As you have heard from Penny the club is in good financial shape again this year. The accounts show the bar sales increased by £14k from the previous year. My aim was to continue to build on hard work of the past Presidents. The surplus from my year will go towards the continuation of our ambitious refurbishment.
Building Works
This brings me on to the improvements we have made this year which include the new heating/cooling system, replacement of the table tops, changing some of the lighting in the hall and the installation of the new hand dryers. We also purchased a defibrillator and staff and most committee members have now been trained how to use it. We aim to continue to improve things in the coming year -on the agenda - to replace the urinals in the gents’ toilets with a water based system, replace the ceiling tiles, decorate the main hall, replacing the curtains with blinds - the list goes on!
Membership
Current membership stands at 256 renewed full members with 7 who have not renewed nor responded to reminders and there are 3 vacancies.
There are now 30 temporary members and we have 32 on the waiting list.
Thank you
I would like to say a big thank you to every single person on the committee they work so hard putting in many hours behind the scenes to keep the club running.
In particular I would like thank Paul Osborne, he has supported me so much during my year. He is such a wonderful man, so creative and handy, be it building props for the panto or new stalls for the fete. At Christmas I gave him his biggest challenge to date by asking him to create the clubs first ever grotto. I wasn’t expecting too much but boy did he (and Santa’s little helper Gordon Schofield) surprise me, it was fabulous and it was lovely to see the children’s faces light up when they went to visit Santa (aka Roger).
I would also like to thank Lesley and Paul Barnden for being my rocks for listening to me when I had a few low moments. They have become very good friends.
I’d like to thank Andy Green for his input into the entertainment and giving me some top advice … he’s a very wise man.
John Wademan for helping me out with the stage set up and for the endless posters I asked him to design (there were many).
The very patient Chris Jenkins who put on endless discos for me, complementing the live music acts …. he saved the day on the UB40 night …. more on that later, he is also one of the most experienced on committee members who I relied upon during my year.
I would also like to thank Charlie for his tremendous cuisine skills – if you were here on mother’s day you would agree how fantastic the food was although I did hear through the grapevine that he did a very good impression of Gordon Ramsey that day.
Steve and Lyn, as always thank you for all your hard work behind the scenes and for Roger to keeping us on the straight and narrow. Sadly (for us), Lyn has completed her 5 years on the committee and is going to take a break for a while I am sure you all join me in wishing Lyn all the very best. I would like to present Lyn with some flowers. Roger is also stepping down as Secretary after 17 years of service; I would also like to thank him for all his hard work over the years. I have a little present for him too!
Alan Jenkins, for his hard work producing and directing the Panto and to Neil Francis for all his technical skills.
I would like to thank the entertainments committee for all their hard work, ideas and support you have all given me over the past year. I really appreciate your input.
I would also like to thank the trustees and other helpers Phil Dunk, Adam Dunk, Rosie Veck, Kerry Mathieson, Gina Celestine, Debbie Barnes, Gayle and Andy, Charmian for all their hard work and support.
Nigel Farrar for keeping the website, twitter and face book up to date.
My biggest thank you has to be to the bar staff. I am sure Anna would agree it’s been a hectic year. Without our bar staff the club wouldn’t be what it is today. Thank you to Anna, Holly, Zoe, Dee, Reg, Tanya, Rose and Karen. You’re all amazing.
I would like to thank each and every member and their families for giving me encouragement during the year. I’ve met and got to know some old and new members and have enjoyed their company very much. Especially the families #clublife.
Entertainment
I have tried to put on different types of entertainment to cater for all members.
We had our old favourites for example, the beer and wine festival, Panto, Presidents and Christmas dinners, the beach party, race night and the children’s parties to name a few.
I also introduced some brand events e.g. Casino night (although pinched the idea from past presidents), Mother’s day luncheon, Sunday afternoon entertainment, Poker Night, Ska Night. I introduced Music in the Month, FREE events which included Katy Grace, Dave Barrett, Joe Butt and who can forget the fabulous Elvis tribute act.
I have also tried to promote local talent, we recently had Jerry Williams (singer songwriter) from Milton perform.
