AGM minutes
MINUTES of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held at St
Mary’s R.C. Church Hall, Hexham on Saturday, 20th May 2023 at 11 am
Present:
Roland Finch, Chairman; Elizabeth Finch, Hon. Treasurer/Membership Secretary
and Journal Editor; Jan Lawson, Minutes Secretary; Francis Morgan-Grant,
Programme and Events Secretary; Lorraine Hunter, Social Events Secretary; Susan
Ketelaar; Douglas Smith; Edward Toll; Patricia Hare; Phil Thirkell; Freddie
Everatt; Graham Bashford; Jim Wardle; Ann Wardle; Peter Coxon: Charlotte Coxon;
Ron Dutton; Margaret Watson
Welcome The
Chairman welcomed everyone to this year’s AGM and thanked members for
attending.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies
were received and accepted from: Abbot Geoffrey Scott; John Nicholls; Gwenneth Morgan-Grant; Jennifer McNish; Eileen
Elliot; Patricia McInnes; Freddie Bremble; Elizabeth Balfour-Kinnear; Ed
Clarke; Madeleine Quince; Pauline
Fraser; Margaret Warren; Lyn Morton;
Adrian Radcliffe; Radcliffe Hare; Kath Edgell; Jackie Dunn.
2. Minutes
of the AGM held on 7th May 2022
The Minutes, proposed by Ann Wardle and seconded by Margaret
Watson, were unanimously accepted as a true record.
3.
Matters Arising
There
were no specific matters raised.
4. Treasurer’s
Report
Acceptance
of the Treasurer’s report was proposed by Susan Ketelaar, seconded by Jim Wardle
by and unanimously agreed.
5.
Membership
Secretary’s Report
· There are currently 83 paid up members
worldwide. Only those members who had paid by February 2023 received a Journal.
· Membership numbers have coincidentally
remained the same as in 2022, caused by some members leaving and new members
having joined. Ideally, we would like to achieve a membership of 100. Most
members live in England with a good proportion in Scotland and 1 in Wales. We
also have members in France, Kenya, USA and, of course, our Patron Peter
Pininski in Poland.
· Our Facebook following is currently 800
internationally. This is only 10 more than last year, probably due to lack of
activity on our part as there have been fewer posts. Elizabeth said she would
endeavour to post more!
· Elizabeth Finch again reminded the members
present that we do have a Talks Service.
She herself has been offering the “Northumbrian Jacobite Society” talk for
several years now, with Roland Finch, in his capacity as Chairman, often accompanying
her. Francis Morgan-Grant is also now offering talks. So far this year, Elizabeth
has given only 2 talks, reaching an audience of 75 and raising £50 for society
funds (after expenses).
This is a useful and fun way to promote the
Society and raise funds. Usually, societies and groups pay a donation which
goes into society funds, minus speaker mileage expenses. It is an opportunity
to sell our book and previous Journals and – hopefully – recruit new members. Members
are requested to promote this service within their own groups and societies.
6.
Appointment
of Officers and Committee
No new nominations having been
received, the following officers were unanimously proposed and re-elected:-
Chairman
– Roland Finch
Treasurer and Membership Secretary – Elizabeth Finch
Minuting Secretary – Jan Lawson
Programme and Events Secretary - Francis Morgan-Grant
Social Events Secretary- Lorraine Hunter
Journal Editor – Elizabeth Finch
Committee Member – Gwenneth Morgan-Grant
7. 2023
Events Programme
The Year So Far....
1.
The Derwentwater
Cross Wreath-Laying and Annual Commemorative Lunch had taken place at Langley
Castle on 24th February as planned.
2.
The talk by Iain
Hulland on 4th March, based on a collation of research carried out
by the late Peter Hills, was well received.
3.
The 2023 Culloden Anniversary memorial Service
over the Easter weekend was attended by Hon. President John Nicholls MBE who
laid a wreath on behalf of The Fifteen, The Northumbrian Jacobite Society.
The Rest of the Year....
1.
The next talk on
June 24th will be in St Mary’s RC Church Hall, Hexham at 11am for
11.30am – details still to be arranged.
2.
A Summer Social gathering
and “picnic” is planned for Saturday 15th July at The Riding, Acomb,
NE46 4PE, courtesy of Charles and Tina Enderby.
3.
The joint
gathering of the 1715 and 1745 Associations has been organised by Frank
Morgan-Grant for 14th – 17th September. The details and
programme have already been sent out to members. It culminates with a formal
dinner on Saturday 16th September in Carlisle and therefore, for
2023 only, there will be no Society Annual Dinner.
4.
