In Peter’s absence Chris Eden is keeping his seat warm (or is it cool?), therefore if you want to contribute to future editions please contact Chris on 0151 608 1313, or E-mail: chris.eden@wallcvs.freeserve.co.uk. PLEASE NOTE CHRIS'S DETAILS HAVE SINCE CHANGED SO DO NOT USE.

WHAT’S ON IN 1999

Also planned are a trip to Blackpool in October to see the Lights, a Ceilidh, and a Bowling or Skittles Evening.

SUMMER SCHOOL

The Committee expect all students to be capable of ringing Plain Hunt in order that the School can be beneficial to all. It is also hoped that funerals do not clash with these dates - Neston please take note!

BRANCH LINES

THE WIRRAL BRANCH HITS THE INTERNET

http://www.mountpark.demon.co.uk/wirralbr.htm - (subsequently changed and accessed via www.chesterdg.org.uk)

For the last few months, the Wirral Branch has had a small site on the World Wide Web, consisting mainly of a list of towers, the events programme and some information about towers which has been volunteered to me. Although it isn't very pretty (I'm still learning how to do it all!), I have had some very useful comments from ringers who have access to the WWW, and would like now to extend the site to include information about all towers in the branch. This is where you come in!

As an example, the towers that have submitted information so far have included:

• a brief introduction to the page
• practice night information, and any tricks to getting in
• service ringing information
• historical information about the bells and the church
• list of weights, inscriptions etc. on bells
• names of ringers, and contact information for any visitors

In addition, I would like to suggest that towers might provide a picture (colour or black and white photograph or line drawing) to be copied and placed on your page.

Some ringers are likely to be worried about the security implications of placing information on that beast called 'the internet'. I have made a thorough investigation of other ringing web sites (and there are many more than you might think). Some include no information beyond the number of bells and their weight, but most include some sort of contact information, be it an address or phone number, or an email address of one of the band. I am happy to place on the web site as much or as little information as you wish - it is your web site, and it is there for your material. This free advertisment may even lead the occasional useful helper to you!

Although I live for most of the time in Oxford at the moment, I still visit and ring in Wirral a couple of times a month, and have the spare time at the moment to set up this web site. Please send any contributions by post (although that may take longer if I've got to type it in!), on disk, or preferably by email, to the address below, or pass it to any Port Sunlight ringer who I'm sure will pass it on when I visit Wirral.

Please send us your information, and let's make the Wirral Branch website something to be proud of.

GREETINGS!

MERSEYBELLS

MEMBERS

OXTON

PEALS

QUARTER PEAL WEEK

SUBSCRIPTIONS

CHRISTINA FLECKNEY

NEWS EXTRA!!

THE BELLS OF ST MICHAEL, SHOTWICK

Previously there were three bells of which two were used for the present 5th and tenor. The remaining bell was unsuitable and can be seen on the floor at the foot of the tower. John Scott of Wigan who, apparently, was not a very good bellfounder cast this bell in 1644. The 5th and 6th are of earlier origin, founder not known, but recast in 1621 and 1616 respectively, by William Clibury of Shropshire.

John Taylor was entrusted with the provision of the front four, the iron frame, and the rehanging of the 5th and 6th. Because these two were pre-Reformation bells they could not be altered, save for the removal of the old cast-in crown staples and fitting of new, independent ones. Canon retaining headstocks have been used and as they are of an older type than used today. The bells hang out rather more than they otherwise would. This upsets the impact of the clapper and to compensate for the resultant heavier blow, they are balanced by having an extra piece of iron forged on the opposite side of the eye where the clapper swings. These are known as Balanced Clappers. In addition, the bells are fitted with Hastings Stays.

The installation is in remarkably good condition considering the proximity to the salt air of the Dee Estuary and the fact that there is neither a band nor Steeple Keeper. It is a pity that this nice little 8 cwt. Six is not put to greater use. TM

BRANCH PEALS IN 1998

Four Wirral ringers rang their first peal: Clare Edwards, David Wilkinson, Vicky Halliwell and Joanne Hendy. Dave Hocker rang his first peal inside; Vicky Hocker, Heather Phillips and Helen Stansfield their first of Treble Bob; Janet Jones and Steve Hughes their first of Stedman; Susan Costello her first of Spliced; and Mark Humphreys completed the Standard Eight with a peal of London. Many of you will have read about Vicky Halliwell’s exploits in the Ringing World of 6th November. Suffice to say that she rang her first peal in April and has now rung fourteen, including 8-Spliced and two of Surprise Royal.

Notable peals were:
21 February: 7 Minor at Bidston. The 50th anniversary of Banky Pemberton’s first peal.
3 April: 8-Spliced S Major at Port Sunlight by a Branch band. A wedding compliment to Chris Hassard-Jones and Peter Fleckney.
16 May: London S Minor at Eastham. Half-muffled in memory of John Stott and the first peal on the bells since 1974.
13 June: Stedman Triples at Bromborough by a Branch band, conducted by Geoff Sparling.
27 August: Bristol S Major at Port Sunlight. A wedding compliment to Eric Jones and Janet Betton.
28 November and 5 December: Cambridge Minor at Wallasey St Hilary and Major at Port Sunlight. To mark the respective 75th anniversaries of the first peals of Surprise and of Surprise Major by resident Wirral bands. PH