing both there and at St Mary’s. Peter Dyson and David Friend resigned from the committee after innumerable combined years’ service. Many thanks to them both for all their hard work. We welcome onto the committee Rosemary Spencer and Dennis Latham.

2007 began with our traditional format (as in started last year!) January meeting. Following ringing at Disley and an enjoyable lunch at The White Horse, thirty of us (including four canine friends) set out on a walk through Lyme Park. Complaints that there wasn’t enough mud were ignored but might well be remembered in time for next year… Sadly, Fred Howard passed away a few days before the April meeting held at Staley and Stalybridge. The July meeting unfortunately had to be cancelled as most people could not make the date. In October we visited Chelford for our programme meeting.

We scored 12 quarters in the Quarter Peal Festival held in March. Although this was slightly fewer than last year, it was good to see a lot of firsts – well done all! Particular congratulations to Christine Armstrong and Alex McLaren for ringing their first quarter peals. This coming March we’d like to see more towers involved and more quarters attempted! If you can think of anything (well, almost…) that you’d like to have a go at, please get in touch with the committee. The Sunday quarters at Stockport St Mary’s were going well until ringing had to be stopped because of work on the tower. With St George’s kindly offering themselves as substitute these are now on again and do please let us know if you’d like to be included.

The Branch Outing was moved again in 2007, this time from June to May. Last year few Branch members turned out but this year around 25 enjoyed a great day out. Thanks go to Clive Calton for his excellent organisation. In the finest county of the land we started with a visit to Oswaldtwistle (I’ve remembered the t this time). After ringing in Whalley we had lunch there at an excellent pub – The Dog Inn (no dogs allowed). Moorhouses Premier and Blond Witch and a wide-ranging menu, including fine puddings satisfied all. (Perhaps sponge pudding and custard was not the best way to prepare for a 10K race the next day, but hey. Thanks to all who sponsored me and raised money for Macmillan.) After lunch we rang at Ribchester, St Silas, Blackburn and finished off at Whittle-le-Woods which I believe is where I first met our immediate past Chairman Christine (I was wearing my slippers for a peal, so she reminds me...).

In mid-June the Branch 6-Bell Striking Contest was held at Sutton. Cheadle won and went on to represent the Branch in the Guild Competition. Two new bands (Sutton B and Dunham Massey) competed for the Call-Change Trophy. Well done to Dunham!!

At the beginning of September we hosted the Guild Festival. A big thankyou to George Lee and everyone at Dunham for their precision organisation and fine cooking which made the day a success. Even though we were pipped into second place in the striking contest! (It always helps if you don’t fire out in the test piece…)

The monthly 8-bell practices at Norbury continue to get a reasonable turnout, although attendance has dropped off. Why don’t you come along? We’ll have a go at most things and would particularly welcome people who want to have a go at Grandsire or Plain Bob. The same goes for the Macclesfield 12-bell practices. Even if you’ve never rung on so many before please come and give it a try.

Next year we are reviving the Barn Dance and Hot Pot Supper so you’d all better be there! See the programme / recently revamped website for details. The website is: www.cdgeast.org.uk and is full of useful stuff (contributions welcome).

Thirty-one new members were elected to the Guild in 2007.

Poynton have again suffered, with two from their tower passing away. We shall miss Bill Hall and Geoff Dyson as well as the aforementioned Fred Howard of Staley.

Rebecca Glen

East Branch Secretary