MINUTES OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING AT ALL SAINTS MARPLE ON SATUDAY 25TH JANUARY 2003

The new Branch Chairman, Christine Broadley declared the meeting opened and thanked the Assistant Minister of All Saints and the organist for officiating at the service. She also thanked the Marple ringers for the use of the bells and for providing an excellent tea.

Apologies were received from Stephen Hughes, Sue Dyson, Frank and Christine Osbaldiston and Derek Smith.

The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated and were accepted. There were no matters arising.

In the absence of the Branch Treasurer the accounts for the year to 31/12/02 were presented by Peter Dyson, the Branch Account Examiner. Christine Earl proposed and Trevor Marchbank seconded that the accounts be accepted. This was carried.

The following were elected members of the Guild: Martin Hale, Marple; Ron Sykes and Sue Gittings, Hyde; Derek Wray and Kate Bullock, Cheadle. Proposed by Peter Dyson and seconded by Ann Wigley.

The secretary announced that he had Gift Aid Declaration forms for individuals who wanted to bring their Guild subscriptions within the scheme. He advised that the subscriptions had to be the individual’s own money to be brought into the scheme. This was for audit trail purposes.

Alan McFall related his experience on this topic in relation to a young ringer in his tower. A long discussion followed. The only guidelines for bellringers seemed to be those at the back of the Ringing World Diary. There were no Chester Guild guidelines but there were Chester Diocesan guidelines and all churches in the Diocese should have a copy. They would also have a Child Protection Policy and a Child Protection Co-ordinator. It was thought that if towers followed their church’s own Child Protection Policy they would be covered. It was decided that the Secretary would circulate the Branch stressing that it was important to contact their Co-ordinator to check what was required. The topic would also be brought up at the next Guild Committee Meeting with a view to approaching the Central Council to ask them to publicise via the Ringing World the importance for towers to make sure they are covered.

Regarding the Ringing World Calendar, Brian Schofield had brought a photograph of Pott Shrigley church. The Chairman suggested that we could perhaps hold a Branch photograph competition.

Peter Dyson announced that Poynton had rung the bells half muffled as the funeral cortege for DC Stephen Oake passed through the village.

Their being no further business the meeting closed at 6:30. Evening ringing continued at Hyde.