Minutes of The General Meeting of The Lyme Regis Branch. Held at The Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis, Thursday 06th November 2014 at 19:00 Hrs.

Minutes of The General Meeting of The Lyme Regis Branch. Held at The Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis,Thursday 06th  November  2014 at 19:00 Hrs.

Present:
Mr David Manners	Chairman
Mr Tony Smith	Honorary Secretary
Mr Martin Jones	Honorary Treasurer
Mr David Humphrey	Membership Secretary
Lt Col Ross Bennett	Welfare Chairman
Mrs Ania Driver	Welfare Secretary
Mrs Sylvia Marler	Poppy Appeal Organiser
Mr Kevin Taylor	Member/Parade Marshal
Mrs Angela Manners	Member
Mr Peter Ward	Member
Mrs Jacqueline Ward	Member
Mr & Mrs Peter Lowe	Branch Members.
Mr Cyril Bugler	Branch member.

01. Exhortation:

The Chairman.

Apologies:
Mr Cecil Quick	President
Mr Jon Hunt	Member/Std Bearer

03.Minutes of the Last Meeting:

The Minutes of the last Meeting held on the 02nd of October 2014 were agreed as a true record and signed by The Chairman.

Proposed: Jacqueline Ward

Seconded: Ross Bennett

Carried: Unanimously.

Matters Arising:

The Chairman stated that the closure of The Welfare Fund Account with Lloyd’s Bank is proving to be problematic. (This is the transfer of The Welfare Account into the Main Account). The bank are insisting that all previous Members with the authority to sign cheques must currently sign the paperwork. (One is deceased!). Dave Humphrey suggested contacting County for assistance, as Phil Thomas has experience of similar problems.

Additions to the Agenda.

None.

Chairman’s Report.

As a result of Vernon Rattenbury's and Dave Humphrey's hard work and research, we now have a further fifteen names of men of this town who died in action in World War 1. I have spoken with The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and The War Memorials Trust this week to identify the etiquette regarding the inclusion of their names on our War memorial. Eleven of these names are listed elsewhere in the country – can they also be displayed on ours? All decisions on this matter will be decided by this Committee. To clarify recent press reports, we are not responsible, nor are we able to fund, alterations to The War Memorial, but we will do our up most to ensure that, where appropriate, these names will go onto it.

The additional names will be included in The Roll of Honour to be read out in the Remembrance Service on Sunday.

I have spoken with the Town Council today and was assured that the stewarding is in place for the Remembrance Parade.

I would like to thank, in advance, Warren Jones, Martin's son, for playing the drum for us on The Remembrance Parade. Representatives of The Rifle Brigade will be on the parade.

The Mayor will not be in attendance on Saturday but will be represented by Councillor Stan Williams. The Reverend Jane Skinner will also not be there; the services will be taken by Father Koppel of The Roman Catholic Church.

The buglers are in place for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice day.

I would like to thank Sylvia and her team, on behalf of The Committee, for their work for the Poppy Appeal.

The protocol for the dismissal of the Remembrance Parade was discussed. It is not appropriate for The Mayor, as a guest, to thank participants. It was agreed that The Chairman would address the Parade from a central position.

The Branch Three year Plan has to fit in with The County and National Plans and the 2015 Manifesto. I would appreciate other peoples' input into this, prior to The AGM, and will circulate my thoughts by email for comment.

Information from County has been reduced due to a computer crisis. One piece that did arrive, concerns a right-wing political organisation called Britain First, who are selling items for Poppy Day; but it must be emphasised that they are nothing to do with The RBL.

The County Chairman sent an article from The Daily Mail concerning the use of body parts for research, in some way implicating The RBL which is outrageous.

The Jack Loveridge Trophy is awarded to a Member of The Branch who has done significant work during the last year. Dave Humphrey suggested that this year it should be awarded to Vernon Rattenbury for his research work and success in putting The RBL in the public eye.

Proposed: Dave Humphrey     Seconded: Martin Jones  Carried: Unanimously.

Honorary Secretary’s Report.

           

A letter concerning The AGM was posted in The Town NB last month.

I propose that The Quiz Night next year should raise funds specifically for The Armed Forces Day Fun Run.

 Proposed: Tony Smith           Seconded: Kevin Taylor         Carried: Unanimously.

Dave Humphrey asked if County representatives have been invited to the ceremony for HMS Formidable next January. The Secretary will draft an invitation for The Chairman to send.

Honorary Treasurer’s Report.
		Last Report	This Report
		02 Oct 2014	06 Nov 2014
The Branch holds	Current Account	£343.66	£1,025.16
	Branch Funds at Head Office	£13,122.97	£13,640.17
	Total	£13,466.63	£14,665.33

Notes: 

1. The November total includes £650 membership fees collected by D Humphrey.

2. I propose to move £750 from the current account to the BFI Account to take advantage of the better interest rate.

 Proposed: Martin Jones          Seconded:  David Humphrey Carried: Unanimously.

3. I propose two expenditures:

i. £20 for the tuning of the drum for our Remembrance Parade.

[After Minute. The drum has been gifted to us from The Junior Band].

ii. £120 to £140 for Remembrancetide wreaths. (Effectively, part of our Branch donation to The Poppy Appeal).

Proposed: Martin Jones

Seconded:  David Humphrey

Carried: Unanimously.

There is a bill for £29.75p for the hire of The Woodmead Hall for the visit of The County Committee in September. It was agreed that this is a legitimate cost for The Branch.

Welfare Chairman’s Report.

No new problems. Normal and requested visits continue.

Dave Humphrey informed the meeting that the two day case worker courses in Dorset will only take place in Southampton during week days.

Welfare Secretary’s Report. 

No new cases.

Poppy Appeal Organiser’s Report.

There are two days to go. So far we are slightly up on last year's contributions.

Membership Secretary’s Report. 

Four Cash Card payments are outstanding and if no payment has been made by the 15th of November I will send them back.

The Branch is sitting on £13,000 odd pounds for welfare but it is not being spent. I would propose that £3,000 is transferred to The County Welfare Fund.

Proposed: David Humphrey	Seconded: Martin Jones
Against: Kevin Taylor	For: The Remainder.	Carried: By majority.

It was agreed that the extra hour for the Hall, after meetings, will carry on.

The RNA President is due to turn up on Saturday and I will brief him about January.

Parade Marshal's Report.

Dress for The Remembrancetide should be appropriate.

A poppy behind a beret badge is only worn by serving personnel.

The Standard Bearer and Parade Marshal should be dressed as per The Ceremonial Handbook.

Personal, authorised medals should be worn on the left breast and those of relatives on the right.

Order of March for Sunday:

Standard Bearer,

Drummer,

Regular Forces: Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force,

The RBL,

Veterans,

Other local organisations.

There is no wet weather programme. Umbrellas may be carried but not deployed.

15. Future Meetings:

The AGM will be held in The Woodmead Halls, on Thursday the 27th of November 2014 at 19:00 hours.

A General Committee Meeting will be held immediately after The AGM.

Meeting Closed: at 19:44 hours.