General Secretary’s Report of the 38th
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 18th November
2009 at Glenmore House
General Secretary’s Report.
Brian
Jackson reported another successful year for the Club and recorded his
appreciation of the work done by all members of the Committee and by our
Webmaster Cliff Douthwaite and our resident Photographer, John Rowe. Our
Membership now stands at 55, four fewer than last year. Sadly we lost
former Chairman John Moore, Tom Horne and Keith Gullen. Desmond Wimsett
and Arnold Smith resigned and Ron Bryan’s membership lapsed. On the
positive side we have been pleased to welcome two new members, Colin
Hart and Keith Waller.
There
were ten Members’ Lunches attended by an average of 40 Members and
guests compared with 41 the previous year As usual there were also
Ladies Lunches in the Spring and at Christmas.
Brian
expressed satisfaction with the service we have enjoyed during the year
at Glenmore House but invited Members to make suggestions for
improvement as appropriate.
There
were weekends away at Sherborne in the spring and Carmarthen in the
Autumn very popular and well organised by Alan Neale. And David Ashen
organised Pub Lunches to The Ditton in Long Ditton and Alan to the
Haywain in Epsom.
There
was a full programme of Speakers compiled from a string of suggestions
made by the Chairman and other members of the Club.
Brian
concluded by acknowledging his gratitude for co-operation from the
Committee as already mentioned but also specifying Ian Rathjen for his
work on the Directory and Pat Tumber for his help with the printing,.
actual destination of this amount but the Secretary has recently been
assured by Robert Dobbie (Director and Company Secretary of Glenmore
House) that it is all distributed all goes to the actual serving staff.
The
Chairman then drew to the attention of Members present a draft
resolution which had been circulated relating to annual contributions
for Members who have attained the age of ninety. This was approved and
reads as follows:-
“It
was resolved that on the attainment of age ninety and the completion of
five years’ membership of the Club a member shall become an Honorary
member and therefore exempt from normal contributions but not from lunch
fees as provided in the Rules”
Brian Jackson
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 19th NOVEMBER 2008
GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER
2008
This has been a year of consolidation. We are settled here in Glenmore
House and my own feeling is that it has been a move very much for the
best. . Your Committee consisted of John Goodridge as Chairman, Laurie
Chandler as his Deputy, John Moore as Immediate Past Chairman , Welfare
Secretary and Ladies Lunch Organiser; Brian Jackson as General,
Membership and Minutes Secretary; Alan Neale as Treasurer and Excursions
Organiser; David Ashen as Events Organiser and, until his resignation,
Robert Leadbetter. We were without a replacement for Dennis Baker as
Speaker Secretary but Laurie and I managed the role between us with help
from a number of you who introduced speakers.
Currently our membership stands at 59, two fewer than last year but five
fewer than the year before that. Three of our members died during the
year, Les Oram and Geoffrey Neill; and also Ken Hayward in very sad
circumstances. There were also resignations: Wilf Fricker who has now
moved down to Canford and Robert Leadbetter. However I am pleased to
record a very favourable year for recruitments: eight in all: Alan
Oakley, Peter Blyth, John Wickenden, Jake Van Es, Arnold Smith, Dick
Freeborn , Edward Le Brocq and Leonard Woodward. With one exception
these were introductions from the existing membership. The exception
came about as a result of Edward Le Brocq finding our website. We most
sincerely welcome them all aboard.
Here now are the statistics. There were ten regular lunches this year.
The average attendance was 41 members and guests: two down on average
since last year, which itself was two down on the previous year. As
usual there were two Ladies’ Lunches which were both very well attended,
but I do not have the exact figures.
Next a word on Glenmore House. From my point of view I have found their
management very comfortable to deal with on a regular basis and they
have been quick to cope with special arrangements we have needed to make
from time to time. Of course nothing is perfect and I would encourage
anyone who might see a way in which service could improve to let me know
Although we started the year with an almost empty speaker diary we were
able to fill all the slots and had some excellent presentations. In
chronological order the subjects were: Surrey wildlife, cricket at
Malden wanderers, Dr Barnado, London Zoo, Hypnotherapy, London’s River,
the Kingston Bereavement Service, Garson Farm, Afghanistan and this
afternoon’s talk on the Livery Companies.
Outside events have been the weekends away in Leicestershire at the
Spalding Spring Flower Show and in September in Newcastle and its
environs in Northumberland. Both were well organised and well supported.