On Saturday 21st
October a Capon Tree Memorial event is planned at Brampton in conjunction with
the Royal British Legion – full details still to be arranged.
5.
The last talk of
the year will be on Saturday, 11th November, 11am at St Mary’s RC
Church and will be by Steve Watts on Beaufront Castle.
6.
The Christmas
Social hopefully planned for Saturday, 9th December at Dilston is
still to be confirmed as the position regarding access is still unknown.
8. Programme
plans for 2024 – so far
1.
Friday 23rd
February - Our normal February Lunch at Langley Castle and Wreath Laying at the
Derwentwater Cross event.
2.
Saturday 8th
March 2024 – Ian Hulland’s follow-up Part II Talk on Peter J. Hills on “The Jacobite
Rising: The Developing Historical Perspective”
3.
Saturday 22nd
June – Cameron Fleming’s talk on The 1715 Jacobites in Lancashire
4.
Saturday 13th
July - Summer Social - The Riding Garden picnic
5.
Aug/Sept dates
are yet to be announced – possibly a 3-day/2-night trip to the Cartmel area in
Cumbria. Possible activities could be
a. Muncaster Castle etc
b. Wigan Museum of Life (Jacobite artefacts etc)
c. Preston town Battle tour etc
6.
Annual Dinner
sometime in October
7.
Saturday 19th
October – Capon Tree Memorial
8.
Saturday 16th
November – last talk of the year yet TBA
9.
December – date
TBA – a Christmas Social
9. Acton
Memorial
One of our members
based in the south of England raised the subject of restoration of the Acton
Memorial. The plaque is not only showing
the passage of time, but it is incorrect with spelling mistakes. Members were asked whether there was an
interest in pursuing this and possibly contributing financially. Members present were reluctant to do so on
the basis that the memorial is not in the North East. However, it was suggested that the local
authority be contacted to ascertain their current views, and budget.
10. Any
Other Business
·
The Chairman made
the position regarding Barclays Bank a bit clearer. After much bother things
were at last now going OK (or at least better).
·
He also mentioned
that the Society’s constitution needs looking at as it has not been reviewed
since 2011.
·
Francis
Morgan-Grant mentioned that if there were to be any profit made from the
September 1715/1745 Gathering, it would be split between both societies.
11. Close
There
being no further business, the Chairman warmly thanked members for attending
and the meeting was brought to a close at 12.30pm
MINUTES of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Parts 1
and 2)
held On-line
via ZOOM on Saturday, 24th April 2021 at 11 am (Part 1) and 12 noon
(Part 2)
Attendees on-line: Roland Finch, Hon. Chairman; Elizabeth Finch,
Hon. Treasurer/Membership Secretary; Jan Lawson, Minutes Secretary/Assistant
Membership Secretary; Lorraine Hunter, Social Events Secretary; Susan Ketelaar; Frank and Gwenneth
Morgan-Grant; Eileen Elliot; Douglas Smith; Edward Toll; Mike Nevin; Caroline
and Tim Cliffe; Morris Muter; Phil
Thirkell; Abbot Geoffrey Scott (Patron)
PART 1 commenced at 11am
1.
Welcome
The Chairman welcomed everyone to this
year’s AGM via Zoom and thanked members for attending in these unusual
circumstances.
2. Apologies for Absence
Apologies
were received and accepted from: John & Elizabeth Nicholls; Sheila Lonie;
John & Madeline Bell; Pam Malkin; Jean Rowntree; Freddie Everatt; Freddie
Bremble; Elizabeth Balfour-Kinnear; Jennifer McNish; Jim & Ann Wardle.
3. Minutes
of the AGM held on 11 May 2019
The Minutes were unanimously accepted as a true record.
4.
Matters Arising
There
were no specific matters raised.
5. Treasurer’s
Report was unanimously
agreed.
The
Treasurer reported that the accounts submitted are from January 2019 to date.
If members have any questions with regard to the accounting they are asked to
contact the Treasurer direct.
Members will
see that the Society has a shortfall due to the enforced inactivity at the moment.
However, we can hope for better times ahead.
6.
Membership
Secretary’s Report
Membership
– currently we have 93 paid up members, mostly local but with many from
Scotland, south of England and abroad. We are still getting new members via
Facebook (we have 800+ followers!) and our own website.
7.
Appointment
of Officers and Committee
New
Officers were appointed: Francis Morgan-Grant, Events & Programming
Secretary; Gwenneth Morgan Grant, Committee Member. Existing Committee members agreed to stand
for re-election. These appointments were
proposed by Tim Cliffe, seconded by Susan Ketelaar and unanimously agreed.
8.