UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 24F-2
                        Annual Notice of Securities Sold
                             Pursuant to Rule 24f-2

             Read instructions at end of Form before preparing Form.

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1.    Name and address of issuer:

     New England Funds Trust I
     399 Boylston Street
     Boston, MA  02116

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2.   The name of each series or class of securities for which this Form is filed
     (If the Form is being filed for all series and classes of securities of the
     issuer, check but do not list series or classes): __X___

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3.    Investment Company Act File Number:  811-4323

     Securities Act File Number:  2-98326

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4. (a)  Last day of fiscal year for which this Form is filed:  12/31/97

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4. (b) ____  Check box if this Form is being filed late (i.e., more than 90
calendar days after the end of the issuer's fiscal year).  (See Instruction A.2)

Note:  If the Form is being filed late, interest must be paid on the
registration fee due.
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4. (c) _____  Check box if this is the last time the issuer will be filing
this Form.

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5. Calculation of registration fee:

     (i)     Aggregate sale price of securities
             sold during the fiscal year
             pursuant to section 24(f):                   $2,308,872,806

     (ii)   Aggregate price of securities redeemed or
             repurchased during the fiscal year:          $1,447,014,087

     (iii)    Aggregate price of securities redeemed or
              repurchased during any prior fiscal year
              ending no earlier than October 11, 1995
              that were not previously used to reduce
              registration fees payable to the
              Commission:                                 $ 0

     (iv)     Total available redemption credits
              [add Items 5(ii) and 5(iii)]:              -$1,447,014,087

     (v)      Net sales - if Item 5(i) is greater than
              Item 5(iv) [subtract Item 5(iv) from 
              Item 5(i)]:                                 $  861,858,719

     (vi)      Redemption credits available for use
               in future years $( ) - If Item 5(i) is 
               less than Item 5(iv)[subtract Item 5(iv)
               from Item 5(i)]:

     (vii)     Multiplier for determining registration
               fee (See Instruction C.9):                      x .000295

     (viii)    Registration fee due [multiply Item 5(v)
               by Item 5(vii)] (enter "0" if no fee is due):  =$  254,248.32

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6.    Prepaid Shares

     If the response to Item 5(i) was determined by deducting an amount of
     securities that were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant
     to rule 24e-2 as in effect before October 11, 1997, then report the amount
     of securities (number of shares or other units) deducted here: __________.
     If there is a number of shares or other units that were registered pursuant
     to rule 24e-2 remaining unsold at the end of the fiscal year for which this
     form is filed that are available for use by the issuer in future fiscal
     years, then state that number here: __________.

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7.    Interest due - if this Form is being filed more than 90 days after the
      end of the issuer's fiscal year (see Instruction D):



                                                      +$   ----------.

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8. Total of the amount of the registration fee due plus any interest due [line
   5(viii) plus line 7]:

                                                      =$   254,248.32

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9.   Date the registration fee and any interest payment was sent to the
     Commission's lockbox depository: March 26, 1998

          Method of Delivery:

                             __X___      Wire Transfer
                             ______      Mail or other means

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                                   SIGNATURES

This report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title)*  /s/ Robert E. O'Hare
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                               Assistant Secretary
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Date March 30, 1998
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  *PLEASE PRINT THE NAME AND TITLE OF THE SIGNING OFFICER BELOW THE SIGNATURE.