Alan Neale also organised a trip to Longleat and its zoo – a very
pleasant day out. There were two Pub lunches - at the Hogsmill in April
and at the Star in Chessington earlier this month. Plans are well in
hand for our 2009 programme.
I would like to conclude by thanking the Committee on your behalf for
the work they have all put in, notably Alan Neale for combining the role
of Treasurer and the organisation of two weekends away, then there was
David Ashen for the Pub Lunches, John Moore for organising our Ladies,
Ian Rathjen for his work on the Directory and filling in as Minutes
Secretary in my absence, Laurie Chandler as already mentioned and John
Goodridge for keeping me and everybody else in order. We have again been
well served by our Webmaster, Cliff Douthwaite and by John Rowe whose
photography now greatly embellishes our site.
And thank you all for coming.
Brian Jackson
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 21ST NOVEMBER
2007
GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST OCTOBER 2007
The Club has had an eventful but, I hope you will
agree, a successful year. Your Committee consisted of John Moore,
Chairman; John Goodridge as Deputy Chairman; Ian Rathjen as Immediate
Past Chairman; Brian Jackson as General, Membership, Welfare and Minutes
Secretary; Alan Neale as Treasurer; Dennis Baker as Speaker Secretary;
David Ashen as Events Secretary; Michael Johnston as Ladies Lunch
organiser; Laurie Chandler and Robert Leadbetter.
Currently our membership stands at 60, four fewer
than last year. It has been a bad year for losing old friends: John
Turner just before last Christmas, Alex Wood and Jack Pateman – all of
these were honorary life members and, very recently, Dennis Baker who
carried out his Speaker Secretary role until he died. There were also
resignations during the year: Jeff Baldwin, Christopher Claxton, Roy
Wakeling and Jack Chevalier- the last two for ill health reasons. On the
positive side we have been very pleased to recruit four newcomers: John
Balcomb, Sam Swallow, Kenneth Pickering and – very recently -Brian
Bailey. All four of these new recruits are with us through introductions
from the existing membership. We most sincerely welcome them aboard.
At this point in his reports Laurie Bower would
introduce some statistics. So: there were ten regular lunches this year
(against nine the year previously). The average attendance was 43
members and guests: two down on average since last year, which itself
was five down on the previous year. As usual there were two Ladies’
Lunches which were both very well attended, but I do not have the exact
figures.
This brings me to our venue change which was an
important landmark in the history of the Club. On 18th July, after an
exploratory visit with our partners in June, we raised our knives and
forks on these premises having decided to make them our home. This was
following a plebiscite in which all our active members participated. The
result was a vote in favour of 49 and only 4 against. There is an item
further down the agenda which will give you the opportunity to express
your satisfaction or otherwise at the change. From the Committee’s point
of view we have found the management here to be both friendly and
co-operative and the service has not been seriously interrupted by the
building works. Also the idea of Surbiton Probus being located in
downtown Surbiton rather than a suburb of Kingston appeals to me
greatly.
An important feature of out monthly Club lunches
is our programme of Speakers. This year has been no exception and the
range of topics has included items on the history of the Doulton
Potteries; Victim support; a lady’s travels in China: “Beijing to
Shanghai”; the work of a Queen’s Messenger and so on. We are deeply
grateful for Dennis Baker’s efforts as Speaker Secretary but when he
died I thought it appropriate to write to you all individually to appeal
for a volunteer to carry on the good work. Speakers are a very important
element in our monthly Club Lunches. However, as of this moment we do
not have a replacement for Dennis and our only definite booking for next
year is for January.
Outside events have been the weekends away in
Norfolk in April and the Normandy visit at the end of September. Both
offered very full and interesting itineraries and were greatly enjoyed.
There were two Pub lunches - at the Star in Chessington and the Queen
Adelaide in Ewell. Plans are well in hand for our 2008 programme.
Now for the “thank you's. In my first year as
General Secretary I would like to commend my predecessor Laurie Bower
for an immaculate hand over. Also his willingness at all times to
respond to my requests for guidance has been very deeply appreciated. My
computer skills are still rudimentary.
Then the Committee. Alan Neale as Treasurer and
David Ashen as Events Secretary have been bedrock. Robert Leadbetter
unobtrusively and effectively assisted Dennis Baker in the months before
he died. Thank you too, John Moore, for your leadership and support as
Chairman. Michael Johnston did sterling work as Ladies’ Lunch organiser
and as our channel of communication with the estimable Cliff Douthwaite.
Cliff is our website manager who, as a Member of a fellow Probus Club,
does an outstanding job for us at a very nominal fee.
