MINUTES OF THE MEETING AT SUTTON ON 29^TH OCTOBER 2005

Christine Broadley proposed a vote of thanks to the Sutton ringers for the use of the bells and for providing tea and biscuits.

Apologies for absence were received from Kevin Rogers, Helen Foster and Andrew Mays.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Draft Programme for 2006.

The dates of the April and July meetings were altered to avoid clashing with school holidays.

There was a suggestion that five 12 bell practices in the year was too many as numbers were decreasing. After some discussion as to how to increase attendance it was decided to keep the five practices and email the people who were most likely to attend as a reminder. Alan McFall undertook to do that. People who wanted to be on the email list should inform Alan.

Concerning the Quarter Peal Festival in March, the Chairman said that the intention was to prepare people for their first quarters by visiting towers where there were ringers who wanted to ring a first quarter, or  arranging practices. This would cover training requirements at the same time. Simeon Farrington would be sending notices out about this in due course.

The Chairman asked for suggestions for the Branch outing and for a volunteer to arrange it.

The amended Programme was accepted. This will be presented to the AGM with no further discussion.

The Secretary reported receipt of a letter from Denis Mottershead about teas at Branch meetings. After a short discussion it was decided that the current practice of no tea, apart from at the AGM, would continue but that the option for any particular tower     that wanted to provide a tea would be left open. It was also suggested that the AGM should be extended to all the available towers in the Branch as it was felt unfair to expect the same three towers to provide a tea.

The following ringers from Pott Shrigley were voted as members of the Guild: Anna Howard, Christina Neuman, Alex Matheson, Andrew Matheson and Thomas Howell.

Evening ringing continued at Prestbury where there was some very good ringing including Stedman, Surprise Major and 8-Spliced.