Minutes Of The General Meeting Of The Lyme Regis Branch. Held At The Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis, Thursday 04 July 2013 At 19:00 Hrs.
Present:
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Mr Cecil Quick
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President
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Mr Ken Whetlor
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Chairman
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Mr David Manners
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Vice Chairman
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Mr Tony Smith
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Honorary Secretary
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Mr Martin Jones
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Honorary Treasurer
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Lt Col Ross Bennett
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Welfare Chairman
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Mrs Ania Driver
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Welfare Secretary
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Mrs Sylvia Marler
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Poppy Appeal Organiser
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Mr Jon Hunt
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Member/ Std Bearer
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Mrs Angela Manners.
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Member
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Mr Peter Ward
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Member
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Mrs Jacqueline Ward
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Member
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01. Exhortation:
The President
02. Apologies:
Mr David Humphrey
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Recruitment Advisor
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Mr Kevin Taylor
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Member
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Mr Mike Lloyd
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Member
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03. Minutes of the Last Meeting:
The Minutes of the last Meeting held on the 9th of May 2013 were agreed as a true record and signed by The Chairman.
Proposed: David Manners
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Seconded: Ross Bennett
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Carried: Unanimously.
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04. Matters Arising:
None.
05. Additions to the Agenda.
None.
06. Chairman’s Report
The Chairman had no idea why he had forwarded the following three items to The Secretary to include in The Agenda:
- Clock presentation on the 9th of July.
- Representation on other committees. (Ania pointed out that she is on The Woodmead Halls Committee, as had been agreed previously.)
- Anniversary invites. Have we got any anniversaries coming up? The Vice Chairman commented that next year would be the centenary of WW 1.
(After Minute. The Secretary has checked the records and these three items were on the Agenda for the GM held on the 7th of July 2011.)
07. Vice Chairman’s Report.
The last two months have been taken up predominately by the Remembrance Sunday Service, and I would like to thank The Secretary for his invaluable assistance in helping our Committee and this Branch in reaching a very satisfactory outcome. It has been agreed that The Remembrance Sunday Service will now begin at 10 am rather than in the afternoon.
The Secretary read the message sent to The Reverend Skinner:
Dear Jane,
Thank you very much for arranging yesterday's meeting. We will now work on the following agreed programme for Remembrance Sunday:
- 08:55 hrs Parade assembles in Langmoor Gardens.
- 09:15 hrs Parade steps off.
- 09:40 hrs Parade arrives at St Michael's Church.
- 10:00 hrs Remembrance Sunday Service.
- 11:00 hrs Last Post – Silence – Reveille.
Remainder of the Service.
- After church Parade reforms and marches past The War Memorial.
These timings will be used for all our future planning.
Thank you again for a most productive meeting.
The Vice Chairman said that the thing to impress on everybody is that the major change is the timings – the format remains the same, apart from the Act of Remembrance moving from the beginning of The Service to the end, so that it falls in line with 11 o'clock. So we are uniting, for the first time in seventy years, with the rest of the nation.
I have written to the local newspapers hoping it will be printed this week.
I have been in touch with The Town Council to obtain a list of all local organisations, but they are not permitted to give it to me due to The Data Protection Act. I would like to write to all of them to inform them of this significant change to the Town's Calendar. I will have to do that a long way round somehow.
A downside to this is that The Town Band might not be available; but the organist will be and also someone to sound The Last Post and Reveille.
I would also like all members who have email to forward their address to me so that we have a valid source of communication.
We lost Keith Austin recently and I was very disappointed at the standard of the wreath provided by The Legion. We are looking for something more dignified to represent The Branch on these occasions.
It has been suggested to me that we might like to be represented at The Christmas Tree Festival at The Baptist Church. I think this would be a good idea to help to give The Branch a more public profile.
It was confirmed that no other fund raising events are planned for this year. The block programme for 2014 could be considered at the next meeting. If the Town Diary is not a reliable source of all organisations' activities the TIC might be able to assist.
The Chairman recorded a vote of thanks for The Vice Chairman's and The Secretary's work on the implementation of the new programme for Remembrance Sunday.
08. Honorary Secretary’s Report.
Courses 2013.
There is now a Training Officer at County, Mr John Hurst. The Vice Chairman and I hope to attend a Branch Management course this year.
The lady in charge of Case Worker courses has informed me that there will be no training for Branch Members until the Autumn.
Details of Standard Bearer training, run by Jillian Hurst, will be sent to Jon Hunt.
Inventory.
