Minutes of A.G.M. held on the 12 February 2025 at St. Martins Church Hall, East Looe.
Chair, Alison Currah, welcomed everyone to the A.G.M. including new member Judith Norgett. The usual in-house safety regulations were read out.
Apologies:
Roger Ali, Harry Barnett, Geoff & Diana Barrell, Wendy Collins, Carole Day, Clive & Liz Dunstan, Vic Gregory, Linda Harwood, Clare & Barry Hobbs, Mary Keast, Jenny Mickelburgh, Val Mayers-Smith, Bernard & Janice Smith, Catherine (Kay) Smith, Rachel Symons, Lynne Taylor (Polperro), Sue Thomas, Nicky & Roger Thornhill, Jim and Iris Ward, Annie Watson, Brian & Denise Young.
Minutes of the last AGM
The Minutes for the AGM held on February 14th 2024, sent out to members 21 days prior to the AGM, were approved by the membership present. Proposed: Rod Pritchard. Seconded: Dot Dunning.
Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
Chairman’s Report:
“This will be my last report as Chair of this fine organisation. For me, this last year has been, one of mixed emotions. It’s always a joy to attend Monthly meetings; to be greeted by happy enthusiastic members, to be informed and educated by our speakers and then, on other occasions, to be delighted in the many and varied social events but much of the year has been overshadowed with concerns about the future. The main question being, ‘How can we, the Committee keep one of the most successful and important organisations in Looe going without volunteers to lead?’ And although it is a shared responsibility, ultimately the Chair is in charge and responsible and that weight of responsibility has felt great.
Despite these ongoing worries however, our u3a has, once again, had a very successful year.
Membership has been stable at just under 200 with a steady stream of new members.
Learn, Laugh, Live is the u3a motto and we have certainly done that!
Our speakers have informed and entertained with stories of the radio station in St Erth during WW2 and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. We had visits from real live greyhounds and bees and beavers (eventually!) and albeit on screen in the latter two. We went along the Silk Roads in Armenia, Iran and Uzbekistan and visited Southern Puglia. And who wasn’t fascinated by a talk about Mirrors. Speakers for 2025 are set to be another eclectic mix.
As always, our Events Programme has been varied, well-attended and above all fun. We have laughed! From lying on bean bags gazing at the vastness of space in the Devonport Dome to supper on a Murder Mystery evening on the Bodmin steam train. We ate and drank in abundance at our Spanish evening, the Midsummer picnic, Looe Valley Vineyard, our Summer Feast, Christmas lunch and finally last month with excellent fish and chips at the quiz night. We did learn too! When we visited the Recycling from waste energy plant and on a backstage tour of Plymouth Theatre Royal. We also, as a committee, said thank you to our Group Leaders with a lunch and welcomed our new members with a special ‘Welcome Evening’.
The Events team under the leadership of co-ordinator Chris Barwell ran an amazing set of events. It doesn’t stop when the event is booked! There are the tickets to make and sell, the license to obtain, the bar to organise and run, the food to book, collect, or, on several occasions, make, the hall to set up, decorate and then the clearing up! And that’s just the events that happen here! Our thanks go to Chris and her team Jackie Pritchard, Jenny Barker, Andrea Brocklebank and Linda Harwood. Linda is not here today and has decided to step down from the Committee, but she wrote the Minutes for a while and made an excellent parking attendant. We will miss her.
Our Interest groups have continued to provide companionship, learning and fun for our members throughout the year.
Chris who also runs the Tunes in the Afternoon group reports, ‘Our band of cheerful singers started the year with a performance! Not something we normally aspire to, as we like to sing just for pleasure, but as it was Scottish Night at the U3A we shared our Scottish repertoire, accompanied by our ukulele players and our regular pianist Fiona. Meeting fortnightly at the Looe Bowling Club we have sung a variety of songs throughout the year, ranging from folk and shanty to calypso and spirituals, to Beatles and Abba …and sometimes comic songs just for the fun of it! Our numbers range from 10 to 20, both men and women and all voices welcomed, and there’s always a good attendance at our end of term parties!’
