Apologies:
Anne Wykeham-Martin, Janet Heneghan, Margaret Stephenson, Fr
Richard Barton.
Minutes
of Previous AGM: The Minutes of the previous AGM were adopted.
Proposed:
Tricia Snape. Seconded: Peter Baister
Chairman’s
Report: Chairman’s Report
Another
very active year with one of our long- term ventures coming to a great
conclusion and our largest fund raising activity for some time.
Church
Building
Small
changes and alterations are planned but these are still seeking planning
and permission we will
discuss
in more detail when these are at a definitive stage.
In early October the ceiling by the new screen was repaired and
the outside coping stones near the screen were also repaired, this
curing the damp that had occurred.
The
Churchyard Cross and Lantern
After
all the years planning, discussions with our architect and numerous
meetings with the relevant
authorities
our contractor Ward & Co. carried out a superb job on the
restoration. I would like to
thank
Ed
Lee for the report he prepared for our Newsletter and the photographs
taken by Tony Barrett some of which we used in Ed’s report.
Church
grounds
The
work carried out by our party of volunteers has not only made the
grounds a peaceful garden to enjoy but their work again has achieved
another award this year from the RHS “Britain in Bloom Competition”.
We will continue to develop the gardens with their help.
Millennium
Pageant
In
order to produce and present the Pageant, because of it’s anticipated
expenses, it was necessary to raise funds and my how we did it!
The Concert performed by the children of Prior Park Prep School
was an evening to remember, not only raising money for the Millennium
project but also for the school’s pet charity – Helen House
Children’s Hospice. Our
own fund raising activity, “Proms in the Garden” was a tremendous
success in spite of the weather. The
work put in by everybody was unstinting and the generosity of Louise and
Seymour in allowing us to use their garden made it all possible. This
was so successful that a number of people asked for a repeat performance
next year or some time in the future.
I am not sure the organising team are as enthusiastic! The money
raised meant that Bernadette Yarnold could proceed with her innovative
production.
The
Pageant itself was presented on 9 and 10 October and was a resounding
success. Bernadette’s
concept
and production led us along a clearly defined path of the history of the
Church on the site at St
Mary’s
and the performance by the staff and pupils of PPPS will be remembered
for a long time. Our
heartfelt
thanks go to everybody involved in the whole event they can all be very
proud.
Fund
Raising Activities
Although
our main fund raising activities concentrated on the “Proms in the
Garden” there have been
other
events. The PPPS Concert,
Cricklade Festival Open Day at the Church, Coffee Morning at Brook
House,
sponsored Cycle Ride and various raffles.
The one omission this year was the Cricklade Show,
unfortunately
the Show was cancelled due to extremely wet weather during the run up to
the Show. We
are
however booked in and paid up for next year’s Show.
All events were financially successful and the
amounts
raised are clearly shown in the Treasurer’s Balance Sheet.
As
mentioned at the beginning of the report it has been an extremely active
and busy year made easier by the tremendous support of all those on the
Committee and other “Friends”. Our
Treasurer Kevin Allen stepped down during the year and the position was
filled by Tony Barrett. Our
thanks go out to Kevin for all the work over the years in looking after
our finances. Our thanks are
also extended to Tony for the smooth transition of the hand-over and the
way he has put his own mark on the presentation of the accounts.
It is hoped that Gerry Dudley and myself will present to both
Kevin and Cathy (for her great work on the Newsletter) a small gift in
the near future. I should
also like to give my thanks to our
Secretary
Gerry, for the tremendous amount of work she puts in to keep us all
informed and up to date.
For
those who have not recently looked at our website it is well worth a
re-visit. David Tetlow is
doing a
superb
job- and for that David thank you. Another
website worth visiting is the Clifton Diocesan website
when
with various links you can listen to Trish’s “podcast” on the
Pageant.
In
conclusion, thank you all for your support during the year and I look
forward to working with you for
another
year.
Eddie Condon 11.11.08
Treasurer’s
Report: See separate
Sheet.
The
Treasurer explained that because there are gaps in the financial
paperwork, he has been unable to get the accounts audited.
This will be rectified when the new signatories have been
forwarded to the Bank who will then furnish missing statements etc.
It was proposed that the completed accounts will be adopted at
the first Committee meeting of the Friends of St Mary’s which will
take place in January 2009.
