MINUTES OF THE BRANCH QUARTERLY MEETING AT ST PAUL’S, STALEY ON SATURDAY 26TH APRIL

The Chairman, Christine Broadley, thanked the vicar of St Paul’s, The Rev Richard Lawry and the organist, Roger Firth for officiating at the service. She thanked the Staley ringers for the use of the bells and for providing an excellent tea. She also congratulated Fred Howard on his fifty years’ ringing at St Paul’s.

The Chairman reminded members of the ringing arrangements at St Mary’s, Stockport. Sunday service ringing took place on the first Sunday at 5:30pm and the Surprise Royal Practice was on the third Friday at 7:45. This practice had now been extended to all Surprise Royal methods, not just Bristol and London, in an attempt to encourage more people to attend.

The Chairman suggested that we should set our minds to a set target for the future and asked for ideas and suggestions as to the direction we as a Branch should be taking on ringing matters.

Apologies for absence were received from Frank and Christine Osbaldiston, Stephen Hughes, The Marchbank Family and Christine Kettleton.

The minutes of the previous meeting, having been previously circulated were confirmed.

Alan McFall referred to the item on Child Protection in the Guild Report and stressed the importance of towers adhering to the guidelines.

The following were elected members of the Guild, all from St George’s, Stockport: John Hayden, Debbie Heaton, Edward Heaton and John Whitby. Proposed by Anne Mayes and seconded by Peter Broadbent.

Graham Jenkins explained the reasons behind the closure of the church which was to take place on 25th May. There were various problems with the building including dry and wet rot, subsidence and faulty electrics. The cost of the repairs would be in the region of £1M. In view of these problems the insurers had indicated that public liability insurance would be withdrawn with effect from 25th May. There were three parish churches in and around Bollington and it was unlikely that there would be big enough congregations in the future to support all of them. The PCC had therefore taken the decision to ask for pastoral redundancy for St John’s. The future of the building was obviously in doubt at the moment. The Branch’s concern was primarily for the bells. The tower was in good condition and it may be that it and the bells could be saved. There was to be open ringing on the afternoon of 17th May before the Branch Striking Contest for people to have what may be the last ring at St John’s, Bollington.

Denis Mottershead commented on the programme for this year with regard to Branch meetings and the date of the AGM. He reminded the meeting that a policy for venues had been discussed and decided upon at a meeting in 2002 and that the committee had been asked to consider moving the date of the AGM from the 4th Saturday in November to the 3rd Saturday. Christine Broadley advised that St Paul’s, Staley had been chosen for today’s meeting at the request of the Staley ringers in order to honour Fred Howard’s fifty years ringing. The committee would consider the date for the 2004 AGM at the next committee meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 6:45. Twenty members were present.

Ringing continued at Holy Trinity, Stalybridge until 8:30.