Some fantastic nights I am sure you will all agree. However, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. If you were here for the Ali Campbell (aka UB40) then it was a bit of a disaster …. The performer turned up very late, the first performance was a little shaky and the food wasn’t quite up to scratch. If Chris Jenkins wasn’t there to DJ at the beginning of the evening, then I am sure I would have had a riot on my hands. I could feel the unrest in the room but my sister-in-law Rachael and Members Sarah Rose and Lisa Williams came to my rescue. They really got behind the evening and got everyone up on the dance floor and we ended up having a really good time. So thank you to them.
Members no longer with us
I would like us all to take a moment to remember the Members who sadly passed away during the past year. Past President of many years Ian CHINNERY sadly passed away in August, Ronald JEFFERY, passed away in December and Jim BAKER passed away a few days ago. I would like to send our kind thoughts to their families.
Charity
We raised over £2,000 (still counting) for my charities MS and British Heart foundation. I would like to thank you for your generosity. These charities are close to my heart.
Bar
Charlie can’t be here tonight but I would like to thank him for the great job he has done in the role of bar liaison.
Wine
We now have a varied selection of wines after it was brought to my attention that some Members were not happy with the selection and/or pricing of the wine. I decided to put on a wine tasting evening. Which was great fun, and as direct result of that evening we now have 3 of the top wines tested on that evening on sale behind the bar. The cheapest bottle a rose wine now priced at just £6.40. We will continue to work on the wine selection in the coming year.
Final thoughts and reflection
I am so glad Lesley Bleach asked me to be her Vice President. It was my first time on the committee in her year and after being an ex-treasurer of a local charity and qualified accountant having experience dealing with such diverse personalities, I thought I would be a breeze. Well, I was wrong, some meetings have been very difficult, on the odd occasion very frustrating for me, but overall it has been all worth it. I have received some amazing feedback from the Members and trustees. Asked would I do it again NEVER ………………. SAY NEVER!!!
I’ve kept my final thank you to the end. Thank you to my family and to my husband Brian – I’m sorry for neglecting you all over the past year.
I wish Charlie and Lesley all the very best for next year.
Thank you
Sonia
Building Works
This brings me on to the improvements we have made this year which include the new heating/cooling system, replacement of the table tops, changing some of the lighting in the hall and the installation of the new hand dryers. We also purchased a defibrillator and staff and most committee members have now been trained how to use it. We aim to continue to improve things in the coming year -on the agenda - to replace the urinals in the gents’ toilets with a water based system, replace the ceiling tiles, decorate the main hall, replacing the curtains with blinds - the list goes on!
Membership
Current membership stands at 256 renewed full members with 7 who have not renewed nor responded to reminders and there are 3 vacancies.
There are now 30 temporary members and we have 32 on the waiting list.
Thank you
I would like to say a big thank you to every single person on the committee they work so hard putting in many hours behind the scenes to keep the club running.
In particular I would like thank Paul Osborne, he has supported me so much during my year. He is such a wonderful man, so creative and handy, be it building props for the panto or new stalls for the fete. At Christmas I gave him his biggest challenge to date by asking him to create the clubs first ever grotto. I wasn’t expecting too much but boy did he (and Santa’s little helper Gordon Schofield) surprise me, it was fabulous and it was lovely to see the children’s faces light up when they went to visit Santa (aka Roger).
I would also like to thank Lesley and Paul Barnden for being my rocks for listening to me when I had a few low moments. They have become very good friends.
I’d like to thank Andy Green for his input into the entertainment and giving me some top advice … he’s a very wise man.
John Wademan for helping me out with the stage set up and for the endless posters I asked him to design (there were many).
The very patient Chris Jenkins who put on endless discos for me, complementing the live music acts …. he saved the day on the UB40 night …. more on that later, he is also one of the most experienced on committee members who I relied upon during my year.
I would also like to thank Charlie for his tremendous cuisine skills – if you were here on mother’s day you would agree how fantastic the food was although I did hear through the grapevine that he did a very good impression of Gordon Ramsey that day.