Proposed:
David Tetlow. Seconded Peter
Baister.
The
matter of the Organ fund finances was raised.
The money raised has been held in The Friends account until such
time as payment for the new organ is necessary.
The
fundraising for the new organ has raised £5,420.
The cost of the organ will be £8,550.
Eddie Condon suggested that The Friends donate the sum of £580
to make the final contribution up to £6,000 which will mean that the
Parish will contribute the remaining £2,550.
Proposed
by David Tetlow and seconded by Seymour Aitken.
Bernadette
Yarnold asked if funds had been allocated to the proposed changes within
the building of the church. Eddie
Condon explained that the changes were currently only in the planning
stage. Planning Permission and
Diocesan Authorisation had not yet been obtained and therefore costings
could not be obtained. However,
The Friends would only be required to contribute some of the
costs
incurred and that the major financial responsibility would be on Parish
funds.
Election
of Officers:
Eddie
Condon agreed to serve for one more year as Chairman
Tony
Barrett was duly installed as Treasurer due to the standing down of
Kevin Allen.
Gerry
Dudley agreed to serve for a further term as Secretary
Gerry
Dudley informed the meeting that Ann Wykeham-Martin had decided to stand
down from the Committee because of other commitments, but would be happy
to help in an Ad Hoc capacity when required. Eddie Condon
commented that Bernadette Yarnold, though not currently serving on the
Committee, would be very welcome at any meeting she feels she is able to
attend.
ANY
OTHER BUSINESS
Peter
Baister expressed concern that recently every Sunday after Mass,
parishioners have been requested to make a contributions to various fund
raising events, and that none of these appeared to be to any of the
current 3rd World Charity Appeals.
The
meeting was informed that recently the Parish had sent over £1,500 to a
Rwandan appeal and that we have regular OXFAM appeals which provide
assistance to these needy causes.
Eddie
Condon suggested that 2009 should be a quiet year from the point of
view of Friends fundraising, since we have no immediate call on our
financial resources. It was
decided to take part in our three “regular” activities that bring in
small amounts into the Friends’ coffers.
They are: The
Cricklade Festival, The Cricklade Show and our usual Autumn Coffee
Morning. This was agreed by
all present.
Bernadette
Yarnold asked if there would be a marking of the 25th
anniversary of the resumption
Catholic
Worship at St Mary’s. It was
felt that this should be a Parish celebration and a purely social event,
with no pressure to raise funds, but that it should not be organised
through The Friends.
Louise
& Seymour Aitken presented the
Committee with a drawing of St Mary’s, by the late David Hoad.
David’s wife, Claire, had expressed the wish that it should be
used as the Committee see fit, to raise funds for St Mary’s.
Gerry Dudley was asked to send a letter of thanks to Mrs Hoad.
Tricia
Snape suggested that that a limited number of copies of the signed
drawing be made and sold and that one copy should be retained from which
such items as notelets or postcards could be made and offered for sale
to visitors etc. This was
considered a good idea and Eddie Condon agreed to find a suitable method
of copying etc.
Bernadette
Yarnold asked if the Committee had considered raising the Annual
Membership Fee. The
suggested amount was £10 from the current £5.
After discussion, it was felt that in the current national
financial crisis, it would not be prudent to raise the fee, but
possibly wait until next year and review the situation.
Peter
Baister raised the point that the booklet on The History of St
Mary’s needed to be brought up to date and improved with good colour
photographs etc. David Tetlow
agreed to forward the template to Peter and Tony Barrett agreed
to send some of the photographs he has of the interior and exterior of
St Mary’s to be incorporated into a new booklet.
Peter agreed to provide a template for the Committee to decide
on, and it was felt that the improved booklet could be sold for £2.50
instead of the current £1 charged.
Rene
McEvoy asked if there was any connection between the Abingdon Ct
Farm history and St Mary’s that might be included in the booklet, but
was informed by Bernadette Yarnold that the land in question was not
connected with St Mary’s, and would therefore not qualify for mention
in the church history.
The
meeting was shown a picture of St Mary’s which will be presented to
Kevin and Cathy Allen at an appropriate time, as a token of our thanks
for the work they have both undertaken for The Friends of St Mary’s.
This will be given to Kevin and Cathy once Eddie Condon has
contacted them to make the necessary arrangements.
The
meeting ended at 8.45 p.m.