OLD EDWARDIANS ASSOCIATION OF SHEFFIELD

Annual General Meeting held at King Edward VII School Library on Thursday 8^th December 2005 commencing 7 pm

PRESENT:

John Phillips (President), Michael Lewis (Headteacher), David Pollard, Don Nicolson, Robert Townsend, Simon Spurr, Gillian Peter, Clare Barnett, Bryan Morgan, John Clark, John Cornwell, Ann Smith.    

APOLOGIES

Brian Hall, Peter Cowling, David Cook, Chris Meakin, Barry  Redfearn, Graham Ball, Eric Sivil, Clive Tiddy, Robert Jackson, David Kirkman, David Anderson.

The President opened the meeting with a welcome to all and thanked the school for the use of the library

1.       PREVIOUS MINUTES      

Agreed

2.       PRESIDENT’S REPORT

This past year has been well spent in rebuilding the organisation and appointing a committee to represent all age groups.  We are grateful, therefore, that Robert Townsend, Simon Spurr (left KES in 1986/7), Gillian Peter and Clare Barnett (left in 1993) have joined the committee to represent the ‘younger’ end, and David Kirkman (left in 1953) representing the ‘older’ end.

The Association has kept in close contact with the school as well as attending the leavers’ assembly, from which we normally gain about 15 new members every year.  However in this centenary year we have 65 new members, most of whom are on e-mail.  Grateful thanks to Don Nicolson for re-organising the membership list and keeping this up to date.  Also thanks for organising the OE Website, which currently has about 69 visits every day.

The annual dinner at Baldwins was well attended (165) and due to the momentum in terms of membership during the centenary, we hope to fill it to capacity (220) in 2006.

Over the centenary weekend there were nearly 800 in attendance on the Saturday night; the event, organised by the school, was very successful and much appreciated by the Old Edwardians who attended (as was the bar in the Dining Room!).  The Sunday Lunch at Abbeydale was also a successful event, with 150 in attendance.

The KES book, compiled by John Cornwell, has now sold over 700 copies (the hard backed version sold out within 3 days), and the Old Edwardians were thanked once more for their contribution towards the success of this book.

The ‘restoration fund’ which was informally launched over the centenary weekend has nearly £3,000 in donations, and after the formal launch in January next year, we hope this figure will greatly increase. We now have a recommended restorer who has quoted an economic price for this, but there will also be other costs associated with taking the portrait down - transport, re-siting etc.  However, we hope to have enough funding to begin the restoration, with a completion scheduled for the end of the summer term, and an official unveiling ceremony at the school.

The Headteacher suggested another project – the restoration of the organ – and he is currently in touch with an OE who is an electrical engineer and who will look at the wiring early next year.  The Headteacher will let the OE Association have this information when it is available.

3.       TREASURER’S REPORT

Attached, below.  The administration costs were high this year, due to the centenary events, printing etc.  Once the Centenary lunch has been paid for, any surplus will be put towards the restoration appeal.  The new plaque, in the vestibule, is being partially funded by private contributions from a few Old Edwardians.

4.       ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following appointments were proposed to the meeting, and duly elected:

President & Treasurer                      :           John Phillips

Communications Officer                  :           David Pollard

Membership Secretary                     :           Don Nicolson

Admin Officer                                    :           Ann Smith

Committee Member                         :           Simon Spurr

Committee Member                         :           Rob Townsend

Committee Member                         :           Gillian Peter

Committee Member                         :           Clare Barnett

Committee Member                         :           David Kirkman

5.       PROGRAMME FOR 2006

Response to the OE Newsletters has been positive.  The next Newsletter will be sent out February together with the invite to the Annual Dinner, which will take place on Maundy Thursday, 13^th April, and this time will include a live band, after the dinner, in a separate room. The Headteacher was pleased that the Y13s were to be invited to attend again, at a subsidised cost, as it was very much appreciated in 2005. A poster will be displayed in school nearer the time.  Information will be sought from OEs on whether the Newsletters/Dinner invites can be sent by e-mail (to keep admin costs down) or through the post.

The Head of Sixth Form and the Headteacher will liaise with the OEs with the intention of having an assembly earlier in the school year, specifically aimed at membership of the Association.

Unfortunately, due to several reasons, the promised cricket match did not take place, but this will definitely happen in 2006 – and arranged on a date which does not clash with World Cup matches.

The AGM will be arranged for November 2006.

6.       ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None.

There being no further business, the President thanked those in attendance for their contributions, and most retired for a restorative drink to Aunt Sally's, formerly Lynwood House. There we were joined by Barry Robinson (49-55) and Alan Gregory (62-68), OEs who had met by complete chance in Winnipeg in the 80s.

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 2005