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BRIXMIS Association 24th AGM - 25 October 2008 Present
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) S C H Cleveland MBE RRF - Chairman Group Captain M Knight RAF Group Captain A J Pennington RAF (Ret’d) Wing Commander J G Elliott MBE RAF (Ret’d) WO I Jebson Mr D G Dawson Mrs S Warne Major (Ret’d) G H Greaves - Secretary
and 72 members and their partners.
Apologies
Major (Ret’d) W A Hogg Lieutenant General Sir John Foley, KCB, OBE, MC, DL and 115 members.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 1800 hours and thanked everyone for attending. He welcomed in particular those members present for the first time at an AGM: Danny Williamson and Eric Noble (although both had been to RAF Cosford in June), and their wives Jean and Barbara.
Formal thanks were also made to WO Ian Jebson for once again organising the AGM and dinner in the WOs & Sgts Mess. A letter of thanks would be sent to the Station Commander (Ian is also the CMC).
Prior to the meeting commencing, The Chairman reminded those present that only Ordinary (Full) members of the Association were entitled to vote on items discussed. Honorary and Associate members, and spouses/partners, were not, and it had been noted at recent meetings that they had, although it had not affected any decisions taken. This would be discussed later, with an amendment to the Constitution proposed.
1. Minutes of the 23rd AGM.
The minutes had been posted on the web site, and in addition were available at the meeting. The members were asked to approve the minutes as a true record.
Proposed: C Ayling Seconded: A Grant Approved unanimously.
2. Matters Arising
None were raised.
3. Hon Treasurer’s Report
The accounts for the period ending 30th September 2008 were presented to the meeting. They are in a slightly changed format, suggested by the Honorary Auditor, and include the asset of the Premium Bond.
The minus figure in the Data Base column is for the annual fees for the web site and the message board licence.
Even with the purchase of the Premium Bond, which came out of the Diamond Jubilee Fund, we still have a very healthy balance of just over £3,300.00 in the bank.
There were no questions from the floor. The meeting was asked to approve the minutes as a true record.
Proposed: P Johnston Seconded: M Colton Approved unanimously.
4. Hon Secretary’s Report
As detailed in the Newsletter, we have recruited 11 new members in the past 12 months. There is a possible new ‘mafia’ of drivers to rival Ted Moore’s, this time from the early 1950s, led by Danny Williamson, who has made it a personal ‘crusade’ to find as many as possible from that era. Two have since joined.
We sadly report the deaths of Freddy Bonnart, one of our earliest serving members (1946-47), Dick Ives and Jeff Lloyd. The Chairman and members stood for a minute’s silence in their memory.
5. Election of Committee
The Secretary reported that all but two of the current members were willing to stand again. Mark Knight (who has been promoted to Group Captain – congratulations to him), due to his serving commitments, and Bill Hogg, who is now permanently domiciled in Spain, have reluctantly tendered their resignations for those reasons. We have two volunteers to take their places: Rod Saar and Dave Cockburn.
The meeting was asked to approve the continuation of the remaining members en bloc.
Proposed: A Johnson Seconded: M Colton
Also, the election of Rod Saar and Dave Cockburn.
Proposed: P Johnston Seconded: E Moore
Both motions were approved unanimously.
6. Honorary Membership:
There are two applications for Honorary Membership:
‘Pip’ Jones - Widow of SSgt John Jones, Survey Specialist 1981-84
Proposed: A Johnson Seconded: M Colton
Liz Ives - Widow of Sgt Dick Ives, RE Tour NCO 1971-72
Proposed: Jean Eales Seconded: G Greaves
Both approved unanimously.
7. Voting Rights/Constitution Amendment
As mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, only Ordinary (Full) Members of the Association, i.e. those persons who were on the posted strength of the Mission, are entitled to vote at the AGM. In order to make this clear, an amendment to paragraph 6 of the Constitution was proposed, as follows:
‘Only Ordinary (Full) members are entitled to a vote’.
Proposed: S Cleveland Seconded: G Greaves Approved unanimously.
8. Commemorative Items
The Chairman apologised to the meeting, as although he had stated in the Newsletter that the items would be available at the AGM for collection, in fact they had still not arrived. The art work has been completed, bulk orders notified but manufacture will occur when 50% of their costs are sent to the manufacturers. Invoices will be sent to individuals as soon as possible. Each order will be accompanied with a relevant invoice, and cheques to be sent to the Secretary, made out to ‘The BRIXMIS Association’.
9. RAF 90th Anniversary Medallion
John Elliott mentioned that there had been interest shown in the medallion, which would cost £8.75 each. However, we need a minimum of 50 requests to place an order. A list would be available after the meeting, and those interested should append their names.
As well as interested members present at the meeting putting their names on the list, any not present should send an e-mail to HYPERLINK "mailto:john.elliott12@talktalk.net" \o "blocked::mailto:john.elliott12@talktalk.net" john.elliott12@talktalk.net or to the Hon Secretary if they want to register an interest. If we reach 50, John will make an order. At the time of these minutes, we have only 9 names on the list. If we do not make the 50 minimum number, members might consider contacting the company individually. It is at HYPERLINK "http://www.towermint.co.uk" \o "blocked::http://www.towermint.co.uk/" www.towermint.co.uk and the e-mail is HYPERLINK "mailto:info@towermint.co.uk" \o "blocked::mailto:info@towermint.co.uk" info@towermint.co.uk.
10. Spring Function
The Secretary asked that if any members had suggestions for venues, they should tell the Committee; they should include some background details (size, cost, catering arrangements, suggested date) already completed. Mark Knight reminded the Secretary that there are suitable facilities at RAF Coningsby, if it was decided to visit the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (which has a Chipmunk) as a possible venue. Tony Harrison has details of two possible venues, that he will send to the Secretary by email. (After Note: one is the Military Vehicle Trust, that has events throughout the year at different locations, and The War & Peace Show, at Paddock Wood (Kent) in July 2009.) Sandy Warne also mentioned the journalist Dave Richards, who gave a presentation to the Committee at their last meeting, of his article on the Senator for Classic Car magazine. She would send details of one of his society’s get-togethers.
11. Any Other Business
Sandy mentioned that she has football scratch cards available. 50% of the takings would go to the winner and 50% to the Association. (After note: £68.00 paid into the DJ fund from the night’s takings.)
Frank Naylor asked for feedback on the DVD showed during the evening, of some of the imagery that he had sifted.
Des Schofield mentioned that he was in the process of composing a BRIXMIS ‘march’, and asked if there would be merit in getting the band at RAF Northolt involved. He was encouraged to proceed and the Secretary asked if the Committee could be given a CD once completed.
Mick Thompson asked that a vote of thanks be recorded to the Committee for their work on behalf of the Association.
John Elliott mentioned that the film sifting was virtually completed, and the 35,000 cans had been reduced to about 3,500, most of which were now lodged with the Defence Museum at Chicksands.
Alex Grant mentioned that he had recently visited our tree at the NMA. It was growing well, but the plaque was weathering. The Chairman volunteered to attend to the matter, in liaison with the administration people there.
The meeting was closed at 1837 hours.
After note: The provisional date for the 2009 AGM is Saturday 31 October. |