DRAFT subject to ratification at 2017 AGM

SPECIALIST UNITS ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE 20th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 - GEORGE HOTEL LICHFIELD

MEMBERS PRESENT AND APOLOGIES

1.  68 (56 last year) members and guests attended the AGM, 36 attended the guided tour of the National Arboretum. 80 (76 last year) members and guests attended the Association dinner in the Garrick Room, George Hotel.

2.  Apologies were received from various members including Bruce Ferriman, Terry Randerson, Arthur McLean, Dave Barker, Keith Brownlie, Dave Rawlings, Ted Maley, Stan Smaller, Dave Ivell, Peter Bain, Keith James and Andrew Harvey.

BEREAVEMENTS

3.  The Chairman advised that the following Association members / comrades passed away in the last year;

a.  Major Maurice (Spike) Bernard TD BEM

b.  Capt / WO1Bernie Wiles 508 STRE

c.  WO2 Frank Bretland 130 Fd Sqn(V)

d.  WO2 Greg Bartlam RIP 24 March 16 RHQ 111. The Chairman will attend remembrance ceremony in Hinkley on 6th May 16.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES

4.  The minutes of the AGM in Liverpool on 19th April 2015 were accepted as a true record.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

5.  The Chairman gave his verbal report to the AGM, concentrating on the good health of the Association, 22 years on since establishment. His look ahead included Weymouth reunion in 2017 and further ahead to our Association 25th anniversary in 2019, potentially in RE Corps Headquarters, Chatham.

6.  The Chairman thanked the members present and Committee for their support and looked forward to meeting them again at the next function.

7.  The Chairman updated the AGM on the continued cooperation with 170 Engr Gp, Chilwell. The Chairman, Arthur McLean and Steve Brocklebank will maintain contact with 170 and consider options for newsletter and joint web portal cooperation. It was noted that Chilwell may close in the next year or two & a move to a new HQ location is anticipated.

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE

8.  The following committee members were re-elected;

a. Chairman - M F Kingsford

b. Vice Chairman - J E K Orr

c. Secretary - J C Hawthorne

d. Treasurer - T D Randerson

e. General & Logistics - B Ferriman, R Larcombe, W Bellerby, E Maley,

f. Chilwell Representative - S Brocklebank

g. Channel Island Representatives - B Rouxell & J Guibert

h. Senior Chilwell Representative - A McLean

i. Deputy Chairman & Web Master - A A Edwards

j. Membership Secretary - C Brocklebank.

l. Entertainments Manager - K Brownlie

m. Flags custodian - D Ivell

n. Mobility Champion – J Larcombe

9.  Peter Bain stepped down from the Committee as planned at Christmas but continues as member of the Association. The Chairman thanked Peter for his 22 year service on the Committee and contribution to the Association.

10.  The next Committee meeting will be held in Weymouth on Saturday 19th November 2016..

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

11.  The Association has an active list of 162 members, 61 of which pay the £5 annual subscription by standing order. The Secretary and the Membership Secretary will review & refresh the list of subscribers.

12.  The December mail shot to members will include an invite to the Year 2017 function in Weymouth.

13. The Membership Secretary advised that future mailshots including invites to the next annual function, will continue be sent out by email to reduce administration costs, or by post if no email address is held.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

14. The Treasurer, Terry Randerson prepared the financial statement to 31 December 2015 which was issued at the AGM. This confirmed that the General Purpose Fund was in credit with a balance of £2,227 (£1,769). The meeting formally approved the financial statement and thanked the Treasurer for his hard work in maintaining the necessary financial controls.

15. The income from the previous evening’s raffle was £450. The Chairman thanked Jeff Guilbert for running the raffle.

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

16. The 2014 AGM requested the Committee to consider options for Association name change and propose recommendation. The Committee proposed ‘Royal Engineers Specialist Units Association’ (RESU) name change for members’ consideration in 2015. The AGM unanimously voted to change the name as proposed.

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2017 AND FUTURE FUNCTIONS

17. As agreed at the 2015 AGM the Committee has undertaken a feasibility study of the Best Western Rembrandt Hotel Weymouth 2017 for the 21th Reunion event. This is now confirmed to be held over the weekend 31st March to 2nd April 2017. The weekend would include a coach trip visit to Wyke Regis RE bridging hard and Tank Museum, Bovington. The Chairman advised that the Committee would investigate other outings options at the Committee recce in November 2016.

18. Jeff Guilbert suggested a 2018 reunion event in either, Cyprus, Malta or Gibraltar, however no vote was taken.

WEB SITE

19. The Web Master gave his report and advised that our website hits increased from 250 to approximately 700 per month, now totalling approximately 20,000 hits since launch in December 2010.

20. The Web Master advised that photographs of interest to the Association are regularly uploaded to the website. Thanks goes to Sandy Gibson, who took photographs over the Lichfield weekend and the Web Master who will upload the photographs onto the website.

21. A draft copy of the AGM minutes and invite to Weymouth 2017 reunion will also be uploaded to the website.

OTHER BUSINESS

22. The President, Graham Edwards, informed the Committee that:

a.  The history of 170 Engr Gp is written, including extracts from the History of CVHQRE. However no date has been set for publishing as yet.

23.  The Chairman requested Bob Larcombe to order a further batch of our Association ties from Corps Enterprises and investigate for suitable Corps Enterprises attire for our ladies

NEXT MEETING

24. The next AGM will be held at the reunion weekend in Weymouth Sunday 2nd April 2017.

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