The 88th Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 7th November from 8:30 pm at Chester Road Sports and Social Club, hosted by President Keith Weston.
Summarising his year in office, retiring President Keith Weston said that it had been a very busy and successful period, with many highlights – the gift of the Millennium sundial to the School, and the election of Pat Yarnold as the first Old Carolian School Governor featuring large. He was delighted with the support that he had received from the members of the Committee for all of the social events organised, and was particularly grateful to Martin Humphries and Ken Garbett.
The Annual Dinner had been held at the School again, and had been an excellent evening, with representatives of the Old Elizabethans, the Old Wolvernians and the Old Foleyans present. The Summer barbecue, held again at the Rugby Club, had been particularly successful, with good support from members and excellent catering from 'the staff'. He gave his very best wishes to the incoming President, Peter Guy, for a happy and successful term in office.
Treasurer Peter Picken reported that a surplus of £383.76 had been made on the social events, but that the Association had incurred costs of £822 for the repairs to the clock and the purchase of the sundial. These exceptional items led to expenditure outweighing income for this year. He thanked Ken Garbett for his work in selling advertising for the Magazine, and Martin Easton for taking over the administration of the Harry Train and the Old Carolian Leaving Scholarship funds from John Booth. Martin Humphries was thanked for his most efficient management of the website.
Peter Guy was elected President, and deemed it a 'great honour'. He said that he would like to continue to widen the membership, it was hoped with everyone’s help. Tony Newbould was elected as Vice-President, with Martin Humphries re-elected as Secretary, Peter Picken as Treasurer, and Norman Broadfield as Auditor and Magazine Editor. The rest of the Committee continued unchanged, with the exception of Don Durham, who was standing down after many years of service, and Geoff Hayes.
In 'any other business', John Booth said that he had been looking back at records from 1912, and thought that consideration should be given to the appointment of a chairman for a three-year period, a Summer Reunion, and a Committee Dinner. Brian Gittins said that there had been a successful Dinner held some 26 years ago for former Presidents and he would be happy to help in the organisation of a new one. The meeting closed in good spirits, with enthusiasm high and membership expanding.
Apart from those offices already mentioned, the rest of the current Committee comprises John Atkinson, Davina Bason, Tony Bishop, John Booth, Alan Brooks, Martin Easton, Ken Garbett, Martin Hobson, Tony Kidd, John Longmore and Keith Weston.