Steve and Lyn, as always thank you for all your hard work behind the scenes and for Roger to keeping us on the straight and narrow. Sadly (for us), Lyn has completed her 5 years on the committee and is going to take a break for a while I am sure you all join me in wishing Lyn all the very best. I would like to present Lyn with some flowers. Roger is also stepping down as Secretary after 17 years of service; I would also like to thank him for all his hard work over the years. I have a little present for him too!
Alan Jenkins, for his hard work producing and directing the Panto and to Neil Francis for all his technical skills.
I would like to thank the entertainments committee for all their hard work, ideas and support you have all given me over the past year. I really appreciate your input.
I would also like to thank the trustees and other helpers Phil Dunk, Adam Dunk, Rosie Veck, Kerry Mathieson, Gina Celestine, Debbie Barnes, Gayle and Andy, Charmian for all their hard work and support.
Nigel Farrar for keeping the website, twitter and face book up to date.
My biggest thank you has to be to the bar staff. I am sure Anna would agree it’s been a hectic year. Without our bar staff the club wouldn’t be what it is today. Thank you to Anna, Holly, Zoe, Dee, Reg, Tanya, Rose and Karen. You’re all amazing.
I would like to thank each and every member and their families for giving me encouragement during the year. I’ve met and got to know some old and new members and have enjoyed their company very much. Especially the families #clublife.
Entertainment
I have tried to put on different types of entertainment to cater for all members.
We had our old favourites for example, the beer and wine festival, Panto, Presidents and Christmas dinners, the beach party, race night and the children’s parties to name a few.
I also introduced some brand events e.g. Casino night (although pinched the idea from past presidents), Mother’s day luncheon, Sunday afternoon entertainment, Poker Night, Ska Night. I introduced Music in the Month, FREE events which included Katy Grace, Dave Barrett, Joe Butt and who can forget the fabulous Elvis tribute act.
I have also tried to promote local talent, we recently had Jerry Williams (singer songwriter) from Milton perform.
Some fantastic nights I am sure you will all agree. However, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. If you were here for the Ali Campbell (aka UB40) then it was a bit of a disaster …. The performer turned up very late, the first performance was a little shaky and the food wasn’t quite up to scratch. If Chris Jenkins wasn’t there to DJ at the beginning of the evening, then I am sure I would have had a riot on my hands. I could feel the unrest in the room but my sister-in-law Rachael and Members Sarah Rose and Lisa Williams came to my rescue. They really got behind the evening and got everyone up on the dance floor and we ended up having a really good time. So thank you to them.
Members no longer with us
I would like us all to take a moment to remember the Members who sadly passed away during the past year. Past President of many years Ian CHINNERY sadly passed away in August, Ronald JEFFERY, passed away in December and Jim BAKER passed away a few days ago. I would like to send our kind thoughts to their families.
Charity
We raised over £2,000 (still counting) for my charities MS and British Heart foundation. I would like to thank you for your generosity. These charities are close to my heart.
Bar
Charlie can’t be here tonight but I would like to thank him for the great job he has done in the role of bar liaison.
Wine
We now have a varied selection of wines after it was brought to my attention that some Members were not happy with the selection and/or pricing of the wine. I decided to put on a wine tasting evening. Which was great fun, and as direct result of that evening we now have 3 of the top wines tested on that evening on sale behind the bar. The cheapest bottle a rose wine now priced at just £6.40. We will continue to work on the wine selection in the coming year.
Final thoughts and reflection
I am so glad Lesley Bleach asked me to be her Vice President. It was my first time on the committee in her year and after being an ex-treasurer of a local charity and qualified accountant having experience dealing with such diverse personalities, I thought I would be a breeze. Well, I was wrong, some meetings have been very difficult, on the odd occasion very frustrating for me, but overall it has been all worth it. I have received some amazing feedback from the Members and trustees. Asked would I do it again NEVER ………………. SAY NEVER!!!
I’ve kept my final thank you to the end. Thank you to my family and to my husband Brian – I’m sorry for neglecting you all over the past year.
I wish Charlie and Lesley all the very best for next year.
Thank you
Sonia