Presentation of Chairman’s Gavel

President’s Address, Lt Col Simon Owen

It has been a very successful year for the Branch. An excellent dedication ceremony, for which thanks to David Glossop and his team, an excellent Poppy fund-raising campaign, for which thanks to Kate Curtis and her team, an excellent recruitment campaign with lots of new members and an excellent series of social events for which thanks to Hazel Dewhirst and now Barbara Eastwood. I would also like to thank Peter and Valerie Davenport and Hazel Dewhirst for all their past work on the committee.

I should add that this will be my last AGM. I will be posted to Lille in July 2009 and it would be inconceivable to be your President from Lille. However, if you wish, my opposite number at Rennes, Lt Col Bever, might be persuaded to take over my responsibilities. I am very honoured to have been the first President of the Central Brittany Branch of the Royal British Legion and I wish you good luck for the future.

Finally, on your behalf, I would like to thank the Chairman and all the Committee for their hard work over the last year.

Chairman’s Report, Rodney Curtis

Firstly, I would like to welcome you all to the Annual General Meeting of the Royal British Legion Central Brittany Branch, here in Rohan at the Manoir du Quengo. We have had a very busy year and the Branch continues to go from strength to strength with increasing membership and record fund raising.

I would like to begin by thanking you, the Branch members, for your support of our various remembrance and social activities. We had a very pleasant Christmas Lunch in December, two Troc & Puces, one in the spring and one in the autumn, various outings, meals and events to raise money both for Branch funds and for the Poppy Appeal.

The outstanding occasion of the past year was on the 14th of March, when our new Standard was dedicated at the Chapel de la Maison Mere des Frères at Ploermel, by our honorary Chaplain, Michael Grainger, in the presence of members and other Standards, both French and British. The Maire of Ploermel generously provided a vin d’honneur after the service which was gratefully received. This was followed by a Luncheon in the Maison refectory.

In May, I wrote to HQ asking if they would consider having our Standard at the Festival of Remembrance; it was not until July that we knew it had been chosen. I am sure that you are all as proud as I was that our Branch was selected. On the 16th and 17th of May, I attended the Annual Conference of the Royal British Legion, in Southport on behalf of the branch.

Regrettably our Secretary and Vice Chairman resigned during the year, Alan Byron stepped into the Secretary's vacancy, and Dave Ball became temporary Vice Chairman until this AGM in accordance with the rules. I see Hazel in the audience and would like to thank her for all her hard work as the previous Social Events Organiser. She has been suitably rewarded for her efforts in a presentation at an earlier Social meeting.

Don Dykes, our excellent Treasurer and Membership Secretary, has worked tirelessly for the Branch. He has always been there for me when necessary. In Alan Byron we have a new, very conscientious Secretary. Alan was previously in charge of welfare and did it very well, so it was not difficult to accept his offer to become Secretary.

Our Standard bearer, Dave Ball has been very busy during the summer carrying the Standard on many occasions. Adele Byron is now in charge of welfare, and is doing an excellent job. Geoff Lace has taken over as Publicity officer; he has surpassed himself with his work not only on the website but with his expertise in many other fields.

Barbara Eastwood is now our Social Secretary. She has already organised many events, and has lots of ideas for the future. In fact she has just started evening social meetings once a month, as well as the usual monthly lunchtime gatherings. As you all probably know, Kate and I have organised the Poppy Appeal for many years. She continues to run it but, from the 1st of January of this year, the Branch took over the accounting side of the Appeal.

Last but not least, I would like to warmly thank our President, Lt Col Simon Owen, who has been a good friend and adviser during some of the more difficult times of the past year.

In fact everyone has worked so hard, I can’t thank you all enough.

Treasurer’s Report, Don Dykes

We began this financial year with total assets of €3292.53.  However it was pointed out in my last years report that from this amount there would be liabilities amounting to approximately €1570.00 to be paid out in this financial year. These were for refund of Jersey Trip deposits, purchase of Branch Standard and Troc & Puce proceeds to the Branch Poppy Appeal Fund. These three liabilities have been cleared.

