There were a number of innovations in the branch programme for 2003. The first of these was the format of the meeting at Eastham in February where the meeting commenced at 11:00 a.m. and was all over by 3:00 p.m., the usual start time for monthly meetings! But the new times proved most popular with some 30 ringers in attendance. So this is being repeated in ‘04 for the meeting at Bebington. Obviously, such a format is inappropriate during the wedding season, hence the decision to confine this to one of the winter meetings.

A further innovation was the organisation of a ringing week-end, the first ever by the Branch, it is believed. Thanks to Chris Eden and Peter Newton who combined to book the towers and hotel respectively in the Worcester area during a week-end which conveniently coincided with a Festival of Steam on the Severn Valley Railway, a number of the ringers taking a most interesting trip to Bridgnorth on the Sunday afternoon.

The traditional Easter Monday Car Outing was held slightly later this year on the Spring Bank Holiday. This appeared to be a popular move although it is not known whether the ringers were especially attracted to towers in South Cheshire or whether it was their suffering withdrawal symptoms - this being the first branch car outing since 2000, the one in ‘02 having been cancelled due to lack of support while none was planned in ’01 (due to the proximity of the Ringing World Road Show in Keele). So the May Day walk was held instead on Easter Monday. Thanks to Peter Robson who arranged a somewhat challenging walk to four North Wales towers – Northop, Mold, Buckley and Hawarden. An excellent day never-the-less which concluded with a most interesting guided tour around St Deiniol’s Library conducted by Mold ringer Greg Morris.

With just one Wirral tower not being ‘quarter-pealed’ the previous year, we rose to the challenge of ringing quarters in every Wirral tower during the month of October. Success was achieved with no less the five Wirral ringers, to whom we offer congratulations, scoring their first quarter peals.

Summer schools were held again and were much valued by those few attending. Indeed, one of the ‘students’ later rang his first quarter peal as one of the band at his home tower, Thurstaston, this being the first ever QP by a Thurstaston Sunday Service band. Congratulations to all concerned!

The proposed branch programme for the year - with a number of modifications - was December saw Port Sunlight hosting a Central Council run Listening Skills Course. This was well supported and enjoyed by all attending. One element of the course involves ringing on a Simulator whereby students depend solely on listening to place their bell accurately relative to the ‘electronic band’ which rings with perfect precision. Port Sunlight took the opportunity to install a complete 8-Bell Simulator, so any one, or any number of bells may be “rung” with no disturbance outside. Note also that, subsequently, Thurstaston has installed a 6-Bell simulator so new ways of developing ringing skills will be put to practice in the Branch in the coming months. (Enquiries to the Wirral Branch Secretary).

Back to the summer for the August Bank Holiday Saturday evening outing which was much enjoyed, the highlight being the testing of skills, or otherwise, in the skittle alley at the Bickerton Poacher. Thanks to Alex Martin for making the arrangements. The Branch 6-Bell striking competition at Wallasey St Hilary was won by Port Sunlight, who did not seem to mind this being their thirteenth such success, although not expecting their luck to last forever! It was the turn of the Wirral Branch to host the Inter-Branch 8-Bell Striking Competition, this taking place at Bebington. Wirral failed to capitalise on home advantage but of this no more here!

The Branch was much saddened to hear, in late March, of the sudden death of Donny Peers of Bromborough. Donny, also a member of the Ancient Society of College Youths, was 69, but had been enjoying much improved health in recent months which made the loss even more tragic. His funeral service was attended by the family and many friends, including over 30 ringers. In all, twelve Wirral Branch towers were represented.

The Annual General Meeting held at Oxton, saw the installation of Revd Peter Mills, Curate at Woodchurch, as President of the Branch. His skills in controlling meetings were much in evidence and may be seen to good effect in forthcoming meetings in the unlikely event of their being required!

In closing, I would like to thank the tower correspondents and the respective incumbents for making us so welcome at our monthly meetings during the past and coming months. I also thank the Branch Officers and members of the Branch for their kind support.

Peter Humphreys - Wirral Branch Secretary