Yvonne who has successfully run the Ukulele group for several years said, ‘Ukulele’s have played at Polperro Christmas Light Switch on, Atlantis Care home, Polperro Music Festival, Old Cornwall Society Trelawny day and Crying the neck and at their Christmas Party. We feel we have had a very successful year although with no new members. The new Group leader for 2025 is Vic Gregory and all enquiries should be made through him.’
I can personally attest that the Book club is flourishing with up to 15 members reading a wide and eclectic mix of books, having full and stimulating discussions about what we’ve read accompanied by tea and cake!
And, although I haven’t received reports from any of the other groups, I know that they are doing well simply because of their longevity; they’re obviously well-loved by those that attend.
But there’s always room for more and full support will always be given to those who might wish to get a new group off the ground.
And to the Committee. Throughout the year and some difficult times, the Committee has been supportive, steadfast and committed to moving forward. Losing our dear Laurie Watson as Secretary was a great blow in more ways than one; his experience and sense of humour are still sorely missed, but I know that he would want Looe & District u3a to continue. I think we owe it to him and all those founder members (many of whom are no longer with us) and all those that have volunteered and given their time and energy to the committee, to keep our u3a going.
Huge thanks go to Rob Nevshehir, our Treasurer, who, as always, has kept all things financial firmly under control. It’s been a tough year for him too, as, on top of the routine monthly accounts, the number of event cancellations has meant a lot of extra work arranging the many refunds aided by Chris as Events Coordinator. Stepping down from the Treasurer role, he remains on the Committee, and has pledged his support to Jenny Phillips, should she be elected as our new Treasurer.
Angela Cadman, our membership Secretary also deserves recognition for her hard work throughout the year collecting membership forms, organising subscriptions, signing you all in and out at meetings and sending out my emails to all 184 members. She is very efficient and modest about her contribution but without her, in these days of essential online communication methods, the running of our organisation would grind to a halt. Thank you so much, Angie.
As well as heading events, Chris Barwell, has been my Vice Chair for 3 years and she’s always been there to support me whenever I’ve needed it. Thank you, Chris.
And last, but by no means least, my thanks go to Marilyn, our Welfare Officer, for sending out the many cards to members ill and recuperating, and to pass on our collective condolences to the bereaved which, unfortunately, have been too many.
They are a wonderful team, and I’d like them to stand so you can show them all your appreciation too.
Finally, it has been my honour and privilege to serve as Chair of Looe & District u3a and join the illustrious alumni of past Chairs. I never imagined when I joined the organisation several years ago that I would end up here. It’s been a lot of hard work but also extremely rewarding. I thank you all for your support and ask that over the months to come you show the Committee your understanding and full support to ensure that our organisation continues to go from strength to strength.
This is OUR u3a and it’s up to US ALL to keep it going. Thank you.”
Treasurer’s Report:
“Thank you, Alison.
I trust everybody has received a copy of the accounts and notes sent by email. Similarly, as last year I don’t propose to go through all the accounts line by line but would like to highlight some points of interest. Looe U3A finances are in good shape as we didn’t have to use any of our savings to subsidise the running of our U3A.’
The Treasurer then went through the salient points of the accounts with illustrative slides displayed and the members invited to ask questions. The Audited Accounts had been circulated to all members prior to the AGM in accordance with the Constitution and printed paper copies available on the day.
‘Finally, I would like to place on record my thanks to all of the committee and especially Alison and Chris for their support and assistance over the last few years. There is a great team ethic on the Committee and it is greatly appreciated.
The Accounts were accepted by the members. Proposed: Yvonne Toms. Seconded: Jackie Fletcher.
The new Independent Examiner was approved. Proposed: Paul Toms. Seconded: Karen Simms.
