The Sobell Bridge Club

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The MINUTES of the 15^th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held on Sunday 20^th May 2007 in the Michael Sobell Centre, Mount Vernon Hospital at 6.00 p.m.

Present: - Kevin Colling - Chairman

Ken Short - Vice Chairman

Ron Hooker - Hon Treasurer

Geoff Gray - Hon Secretary
Michael Tucker - Assistant Treasurer

Liz Crook - Liaison Officer

David Kilby - Playing Secretary

Daphne Santon - Session Manager

Phil Ryan - Session Manager

Len Turner - President

Brian Simmonds - Honorary Auditor

And 76 ordinary members.

1. Welcome by the President. Len Turner as President opened the meeting with a welcome to all present. He said the club had come a long way from the 1^st AGM, when the club had only 50 members. He introduced Rod Lacey, the new chairman of the Friends of Michael Sobell house, as a special guest. Rod had been instrumental and had done excellent work in the development of the new building. Len also gave a special welcome to Ethel Broughton, as member number 1.
   
   Rod Lacey spoke on behalf of the Friends, thanking the club for its contribution to the Friends over the years. The club was in its 15^th year, the charity in its 30^th. This last year the club had contributed £38,000, and the Friends gave the club a huge ‘thank you’, and Rod said the membership should give themselves a clap.
2. Apologies for absence were received from vice-president Joan Prior, committee member Jacquie North, and 55 ordinary members.
3. The minutes of the 14th AGM, held on the 14^th May 2006, were approved without alteration, proposed Phil Ryan, seconded Ethel Broughton.
4. The Chairman’s Report. Kevin Colling said that the club has raised lots of money for the Friends this year, well done to everyone. Bridgemates have become mostly successful after initial work. He expressed specific thanks to committee members Ron Hooker, Geoff Gray, David Kilby and Sharon Christie, and separately to George Howlett and Joan Prior for the work involved in running the weekends away.
   
   He commented about parking problems. We should restrict ourselves to the parking bays, and any complaints to session managers about being asked to move were unfair.
   
   Kevin finished by presenting another cheque for £5,000 to Rod Lacey, for the Friends.
5. The Treasurer’s Report. Ron Hooker went through the account summaries. He pointed out the following: -
   
   Evening attendances were down by £800.
   There had been a significant one-off expense of £6,000 for the Bridgemates, but this was offset by the fact we no longer pay rent on the Olwen Bettesworth Hall.
   We seem to have more people joining, but also more people not renewing, so these tend to balance.
   
   Overall this year, we have had a decrease in surplus of £8,000, but, given the circumstances and exceptional expenses; we have done well, and have been able to make significant contributions to the Friends.
   
   Ron finished by thanking Shirley and Michael Tucker, Ruby Stiles, Kevin Colling, Joan Knaggs and Ken Short for their help in collecting the fees.
   
6. Motion to Approve the Accounts. The accounts were approved, proposed John Wood, seconded Tony King.
7. The Hon Secretary’s Report. Geoff Gray stated that membership now stood at 465, a little less than last year.
   Geoff Gray thanked Liz Crook and her helpers for providing the buffet after the AGM.
8. Proposed Changes to the Constitution. Geoff Gray said that the committee had no changes to propose, and he had received no proposals from other members.
9. Election of Committee Members. Geoff Gray asked that the committee be re-elected en bloc. This was agreed, proposed Doug Edmonds, seconded Lynne Mathys.
10. Election of Honorary Auditor. Kevin Colling expressed his thanks to Brian Simmonds for his work. Brian Simmonds was re-elected, proposed George Howlett, seconded Michael tucker.
11. Any Other Formal Business. Ruby Stiles asked if the minutes and the accounts would appear on the website, Geoff Gray said they would. John Wood said we should express our thanks to Asaf as our webmaster.
    
    Isobel Williams asked that we should look for a replacement almoner, as she was no longer able to do the job decently. Kevin Colling responded that it was something the committee was considering, but it was good to see Isobel at the meeting, and up and about again.
    
    Brian Simmonds expressed thanks on behalf of the club to the committee for being a solid base to the club’s activities.
    

The formal meeting closed at 6.45 p.m., and was followed by the presentation of Championship Prizes.

George Howlett announced the prizewinners for the main sessions:

Broughton Trophy (Monday evening):

1^st Kevin Colling & John Wood

2^nd Phil Ryan & Looi Tan

3^rd Stan Figiela & David Kilby

Ethel Broughton presented the trophy and plaques

President’s Trophy (Tuesday evening):

1^st Kevin Colling & Catherine Stafford

2^nd Christine Richmond & Mike Gentry

Len Turner presented the trophy and plaques

L and R Trophy (Thursday evening):

1^st Kevin Colling and Catherine Stafford

2^nd Mike Gentry & Carina Young

3^rd Adrian L’Estrange & Ted Clark

Brian Simmonds presented the L and R Trophy and plaques

The trophies for the Friday afternoon sessions:

Pairs Trophy

1^st Martin Isham & Lucy Rees

2^nd Stephanie Hughes & Sue Ganney

Individual Trophies

1^st equal, Lucy Rees and Martin Isham

Daphne Santon presented the trophies.

