D. M.Cowley - President

G.M.Handley – Captain 2007

T. Coleman – Captain 2008

P. Davies – Club Secretary

The President asked members to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Geoff Brown, Tom Jones, John Kerr and Arthur Lomas, all of whom had passed away since the last annual general meeting after many years loyal service to the Club.

The President announced that the Council had agreed to award Life Membership to Harry Grimshaw, Ivor Roberts, Jock Ross and Bob Watson.

Apologies for absence were submitted in writing to the Club Secretary from C. Arrowsmith, A.E. Bick, R. Burkes, S. Burkes, P. Chatterley, J. Chesters,

C. Davies, J. Davies, P. Davies Jnr., I. Dixon, N. Down, A. Dunne, H. Evans,

B. Gardner, F.R. Gilmore, G.C. Hogg, R. Lally, H. Large, A. McGee,

S. McGee, M. McMahon, G. Mears, R. Mercer, P. Miller, K. O’Neill,

G. Popper, T. Reynolds, C. Ruse, S. Smith, I. Thompson and B. Webster.

Members noted that the minutes for the Annual General Meeting held on 19^th February 2007 had been posted on the notice board immediately after their approval at the next following Council meeting. It was proposed by Billy Rogers, seconded by Jimmy Montgomery Moore and resolved unanimously that they be accepted as a true record of proceedings without discussion.

The Club Secretary reported on the organisation and activities of the Club during the last season and in preparation for the new season. He was happy to welcome new members who had joined during the year and spoke of the need to attract further new members; a task that could be made easier by the membership encouraging friends to join the Club. The Club Secretary informed the meeting of the recent illness suffered by Ivor Roberts and members offered him their best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Club Secretary assured members of a full calendar of events for the new season and pointed particularly to the need to introduce some new sponsors to support the West Wirral Open Championship. An innovation this year would see a draw for each round of the knock out competitions, so it was important that members made every effort to complete ties according to the schedule. The year would also see the Municipal Championships played at Hoylake in June as Irby Golf Club was to be the host. The starting sheet detailing tee times for the new summer season would soon be posted on the notice board but members who had not requested times still had some time to apply. Fixture cards for 2008 were available at the meeting. Cheshire Union cards were also available at a cost of £18 for ordinary members and £12 for life members. Life membership was available at a cost of £40. A rise of 3% on green fees was anticipated but yet to be confirmed by Wirral Borough Council.

The annual dinner and prize presentation would be held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Friday 7th November. Golf would be available during the day and preference for the restricted number of tee times would again be given to members who had played in the most summer competitions.

A copy of the Annual Financial Statement for the year ending 31^st December 2007, prepared by the Treasurer and duly certified by the Club’s appointed auditors, was made available to members at the meeting. The Treasurer reported that although the statement showed a healthy surplus of £1,118 this would have been greatly reduced in a normal year. The frequent course closures had led to fewer inter-club matches and there had been a consequential saving of £1,050 on the expense associated with these events. There were also significant reductions in income from subscriptions and competition entries and the key to future yearly surpluses would be the Club’s ability to bring in new members. The Treasurer thanked Keith Bryan and George Edwards for auditing the accounts. It was moved by Todd Miller, seconded by Stan Walton and duly resolved that the statement be approved.

The Captain wished to thank all members for the part they had played in making his year as Captain such a memorable one. It had been an honour and a privilege for him to serve as Captain and he was grateful for the support he had received and the respect that had been shown to him. The Captain thanked the Council for the programme of events it had put forward despite the most adverse weather conditions he had seen as a member. His particular highlights had been the Municipal Championships, Captain’s Day and the Annual Dinner.

The Captain congratulated the Past Captains on their success in winning their association’s competition and thanked Mike Down, who had stood down from the Council, for his valuable service to the Club. The Captain closed by offering his best wishes to his successor, Tom Coleman, and to his Vice-Captain, Dave Denton. He also wished all members a very happy and successful season.

Derek Cowley was unanimously re-elected to serve as President for the ensuing year.

The following Members were unanimously elected to serve in the Council positions shown for the ensuing year: -

The new Captain was welcomed in the traditional manner and took the Chair. He thanked members for their reception and said he was both honoured and delighted by his appointment. The Captain thanked Graham Handley for his excellent leadership during the past year and said that he was looking forward to working with his Vice-Captain, Dave Denton.

The Captain was looking forward to the new season and drew attention to the Club Day Out on 6^th June at Aldersey Green which he thought would offer excellent value for an all-inclusive fee of £35 for golf and all meals. He hoped as many embers as possible would attend the Drive-In on 29^th March to observe the traditional start to the season. Captain’s Day would be held on 21st June and President’s Day on 2^nd August. Given that his year would see the Club’s 75^th Anniversary he hoped that some appropriate events would be arranged. Mike Down was arranging a mixed buffet dance at the Sacred Heart Parish Club in Moreton on Friday, 30^th May, and the Captain hoped that members would support Mike’s efforts. The Doubles Knock Out would again be a Four Ball Better Ball format with the same handicap allowance as last year as this suited the majority of members.

The Captain wished all members a very enjoyable and successful season.

Keith Bryan and George Edwards were unanimously appointed to serve as the Club’s auditors for the ensuing year.

Members accepted the Council’s proposal that there should be no change to the existing level of honoraria for Officers.

It was proposed by Dave Denton, seconded by Mike Salter and resolved unanimously that the Council’s proposal that Rule 2c, relating to the composition of the Council, be amended to "The Club Secretary, Club Treasurer, Council Secretary, Competitions Secretary, Handicap Secretary and five ordinary members who will be elected at the Annual General Meeting and will be eligible for re-election".