It is not often that it can be said that an Annual General Meeting, well attended this year, was one of the more stimulating events on the branch programme – but this year it could! In an attempt to be more democratic, more input ‘from the floor’ was invited and, not surprisingly perhaps, this brought up conflicting views – and even a suggestion that the meeting was unconstitutional! Under the expert guidance of our President, order was maintained throughout and the business was brought to a most satisfactory conclusion with the election of a new committee, at least insofar as a number of the offices were concerned. We now look forward with interest, if not to say enthusiasm, to the new year under the leadership our youthful Ringing Master and the mature guidance from the incumbent of the re-introduced post of Deputy Ringing Master. At this point it would be remiss of me not to thank the retiring officers - Randle Tinkler (Ringing Master) and Chris Eden (Treasurer) - for their most valued contributions over quite a number of years.

A departure of a different nature was that of Vivian Boase, for many years Tower Secretary at Wallasey St Hilary, who died on the morning of 10th November. (See Obituaries).

Looking outward, following the election of Peter Robson as Guild Master (the first Wirral ringer since Alex Martin was thus appointed in 1968!) the Wirral Branch, with Dave Hocker as Guild Report Secretary and the undersigned as Guild Webmaster, now has an unprecedented three officers on the Guild Executive, which weakens our claim to be one of the more (pen)insular branches in the Guild!

In April, Tony Power (West Kirby) invited sponsorship of his Cycle Ride north of the border with proceeds in aid of the Guild BRF. With tax recoverable from Gift Aided donations the BRF benefitted to the extent of £237.92 – this excluding donations from other branches! Well done Tony - and thanks to all the sponsors.

Christ Church, Port Sunlight celebrated the Centenary of the Church and Bells firstly with a 'Double-peal' (10,080 changes) of Uxbridge Surprise Major. This was also a record length for the method and the longest length of any peal in any Wirral Branch tower. Two Quarter Peals, both by the Sunday Service Band, were also rung, including one on the evening of 8th June, the exact day of the centenary.

Elsewhere, the branch programme was, in the main, successfully completed although attendances were sometimes disappointing. The combination of the usual rounders and barbecue at West Kirby proved somewhat irresistible while the morning / afternoon format, at Bebington, was again widely appreciated. The branch 6-Bell striking competition at Burton was won by Oxton, who, unfortunately, were not able to raise a band for the corresponding Guild event. This absence, coupled with that of a Wirral band in the Guild 8-Bell, has served to motivate the committee to prevent a repeat of either in 2005!

The Quarter Peal month, again held in October, proved, on reflection, perhaps rather too long with many towers deferring their attempts until the last fortnight, a response which the new committee will be taking into consideration for 2005. There were a number of ‘firsts’ scored and it was, on past experience, something of a revelation to have the report of the event appear in The Ringing World with a cover date of the year in which the ringing took place!

In closing, I would like to thank the tower correspondents and the respective incumbents for making us so welcome at our monthly meetings. I also thank members of the Branch Committee for organising various events and also members of the Branch for giving their much valued support.

Peter Humphreys - Wirral Branch Secretary