Highlight of our year was the Dedication Ceremony of our Branch Standard and the Luncheon held afterwards. Cost to the Branch Funds was €212. Various functions were held during the year namely a Christmas Dinner, Fish and Chip Night, Darts Evening and Wine Tasting and were all self financing except one. The monthly social meetings continue to generate funds from the sales of books, DVDs and videos and the usual raffle. Donations and a Christmas Draw also boosted funds.

Despite the early reduction in our balance we have maintained our funds at an acceptable level and now have assets at the end of this financial year of €2347.25. Branch membership fees are now being collected and we look forward to a successful Christmas Draw with continuity of funds from the monthly meetings.

You will have already heard from Kate our Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator how the fund is going, and I shall be looking forward to the end of the year with a very favourable report on its finances.

Our independent auditor Mrs Anne Grainger will now give her report after which I will ask for a proposer and seconder that the accounts be adopted and also that Mrs Anne Grainger be elected as our Independent Examiner for the coming year.

(A Summary Statement of Account for the Branch, 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008, is shown below.) Mrs Anne Grainger reported that all the accounts had been audited and were accurate and balanced; Hazel Dewhirst proposed accounts be accepted, seconded Bill Wise, and passed by the meeting unanimously.

Membership Secretary’s Report, Don Dykes

At last years AGM I was able to announce that our membership then stood at 58.   One of the Branch objectives for this year was to try and increase our membership by at least 80%. I am pleased to announce that, as at 30th September 2008, our membership stood at 110 which is an increase of 89%.

Our new membership year commenced on the 1st October 2008; I am still waiting for eight members to indicate their wishes to continue membership.  For various reasons 11 members have indicated that they will not be renewing their membership. However these losses have already been replaced by new members and our membership, as at today’s date, is 119.

Poppy Appeal Officer’s Report, Kate Curtis

Last year, 2007, the sum of £3046.20, or €4261.01, was raised for the Appeal. This year, after publicity both on our website and in newspapers, we have been very busy sending wreaths, wooden crosses, pins and lapel poppies all over France. We even had a request to send one to England! Sadly, some of these requests came too late.

Very kind people have helped position over 54 trays of poppies and collecting boxes in shops, churches, business premises and private homes. We have also sold poppies on our annual visits to Normandy for the D-Day and Armistice Remembrances, and of course our usual Anzac tea-party and auction helped to raise money for the Appeal, as did a coffee morning combined with a book and greetings card sale.

The collecting of the boxes and counting of the money has started, and you will all be notified of the final figures as soon as possible. The signs are good. Almost £2,000 has already been sent to the Appeal headquarters in England.

Thank you very much, everyone

Election of Committee

Dave Ball was elected as Vice Chairman (proposed by Hazel Dewhirst, seconded by Adele Byron) with a unanimous show of hands.

Alan Byron was elected as Secretary (proposed by Barbara Eastwood, seconded by Harry Eastwood) with a unanimous show of hands.

Appointment of Publicity Officer Geoff Lace, and Social Secretary Barbara Eastwood, was confirmed by a unanimous show of hands.

It was agreed by the meeting that the Chairman Rodney Curtis and Treasurer and Membership Secretary Don Dykes should continue with a unanimous show of hands.

It was agreed that David Ball should continue as Standard Bearer with Ken Hartley as Deputy with a unanimous show of hands.

Appointment of Delegate to represent the Branch at the Annual Conference of The Royal British Legion; there was a volunteer whose approval required ratification at a subsequent committee meeting.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT for the period 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008      

(All figures shown in Euros)

A full copy of the audited accounts is available from the Treasurer

The Poppy Appeal Fund account is not shown in these accounts as the accounting period is from 1 January to 31 December 2008. An audited copy of the accounts will be available to all members during January 2009.

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