This is my third and last Report as Chairman due to the completion of my three-year tenure of office. I must at the outset give my sincere thanks to all the officers of the Council for the invaluable help and co-operation that they have given me over my three years - it has been an honour to serve such an admirable group of people and, as I disappear from the scene, I shall miss my association with the Society and my 'Dear John' letters enormously. Mr Bill Ogle, as vice-chairman, will succeed me and a new vice-chairman will be appointed.

Over the past year we have had quite a few successes and made some modest improvements.  We have had an encouraging increase in the membership to 213, including 29 new members.

The increase in membership is due  to the Sea Breezes advertisement, the St George's Hall Local History Exhibition, and coverage of the Society's 70th Anniversary in various publications; and more recently attraction to our new websites. An advertisement has been placed in Shipping Today and Yesterday for the May issue.

Due to Captain Mike Jones' hard work and diligence  in managing the Annual Award Scheme, six dissertations were presented for consideration. The Award panel, consisting of Council Members Captain Mike Jones, David Eccles, Alan McClelland and myself, agreed that the winning dissertation should be 'Liverpool Slave Trade in the Late Eighteenth Century' by Denise Jones of Liverpool Hope University. The prize consisted of £250 and one year's honorary membership of the Society. Arrangements for this year's Award have been launched.

Our talks programme Secretary, Ron Dennis, turned up trumps again this year with a very interesting set of lectures. The meetings are a vital part of the Society's activities and it must be very difficult to recruit speakers every season. Excellent work, Ron !

Unfortunately our long-standing and hard-working Honorary Treasurer John Coates is retiring. He has been an asset to the Society and will be sorely missed, but he has agreed to continue to organise the Christmas lunch. His replacement, Barry Groombridge, will be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

Last December's Christmas lunch at the Hollins Hey Hotel, New Brigthon, was a very pleasant social event. I feel sure that everyone who attended enjoyed the afternoon. Our guest was Professor Susan Schwarz from Liverpool Hope University who has greatkly assisted us in promoting our Award Scheme to students.

A 70th anniversary 'Bulletin' was produced by Tony Barratt and was sent out free to all members last December. I hope you agree with me that it is a first-class publication.

The Merseyside Maritime Museum Curator of Archives, Dawn Littler, is particularly pleased with the continuing assistance being given by Society members on the classification and sorting of the Bryson Collection, and also the Radio Officer Records of Examination Results. Our relationship with the Archive staff has developed even further over the past year, notably with the assistance of Curator John Moores. The 'Monday Facility' is regularly well-attended. This success is due to the hard work and organisation of the Secretary, John Stokoe, who is to be applauded for his sterling efforts in running the Society's administration.

Our very competent editor, John Shepherd, has welcomed the introduction of assistance from Captain Mike Feltham in organising the distribution of 'The Bulletin'. John is to be congratulated once again on the production of all the past year's first-class issues. 'The Bulletin' continues to have the important function of informing the Society's members, particularly thoe who live outside the Merseyside area, as to what is happening  within the Society.

One matter I wished to undertake before I retired was the modification and clarification of the Rules and Constitution of the Society. Having discussed the matter at length within Council, the modifications were eventually agreed upon. These changes should simplify the running of the Society.

There has been a welcome increase in the number of members and guests attending the monthly talks, the average number present being thirty.

Perhaps one of this year's more interesting developments has been the posting of our own internet website. Undaunted by a number of early teething problems, John Shepherd has initiated this with the intention of publicising Society news, and in time, uploading many of the fascinating articles which have appeared in 'The Bulletin' over the years, and which demonstrate the wide range of interest pursued by those involved with the Society. This initiative could obviously be an important feature in attracting new members.

Sadly, I have to report the deaths of the following members during the past year:
Tony Blackler, Peter Gannicliffe and Professor Idris Parry.
They will be sadly missed and are membered with respect.

I should like to thank Gordon Wright and his team for producing the refreshments at the monthly meetings, and also his continued procurement of the presentation tankards awarded to all our speakers.

Council has agreed that the £12 subscription payment will be maintained for the present.

I can step down in the knowledge that I have carried out my duties to the Society to the very best of my ability, and I have endeavoured never to miss any meeting in my three years as Chairman, North Atlantic-type storms notwithstanding!

The Society remains on a sound footing, being 'Steady as she goes', and as I hand over my watch to Chairman-elect, Bill Ogle, I feel that the Society's well-being has been properly maintained.

I look back with pride and honour at having been able to serve such a wonderful Society. I wish the new Chairman, Bill Ogle, all future success in his office.

John R. Chambers,
Chairman,
THE LIVERPOOL NAUTICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY.

15th May, 2008

THE ANNUAL AWARD

At the beginning of each year the Liverpool Nautical Research Society makes an Award, the purpose of which is to encourage students in higher education and vocational training who have an interest in maritime affairs. The Society invites the submission of original written work on nautical subjects. Original essays submitted to the Society for the Award should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length. Dissertations completed in the previous twelve months are also eligible for consideration for the Award.
Work submitted for the Award may cover a wide range of topics provided the essential concern is with nautical matters. The following list gives some indication of subjects which may be deemed suitable:
Maritime History;  Contemporary maritime matters;  The Port of Liverpool - its shipping, past and present, Navigation of seaways and waterways adjacent to the Mersey; the development of ships, their operation and management; National and international maritime policies and operations; Maritime Britain at war; Marine engineering; Naval history.
The Liverpool Nautical Research Society Award comprises a cash sum and an award certificate. In return the Society will request a synopsis of the winner's work for publication in its Journal.
Further details are available from the Award Secretary:

Captain M.D.R. Jones,
The Liverpool Nautical Research Society,
Archives and Library,
Merseyside Maritime Museum,
Albert Dock,
LIVERPOOL,  L3  4AQ