Election of Committee and Officers:
As no nominations for Chair or Secretary had been received 28 days prior to the AGM, retiring Chair, Alison informed the meeting that under the Constitution, it was acceptable to ask for nominations at the meeting itself.
‘However, if there are insufficient candidates standing for the vacancies, the Chairman of the meeting may, as a last resort, appeal for any willing member present to agree to stand. A vote must be taken and carried by a simple majority for such an appeal for volunteers to be permitted.’
Alison duly asked for a show of hands and the membership present voted to accept this proposal.
She then followed by explaining that the Executive Committee could fill vacant Officer roles.
‘The Executive Committee may fill any vacancy arising amongst the Officers or the non-Officer Executive Committee members, until the following Annual General Meeting.’
Following this request, 3 volunteers came forward. Dot Dunning, Yvonne Toms & Danica Jones.
The Chair then asked member, Peter King, to take over the Meeting to conduct the election, as the present Chair and Committee stood down.
The following members were elected en bloc: Marilyn King (Temporary Chair), Jenny Phillips (Treasurer), Angie Cadman (Membership Secretary), Dot Dunning (Secretary), Jenny Barker (Speaker Secretary), Chris Barwell (Events Coordinator), Andrea Brocklebank (Events Team), Jackie Pritchard (Events Team), Alison Currah (Website and IT) and Rob Nevshehir, Yvonne Toms and Danica Jones.
This concluded the AGM.
Minutes of the Main Meeting 12th February, St Martin’s Hall, beginning at 10.40am.
There being no Chairperson, following the AGM which had immediately preceded the main meeting, Marilyn King took the meeting. She explained that she and her husband, Peter King, could not bear to see the u3a go under for want of a chairperson. To this end they would work together to hold the monthly meetings to keep the u3a afloat for a short time until a replacement Chairperson was found.
Marilyn praised Alison Currah for being such an energetic and enthusiastic Chair over the last three years. Chris Barwell then presented a bouquet of flowers to Alison to thank her on behalf of the Committee.
Events
Tickets on sale this month were:
Beetle Drive, pasty supper – Saturday 22nd February, £8
Swedish Night with Abba Disco, Swedish supper – Saturday 15th March, £10
Marilyn then promoted 2 trips to the Theatre Royal Plymouth to see ‘Only Fools and Horses’ in May and ‘Calamity Jane’ in July for which seats could be reserved.
Other events included a trip to Bodmin Recycling Centre. FREE entry. Places can be reserved today. Later in the year ‘u3a’s Got Talent – members to get ready for that!
Groups News
There was no further Groups News. Marilyn requested that any changes to group details should be sent to Alison Currah asap for inclusion in the 2025/26 Programme.
Community News
Beryl Tregear announced that the ‘Oars of Thunder’ crew, who had recently completed a cross Atlantic row would be at The Millpool Centre on Sunday February 23rd for people to meet and have a chat. Leaflets were left for members to collect, and Beryl requested that places were booked in advance.
Marilyn then displayed the Looe Town Council ‘Wasson’ newsletter currently being displayed on the notice board or could be collected from the library.
St Martins Church, Jacket Potato lunch on Saturday 22nd February 12 noon till 3.00pm. £5 per person.
March 26th – 29th, The Tudor Players present ‘The Ladykillers’, in Looe Guildhall Chamber. See Alison Currah for details of ticket purchase.
Looe Old Cornwall Society meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 2.30pm in St. Martins Community Hall. Next month (March) is the A.G.M. followed by a talk from Mark Camp. You do not have to be Cornish, or old, to attend.
Next Month’s Speaker
Next month’s Speaker is Professor Kevin Channer, who will conduct an interactive trial – ‘Guilty of Manslaughter?’
The raffle was then drawn – followed by refreshments.
Following the refreshment break, Looe Mayor, Tony Smith gave a presentation on the role of the council in the town’s wellbeing, and an update on current affairs in Looe.
The meeting closed at 12 noon.
Looe & District u3a 