Annual General Meeting: Report

The 103rd AGM was held on Thursday 24 May in The Lounge of the Presbytery of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Edge Hill. About 40 members were present. In the temporary indisposition of Norman Plastow, the President of the Society, the Secretary presided for the occasion.

Reporting on the activities for the past year Martyn Harman, who was standing down after nine years as Chairman, said that The Society had made steady progress in all its activities during the year. However, all had been saddened by the death of Richard Milward. The Society had been fortunate to have someone of his calibre as an active supporter and major contributor to so many of its activities. The Executive had opened a Book of Remembrance, which would remain open in the Museum until the end of June and he invited members present to add their contributions. A small committee were considering what longer term commemoration there should be. The options included an award for historical research, or an annual memorial lecture. No decisions had been taken yet and any ideas would be welcomed.

Martyn also paid tribute to Barry Jay who has also died during the year. The Society’s thoughts were with Marcelle Jay in appreciation of the work she and Barry had done together in producing the Newsletter through the Centenary year until 2006.

Malcolm Moore, Michael Norman-Smith and David Hedges were resigning from the Executive Committee. Andrew Hobson and John Farago had retired from the Museum Committee. Martyn thanked them for their efforts on behalf of the Society. He recorded a special thanks to Pat Keith who has chaired the Planning Committee to such effect for the past nine years. We were all grateful to her for taking on such important and demanding work. She was now handing over to Mark LeClercq.

Introducing The Trustee’s Annual Report and Accounts, the Treasurer, Linda Defriez, said that subscriptions showed a substantial increase on 2005, partly through an increase in the rates, partly because of tax refunds on donations that had been gift-aided.

The following elections were approved by the members present: Norman Plastow as President Iain Simpson as Chairman David Butler as Hon Secretary Linda Defriez as Hon Treasurer

1 Members approved the following appointments to the Executive Committee:- Reappointed - Marsha Beresford, Monica Ellison, Pat Keith, Janet Koss, Pamela Llewellyn, Asif Malik, Clive Peerless, Cassandra Taylor, Martyn Harman (in place of Iain Simpson), New members - Marie Fitzgerald (co-opted during the past year), Mark LeClercq and Andrew Simon.

In introducing the nominations the Secretary recorded that the Chairman designate, Iain Simpson is an independent consultant, advising commercial, professional and third sector organisations on business development and risk management. He has for the last five years been Chairman of the Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association. He has been a member of the Society’s Executive Committee for the past three years.

Cameron Brown on behalf of the President paid tribute to Martyn Harman’s work as Chairman for the past nine years, a period which included the especially successful celebration of the Society’s Centenary in 2003. Before that he had been chair of the Planning Committee during a particularly difficult time in the development of Wimbledon. All members appreciated his wisdom, patience and skill in handling and defusing difficult situations. The members present thanked the Chairman for all his work

The new Chairman, Iain Simpson opened a discussion of the activities of the Society. It was a privilege to take over the Chairmanship of such a distinguished organisation with such an impressive level of active support. He calculated that at least 100 people were actively involved in its activities. In looking to the future he believed that the Society must look to the future. He was already leading a consideration of this in a review of its Risk Management

Cameron Brown reported on the work to develop the Museum’s website. The aim was to make the contents of the Museum available to all those – members and non-members who could not visit the building – possible because of disability. He appealed for help from volunteers to help enter the details. Cameron confirmed that the Society’s and the Museum’s websites would be linked.

Linda Defriez, reporting on excursions, emphasised that the organisers aimed to keep prices low. As to lectures, most were free. There would be one paying event coming up shortly – the launch of William Hague’s new book on William Wilberforce at the Polka Theatre on 27 June. Tickets were still available and members were encouraged to buy tickets.