And thank you all for supporting our efforts
Brian Jackson
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16th NOVEMBER 2006
GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2006
Laurie Bower reported another successful year and
recorded his appreciation of the work done by all members of the
Committee. Our membership now stands at 64, but sadly we lost Gordon
Lawrence, a former General Secretary and Chairman; Clenyg Squire
resigned due to ill-health. Christopher Claxton joined us in June.
Laurie emphasised the need for recruitment if the Club is to continue on
its successful path
There were nine Members’ lunches attended by an
average of 45 members and guests, compared with an average of 50 last
year. In July there was a lunch open to members and partners and there
were ladies’ lunches in May and December – the Christmas lunch being
attended by 112 people, a record for the Club (there were 88 in May)
Dennis Baker as Speaker Secretary was
congratulated for organising interesting speakers at all our lunches
including the Royal Navy spectacular in July. There were three pub
lunches during the year, all well attended, and two weekends away. The
weekends were to Chesterfield in Derbyshire in the Spring and Malvern in
the autumn. Both were very well organised by Alan Neale.
Michael Johnston had found an effective webmaster
for our Club web site which is now vastly improved. Members were urged
to make use of it.
Laurie Bower concluded by thanking all members of
the Committee with a special word to Dennis Baker who is standing down
for this year due to ill health. Laurie also recorded his own decision
to join the back benches after serving fourteen years on the Committee
as General Secretary after a year as
Chairman.
Brian Jackson, Alan Neale , Laurie Bower, John
Moore
Laurie Bower installs John Moore as the Chairman
for 2006 -7
Laurie Bower retires as General Secretary and John
Moore, Chairman says thankyou.
The AGM membership give their approval.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16th NOVEMBER 2005
GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2005
Once again, the Club has had a successful
year and, I believe, has provided excellent service to its members. Your
Committee for the year consisted of David Ashen (Chairman), Ian Rathjen
(Deputy Chairman & Speaker Secretary), Brian Jackson (General Secretary&
Membership Secretary), Alan Neale (Treasurer & Events Secretary), Brian
Jackson (Minutes Secretary), Derek Winsor (Immediate Past Chairman &
Welfare Secretary), John Moore, Dennis Baker and Michael Johnston.
Currently our membership stands at 65.
Sadly, we lost Norman Purrett in October and Douglas Fox resigned due to
ill health. However, we welcomed Wilf Fricker in January and Jeff
Baldwin in October.
There were, as usual, 10 members’ lunches
during the year which was attended by an average of 50 members and
guests – 3 up on last year. Whilst on this subject, I must tell you that
one “bad habit” is still with us. Failure by some members (often the
same ones each time) to notify Alan Neale as to whether or not they will
be attending our monthly lunches (particularly last minute absence) is
still causing him difficulties with the hotel. Can we all please make
sure that he knows any changes in our intentions by the Monday morning
preceding the lunch.
As usual, there were two Ladies’ Lunches –
the Ladies’ Christmas Lunch was attended by 103 members and guests – the
second highest attendance ever recorded. Again a total of 103 members
and guests sat down in May for the Ladies’ Summer Lunch – a Club record
for this lunch and 20 more than the previous year.
Thanks are due to our Speaker Secretary,
Ian Rathjen for all his hard work; he managed to organise talks for each
of our Club lunches on a very wide range of subjects, all of which were
well received by members.
Seven outside events were organised this
year and included visits to Barnes Wetlands Centre and the Royal Powder
Mills at Waltham Abbey (organised by Kingston Probus) and 3 pub lunches
which continue to be popular with members. Our principal events were the
Spring Weekend break to Yorkshire and the Autumn Break to Valkenburg on
the Belgian/German border . Congratulations to all involved but in
particular to Alan Neale for all his hard work in organising everything,
both trips were highly successful and thoroughly enjoyable.
Somewhat disappointingly, our old website
has again attracted only one new member but I still think that the
effort in setting it up was worthwhile and that it does contribute to
our publicity.
In conclusion, I would like to say “thank
you” to all members of the Committee whose co-operation and help has
done much to make this another successful year. The "backroom" work done
by Alan Neale as Treasurer and Events General Secretary and Brian Jackson as
Minutes General Secretary has been particularly vital and the support and
leadership provided by David Ashen as Chairman has been most valuable.
Derek Winsor is standing down this year and we record our grateful
thanks for all the excellent work he has done for the Club.
Finally, may I say thank you to you, the
membership, whose support and co-operation has done much to ensure
another successful year for the Club.
General Secretary
Laurie Bower
