The 111th Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 15th October from 8:30 pm at Chester Road Sports and Social Club, hosted by President Norman Broadfield.
The second Norman conquest, 2024–2025, was ended when Norman handed over to David Simons.
Norman began his President's review of the past year by comparing it with the first time he held office (ie, 1987–1988). In those days, the Association was completely different: all boys, a Grammar School, and no girls in sight! There were very strong links with the School through the Rugby and Cricket Clubs. Now, there are no sports teams, the Old Carolians Club in Church Street has long gone, the School has combined with Kidderminster High School for Girls and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Hartlebury (actually in 1977), and indeed former pupils of those schools are able to become Old Carolians.
Norman had been on the Association Committee for almost 40 years and, over that time, he had seen the numbers of the 'Old Guard' diminish. With this, the 'older members' who viewed the Association as a Woodfield body had lost only their side of the battle. Both of Norman's daughters had attended the combined school; he had been a Governor, Chairman of the PTA, and Chairman of the Roy Woodward Educational Foundation. Over recent years, he could see that the link between the Association and the School at times had become a little fragile; he saw that this bond needed to be strengthened!
Turning his attention to the social functions of the Association, Norman, despite acknowledging that they were not unsuccessful, was concerned about the declining number of attendees. Long gone are the days of 1988 when the first summer event was launched with 150 attendees, plus strawberries and cream and bubbly with the Town Band playing on the pavilion steps. A profit of £220 was a good figure for 37 years ago! The Association needed to give a good deal of thought to the challenge of attracting a new, larger and younger audience.
An innovation introduced this year has been the 'Think Tank'. Using Zoom, it has enabled further-flung members – Norman, to name one – to attend meetings and exchange ideas. A major thrust has been to become closer to the school again – generally acknowledged to be successful – and to implant the word 'Carolian' into the school 'psyche'. (As Chairman of the King Charles the First's School Foundation, I can see that this is bearing fruit as the school is starting to appreciate again what the Association and its related bodies can offer.)
Norman concluded by reminding members that he played rugby for the School against other schools, and then for the Old Carolians against the other schools’ Old Boys. Sadly, most of these bodies no longer exist or have dramatically changed. His final hope was that our Association does not suffer a similar disappearance!
The Treasurer's report followed, and the Annual accounts were presented and approved unanimously. It was noted that the annual income would rise, as more members paid the £10 subscription. After discussion, it was agreed that the Harry Train payments to students would remain as per last year. It was noted that the postage cost to send one magazine was about £2.40, and much more for overseas members. A new EU document (douane) needed to be completed. In response to a question about the boat purchase and the development of rowing in the school curriculum, Nigel Geary said that several things were in hand including the possibility of interim work with Stourport Rowing Club.
The meeting moved on to the appointment of Officers and Committee Members for the following year and, once again, there was unanimous support for the following proposals:
President: David Simons
Senior Vice-President: Dr Nigel Geary
Junior Vice-President: Nigel Worton
Secretary: vacant – as anticipated, Tim Gulliver was stepping down and a one-year arrangement would be discussed by the Committee; Tim would happily remain on the Committee as a Committee Member, however.
Treasurer: Peter Picken (but with assistance from Scott Jones)
Membership Secretary, and Website Administrator: Joel Douglas
Magazine Editor: Norman Broadfield
Auditor: Tony Kidd
Committee: Ruth Allen (ex officio), Tim Gulliver, John Hall, Stuart Harris, Louise Heath, Scott Jones, Arthur Miller and Stephen Wyer.
Norman then handed the official badge of office to David Simons and wished him well in his year as President.
Your Association needs you is my final plea in this report. There are vacancies on the Committee that need to be filled...
Richard Woolley – 2nd Domesday Book Correspondent