A provisional list of Branch Property was produced at the last meeting.
I managed to track down the Oak Goblet and Certificate at The Town Museum. It had never been displayed but merely stored there. The current Director, Mr David Tucker, explained that it had no relevance to their area or collecting policy and he was keen that it should be returned to us.
I think it would be a good idea to mount The Goblet in a glass case with the framed Certificate alongside. The cost of this would be in excess of £100 but Steve Staples has kindly volunteered to help us out with this project. I suggest that a suitable location would be in the room where we hold our meetings.
Proposed: Tony Smith
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Seconded: Angela Manners
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Carried: Unanimously.
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The only addition to the list is a Tombola kit held by David Manners. The Chairman has been unable to trace the Youth Club Cup but remains hopeful he can do so.
A draft format for a Property Book was agreed by the meeting. When this has been completed it will form part of our annual report to County.
Correspondence.
Another copy of The Annual Minutes for 2013 and an amendment were handed to The Chairman.
A letter has been received about this year's National Festival of Remembrance, on the 9th of November. Anyone wishing to attend should apply to The Secretary.
09. Honorary Treasurer’s Report.
I have started to research how to form an affiliation with the Woodroffe School CCF. Kevin Taylor currently works with cadets and is willing to be involved in this project.
Accounts.
The RBL is moving the end of the Financial Year to the end of June; this relieves the pressure on Branches during the busy period building up to November.
Three copies of the Receipts and Payment Forms as at the end of June were signed by The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary, prior to sending them for audit.
The Branch holds:
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Last Report 09.05.13
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This report 04.07.13
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Current Account
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£256.33
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£272.62
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Branch Funds at Head Office
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£13,015.00
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£13,122.97
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Total
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£13,271.33
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£13,395.59
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Note: There are outstanding cheques from Jim McMurtry's funeral, £90 and £100 odd from the BFI account interest, which will credited on the 8th or 9th of July.
Jon Hunt and I have been talking about him taking over the accounts ans we have completed a practice trial balance. Jon should be able to take over in about six months or so.
On the Receipts Form there are amounts for donations, £300; interest £216 this year, but this for only tree-quarters of a year, it would be normally be in the region of £400.
This year we have no income from fund raising activities. My inclination is that it would be good if someone would revive the Monthly Draw or have other ideas for activities to raise money.
10. Welfare Chairman’s Report.
Nothing new; normal welfare visits continue.
11. Welfare Secretary’s Report.
I spoke to someone who is experiencing difficulty in getting a taxi when required. I checked with the taxi firm who stated there is no problem with system but no-one had ordered one. I ensured that the case knew this and gave him both the numbers for the taxi firm.
The Vice Chairman commented that there used to be a plethora of taxi firms in Lyme but we are now down to one. He understands the individual's frustration as they are very difficult to hire as they never answer the phone. He will visit the firm.
12. Poppy Appeal Organiser’s Report.
Nothing to report.
Ania mentioned that she and Sylvia had spoken to the CCF commander, after the Armed Forces Day Parade, to ask if it would be possible for cadets in uniform to help with the street collections. Angela pointed out that they would have to be 16 years old to do so.
The participation of the CCF might be more easily accomplished after closer liaison with Woodroffe School during discussions about a possible affiliation.
13. Recruitment Advisor’s Report:
The Secretary passed on a message from Dave Humphrey that because the dates of the last meeting had been changed, (due to local elections), The Dorset Community Fund Raiser had been unable to attend. However, Mr I J Jarvis is hoping to attend the meeting in September.
14. Standard Bearer’s Activities:
Jon apologised profusely for not attending The Blessing of The Boats on Rogation Sunday. It will be the last time it happens.
The Secretary pointed out to Jon that, during his absence at the last meeting, it was agreed that the dates when his attendance is essential are as follows:
Parade Dates
- March/April Rogation Sunday (Blessing of The Boats) - 5th Sunday after Easter.
- June Armed Forces Day - last Saturday of the month.
- November 11 Armistice Day - always the 11th at 11:00 hrs at The War Memorial.
- November Remembrance Day Parade - nearest Sunday to the 11th.
- November AGM Woodmead Halls - last Thursday of the Month.
If there is a problem that prevents attendance at any of these events please let The Committee know in good time so that someone can be arranged to take your place.
15. Future Meetings:
The next General Committee Meeting will be held at 19:00hours, in The Woodmead Halls, on the Thursday the 5th of September.
AGM: Thursday the 28th of November.
Meeting Closed: at 19:48 hours.
