Minutes of the General Meeting of the Lyme Regis Branch held on 10th January 2008 at The Woodmead Hall, Lyme Regis, commencing 19:00hrs.
(These minutes have been edited to protect the privacy of members and beneficiaries. A full copy is available to members on request from the Secretary)
Present: C. Quick, President; K. Whetlor, Chairman; W. Reed, Service Secretary; A. Manners, Poppy Organiser; D. Manners, Events Organiser; M. Kirkby; D Humphrey.
Apologies: M Jones, Treasurer; K Austin.
Exhortation: The President
Minutes of the Last Meeting held on 1st November 2007: The Minutes were presented on the night agreed as a true record and signed by The President.
Matters Arising: None.
Chairman’s Report: Carried forward to the AGM.
Secretary’s Report: Vacancy.
Treasurer’s Report: The Chairman read the Treasurer’s report in his absence. A copy of the report is attached to the minutes of the AGM which was held at the close of the Committee meeting.
Service Secretary’s Report: Included in the Membership and Welfare Report.
Membership and Welfare Report: Welfare: (Edited) The Welfare statement was read and agreed by those present. Payments have been made to the taxi service,the Benevolent Fund,travel allowances and flowers for the church.
Two beneficiaries have received assistance with the costs of hospital visits. The Service Secretary requested further funding to allow this to continue. Letters of thanks have been received in both cases.
Membership: Membership as of 31st December 2007 stands at 120. 10 new members have joined the branch and 2 have sadly passed away. There are no outstanding subscriptions.
The Service Secretary hoped that the new members would wish to take an active role in the running of the Branch.Poppy Organiser’s Report: (Edited) Expenses incurred by the Poppy Organiser, during the 2007 Poppy Appeal was submitted through the Chairman for payment authorisation by the Committee. Payment was authorised.
Aylesford requested the dates for the 2008 street collection. A reply was sent on 2nd December 2007 stating that they would be held on 31st October and 1st November 2008.
The Poppy Account will be switched to Lloyds TSB from 10th January 2008 to avoid excessive travel. The Paying in Book has been received and the account will gradually be transferred from the existing bank.
The Poppy Organiser wished to express her gratitude to all those who helped in counting the money from last years Poppy Appeal as it was not a job that could have been done by one person.
The Service Secretary asked if foreign coins, received in collections, could be made use of. The Poppy Organiser doubted if they could but it was decided to make further enquires at Headquarters.Events Organiser’s Report: Attached: Diary dates, details of and issues surrounding the proposed visit to the National Memorial Arboretum Staffordshire, and information about medal entitlement requests.
It was decided to discuss the visit at a later meeting.
The Events Organiser made a proposal that some of the money from the Magna Housing donation be used to fund the production and distribution of a newsletter. Magna Housing’s Logo would appear on this newsletter to show the company’s link with the branch. The Chairman and Service Secretary stated their support for this proposal.Standard Bearer’s Report: Absent.
Correspondence: 81st Annual County Conference booklet, County Newsletter and a copy of a letter from Mrs Lavery to Mr Webb of Magna Housing.
AOB: None.
Meeting Closed: 19:23hrs.
The next meeting will be held on: Thursday 7th February at 19:00hrs.
Events Coordinator’s notes
Diary dates 2008:
Monday 19th May 1930 Woodmead Hall: Annual Quiz
Sunday November 2nd. 1930 Marine Theatre: Festival of Remembrance.
Saturday 8th November: HMS Formidable 1030
Polish Memorial 1100
Sunday 9th November: Remembrance Parade 1430.
Tuesday 11th November: War Memorial 1100
( Poppy Appeal street collection Friday 31stOct/Sat 1st Nov.)
2) Visit to National Forces War Memorial
This needs careful consideration owing to the costs involved. I have had three quotes all roughly the same at £700 for a 53 seater coach. This would mean a full coach and £15 per person. The high cost is owing to the necessity of two drivers owing to the distance involved (roughly a 3 hour journey each way).
Medals
I have recently been in touch with the MOD Medal Office based at RAF Innsworth in Gloucestershire. This is now the joint service office dealing with all enquiries to do with medals. They tell me there are over 200 enquiries per week from WW2 veterans about medal entitlements. After a fair bit of form filling I found out I was entitled to LSGC medals I was unaware of. I have all the contact details should any member also wish to enquire. Just as an indication of their efficiency, I have now received my late grandfather’s WW2 defence medal (for my father) as he was demobbed before he received it!
