The Data Protection Act 1998 came into force on 1st March 2000

As a non-profit making organisation there is no requirement for the Witney & Woodstock Branch to register with the Data Protection Registrar. This does not however exempt the Data Controller (in this case the branch webmaster) from adhering to the eight principles of the act or from obtaining the written permission of individuals to publish personal details on the web site. In summary the principles are that personal data (i.e. data that relates to a living person who can be identified directly from the data) must only be used for the purpose for which it was obtained, it must be kept up to date, only used lawfully and not transmitted to any third parties without consent.

There is an exclusion relating to journalistic material in the act and this has been interpreted as including individuals names in reports of ringing performances and other social events.

If branch officers, members and tower correspondents wish to consent to having their name, telephone number and e-mail address published on the site, they must complete and sign a consent form and return the signed copy to the branch webmaster at :

4 Pound Close, Ducklington, Witney OX29 7TH.