Present: Rev S Mansfield (President) acting as Chairman plus 50 ringers and friends representing 10 towers.

Apologies for absence: Mr S Roberts (Capenhurst).

Minutes of previous AGM (for year 1995): were read, agreed and signed.

Cash Statement: for the year ending 31st December 1996 was presented and explained. There was a credit balance of £424.68 in the current account, an increase of £36.96 on the previous year. In the T Rogers' Memorial Fund account there was a Credit Balance of £303.11 - No presentations had been made. The statement as presented was accepted.

The Secretary's Report: The Secretary briefly reported on the year's activities. Membership 118 fully paid and 1 Life Member. 9 meetings had been held with an average attendance of 35. At the Bidston Meeting the bells were re-dedicated after refurbishment and we were joined at the service and tea by many parishioners. All the planned programme was successfully completed. The six-bell striking competition was won once again by Port Sunlight but placed fourth in the Guild final. The branch 8-Bell band competed unsuccessfully in the Guild competition. The standard of ringing at Branch meetings has generally been good and Spliced Surprise Major has been a fairly regular feature. Branch members rang a peal of 10 Spliced Surprise Major. It would be true to say there are more Surprise Major ringers in the Branch than ever before but there is less Sunday Service ringing than ever before.

Considering Sunday ringing for main services, ringing occurs on average at 50% of them. The Branch cannot consider itself successful until we have considerably improved this percentage. There is still no ringing at Liscard, Shotwick, Eastham and Rock Ferry and practically none at Burton. We shall have to work very hard to fulfil the millennium request i.e. That all bells are rung at noon on New Year's Day.

Next Meeting: It was announced that this would be held at Bromborough on Saturday 15th February. Usual arrangements but no business meeting.

Guild AGM: 8th March.

Surprise Major Practice: Port Sunlight 7.30 pm 15th March

Election of Branch Officers: The following elections were made:-

President:	The Revd. S Mansfield
Secretary:	Mr P F Humphreys
Treasurer:	Mr A J Martin
Ringing Master:	Mr R T J Tinkler
Press Reporter:	Mr R Peers
Auditor:	Mr W Harrison
Branch Representatives to the Guild:	Secretary (ex officio), Mrs H Bailey and Mr A J Martin
Branch Committee:	The Secretary, Treasurer, Ringing Master
	Miss Susan Costello, Mr S W Hughes, Mrs Janet Mills, Mr D Hocker, Mr V T O Boase, Mr D Wilkinson.

All the officers were warmly thanked for their work during the year.

The Guild Master and the new Branch Secretary paid warm tribute to the retiring Secretary, Mr A J Martin who was relinquishing the position after 50 years in office.

The Proposed Programme: for 1997 was then outlined.

Calendar: Mr David Hocker was complimented and warmly thanked for the interesting and informative calendar he had produced.

Guild Committee Meeting: Business transacted was briefly reported. Main item of business concerned report on suggested methods of funding Bell Restoration Fund. Currently mainly financed by a grant from the General Fund of 50% of Subscriptions. The fund would probably be nearly exhausted if grants were requested for all the work currently in progress. Current grant made was 10% of overall cost.

Votes of Thanks: The meeting closed with the usual Vote of Thanks to all responsible for the afternoon's arrangements. Those responsible for preparing and serving tea were especially thanked.