It was noted that, following the recent death of Lucy Rees, from now on the Friday afternoon trophy would be known as the Lucy Rees Trophy.

Graham Trophy (Friday Evenings):

1^st Catherine Stafford & Mike Gentry

2^nd Fiona Frais & John Francis

Ken Short presented the trophy and plaques

ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

"An outbreak of "plaques" and a feeling of deja vue"

In keeping with tradition the Annual Presentation of Awards Ceremony for the Club took place on 20^th May following the Annual General Meeting. Master of Ceremonies George Howlett introduced the proceedings by telling members present that he could have advised the engraver of the permanent trophies "As last year please" as the winners for each trophy were identical. However he was pleased that, aided by the introduction of awards for third place for Monday and Thursday competitions (in view of two sessions on those evenings) several players had made the podium for the first occasion! He congratulated Ted Clark, Adrian L’Estrange, Sue Ganney, Stephanie Hughes, Looi Tan, Fiona Frais, John Francis, and Carina Young on their first appearance in the winners enclosure!

Sadly Lucy Rees the joint winner of the Friday Afternoon Individual Trophy

has died since her success and the Cup and her trophy were accepted

by joint winner Martin Isham. Lucy was a stalwart for many years of the Friday Afternoon event.

Plaques were presented for first and second place in all competitions and third place in the Broughton Trophy and L & R Trophy with permanent trophies to all winners by :-

L & R Trophy – Brian Simmonds (who presented the trophy to the Club)

Friday Afternoon Trophies - Daphne Santon Friday Afternoon Organiser

Broughton Trophy – Ethel Broughton (membership no. 1!)

Graham Trophy – Ken Short Club Vice Chairman

President’s Trophy – our President Len Turner.

2006/7 COMPETITIONS - RESULTS.

President Len Turner displays the Annual Awards

L & R TROPHY (Thursday evening)

1^st . . . 58.94% Kevin Colling and Catherine Stafford

2^nd . . . 56.83 Mike Gentry and Carina Young

3^rd . . . 53.85 Ted Clark and Adrian L’Estrange

4^th . . . 53.76 Ruth Allenby and Chris Richmond

5^th . . . 53.47 Brian Simmonds and Len Bartlett

Brian Simmonds present the trophy to Catherine Stafford and Kevin Colling – three times winners of the event.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION.

1^st= . . .562 MPs Lucy Rees and Martin Isham

3^rd . . . 518 Stephanie Hughes

4^th . . . 492 John Walsh

5^th . . . 391 Sue Ganney

FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS COMPETITION

1^st . . . 522 MPs Martin Isham and Lucy Rees

2^nd . . . 391 Stephanie Hughes and Sue Ganney

3^rd . . . 322 Jennifer Hay and Roland Lewis

4^th . . . 305 Roy Verden and Lilyane Weston

5^th . . . 293 Eileen and David Smithers

Martin Isham receiving First Place plaques for himself and Lucy Rees from Daphne Santon the Friday Afternoon organiser

BROUGHTON TROPHY (Monday evening)

1^st . . . 61.75% Kevin Colling and John Wood

2^nd . . . 57.42 Phil Ryan and Looi Tan

3^rd . . . 55.64 Stan Figiela and David Kilby

4^th . . . 55.098 Anne and Doug Edmonds

5^th . . . 55.096 Adrian L’Estrange and Ted Clark

Ethel Broughton presenting the Broughton Trophy to Kevin Colling and John Wood winners for the second year running.

GRAHAM TROPHY (Friday evening)

1^st . . . 59.80% Mike Gentry and Catherine Stafford

2^nd . . . 56.70 Fiona Frais and John Francis

3^rd . . . 51.72 Terry and Joan Butfield

4^th . . . 50.27 Geoff Gray and Jacquie North

Catherine Stafford and Mike Gentry winners for the third time in as many years receiving plaques from Vice Chairman Ken Short.

PRESIDENT’S TROPHY (Tuesday evening)

1^st . . . 58.78% Kevin Colling and Catherine Stafford

2^nd . . . 56.60 Chris Richmond and Mike Gentry

3^rd . . .54.22 Robin Pyburn and Doug Edmonds

4^th . . . 54.14 Colin Thomas and Eddie O’Sullivan

5^th . . . 53.59 Brian Simmonds and Len Bartlett

For the third year in succession President Len Turner presents the President’s Trophy to Catherine Stafford and Kevin Colling.

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Last Modified: 18 Nov 2008