Annual General Meeting – 30 March, 2005

Thirty-nine members of the High Country History Group were present at the Annual General Meeting held in the Toot Hill Village Hall.

The main points from formal business of the meeting were:

Current membership is slightly below 100. The chairman stated that it was important for maintaining evening audiences that membership be restored to a level above 100. All members should try to recruit a member.

Accounts were presented. The accounts showed the group to have increased its reserves. However, some speakers had given their services freely, on the understanding that donations are made in lieu, and these donations had still to be made. Insurance had been paid twice in the year; this put right a minor anomaly in the accounts – insurance is now paid for the current year instead of being one year behind. Nevertheless, it had been decided by the committee not to raise subscriptions for the year 2005/6.

Ann Padfield had indicated her wish to retire from the committee. The rest of the committee were re-elected to their present positions. Richard Brady joined the committee.

The chairman thanked all the committee for their support during the year.

After the meeting, Peter Moring indicated his wish to join the committee. The intention is to co-opt Peter onto the committee in due course.

The meeting was followed by members’ contribution to the evening in the form of local, historical reminiscences.

There were enthusiastic contributions about:

1. bombing raids in the Mediterranean during WWII;
2. street lighting, or lack of it, in Theydon Bois;
3. Essex in World War I; and
4. a family history etc.

The intention is to write up notes on these to be published in the next newsletter.

Finally, cheese and wine brought the evening to a convivial close.