Dear All

By an overwhelming majority we have voted to move to the Methodist Church Hall on the Avenue.  The vote was 63 for the Methodist Hall v 16  for the Golf Club.If any of you know people who don't have email, would you be kind enough to let them know.  We go back to playing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We plan to start playing there on Thursday 13 March.  The dates we know the Hall is not available are Thursday 22nd May (Polling Day) and 29 & 31 July(Music Festival).

The committee hopes that this will turn out to be a happy new home for the Bridge Club.

With best regards

Sally

MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB COMMITTEE MEETING

6 SEPTEMBER 2016

Present:  President Chris Parkin:  Treasurer Davina Lord:  Secretary Sally Stuttard:

                Roy Anderson:  Janet Handley:  Linda and Derek Trump

Apologies for Absence received from Terry Stuttard and Cathy Nicholls

Chris welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked the outgoing Committee Members Roy, Terry and Cathy for the support they have given to the Club.

Christmas Dinner:  Sally had spoken to Roger at the Northfield and all agreed Thursday 15 December was the best date.  The cost is £18 per head but the Club will subsidise the event so we only pay £15.

Davina presented the accounts showing approx. £5,500 in the current account and £3,200 on deposit.  We all agreed that this was a healthy balance.  Davina thanked Peter Jackson for all his help with her taking over the reins as Treasurer. 

Unfortunately, there is not enough money to make any grand gestures but it was agreed to bump up what we pay to Children in Need and maybe make a donation to Home Start that supports local families.

We will get new cushions as the ones we have need replacing.

Sally read out Cathy’s email.  She praised the efforts of Chris, Terry and Sally in teaching and encouraging new players to come to the Thursday night sessions,  Because of their efforts the Club seems to be thriving.  She also approved the earlier starting time.  The only complaint was sticky “Pass” cards.  We will ask Doreen on her return to buy new bidding cards as they are all getting a bit worn.

We discussed the lack of new members moving over from Thursday to Tuesday nights.  We would like to think both nights are friendly and welcoming and can only hope that some brave spirits will give Tuesday a try.

With no other business the meeting closed at 6.30 pm.

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 21 FEBRUARY 2014 

at MAGNOLIA COTTAGE

PRESENT:  Chris Parkin, President:  Peter Jackson, Treasurer:  Sally Stuttard, Secretary, Davina Lord, Jan Chadwick and Terry Stuttard.  Apologies for absence from Malcolm Percival, Cathy Nicholls and Roy Anderson.

MATTERS ARISING:

Following the Club’s enforced move to the Red Cross at the start of the year, it has become very clear that the premises are not big enough.  On a Thursday night when there are often 11 tables it makes a very uncomfortable night so bearing this in mind the Committee have been scouting round to find alternative premises that would be more suitable.  The following options have been found:

Wyndam House.  The dining room in this residential home off Blenheim Road. 

The cost of this would be £50 per night.  Advantages – warm, light room – plenty big enough and they are keen to have us.  The staff would supply tea and coffee that they would want us to pay for.  Disadvantages – all equipment would be stored in the cellar which would have to be brought up for each session:  possibility of the noro virus or similar shutting the home down without warning:  steep slope up to the front door with not much parking and only one space by the door.  Not sure that in the long run people leaving relatively late at night would be an inconvenience.

Minehead Golf Club:  We have had a letter outlining their conditions for us to use the Dining Room.  The cost of this would be £48 + VAT per session for Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Advantages – warm carpeted room.  They would set the room up for us.  Parking outside the door.  They are short of funds so want a guaranteed source of revenue.

Disadvantages – In the summer we would not have exclusive use of the Clubhouse.  Members of the Golf Club would be encouraged to use alternative areas but they would be quite at liberty to use the lounge area.  They “retain the right to withdraw the use of the Clubhouse on a specific evening offering an alternative evening during that week if available”.  The bar would not be available for us to use later in the evening.  

Methodist Church Hall: The cost of this spacious hall would be £20 per night.  It would be Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Advantages – in the centre of Minehead with onroad parking in front of the building with a car park opposite both of which are currently free after 6.00p.m.  Large well-lit centrally heated hall with a well appointed kitchen and pleasant, clean toilets close by.  

Disadvantages – there are 2 dates that the hall would not be available – for the Music Festival and Polling Day (but we know those dates well in advance).  There are plenty of chairs but plastic bucket type, better with a cushion.  The Railway Men use the small meeting room on Tuesday nights so would need to put their things away at the end of the evening, passing round the back of the hall.

Minehead Rugby Club:  The cost of this would be £40 per night.  

Advantages – adequate room size.  There is an outside lift if people cannot use the steps.  There is a bar downstairs which we might be able to use if there was something else happening that night.

Disadvantages – not very well lit, one toilet upstairs alternatively have to go outside, down steps to use another.  Large car park but not in a very good state of repair.  Limited coffee facilities with polystyrene cups as no kitchen facilities.

In the opinion of the Committee, the best option is the Methodist Hall but we would like to have a vote from our Members on Monday and Thursday nights next week (don’t vote twice please!).   

We have given the Red Cross a month’s notice but it may be possible to move before then and we would recompense them accordingly.

We would need to buy tables which would be in the region of £50 each + p & p. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MINUTES OF MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB A.G.M.

Held Tuesday 1 October 2013 at 6.30 pm

At The Northfield Hotel

PRESENT:  President Chris Parkin, Treasurer Peter Jackson, Secretary Sally Stuttard, Committee Members Ann McCann, Davina Lord, Jan Chadwick, Malcolm Percival and 36 Club Members.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

First all of all Chris asked for a minute’s silence while we remembered those of our members who died last year - Alice Jackson and Ron Thorne.  

As Chris has just taken over as President he said how pleased he was to be elected and that he planned to run the club on a pleasant and friendly footing.  Unfortunately the Northfield have told us that they are planning changes and that we can no longer play there next year but Sally would give a report on a possible new venue.

APPROVAL OF LAST YEAR’S MINUTES & APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: 

In the Treasurer’s report “deficit” should be changed to “surplus” and were then approved.  This was proposed by David Doyle and seconded by Ann Watkins. 

Apologies For Absence were received from Claire Pearse, Richard Hills, Terry Stuttard, Rose Dascombe, Doreen Beswick, Marjorie Price, Sheila Coda, Tony Miles, Paul Rees and Neil Barrington.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Peter presented his accounts and ran through the figures.  We have had a good financial year having started with £4,740 we ended up with £6,200.  The increase was in large part due to the increased numbers on Thursdays and Peter made special thanks to Doreen Beswick for all the help she has given him over this recent difficult time.  Arthur Norton  also thanked Chris who said it was very much a team effort particularly including David Doyle and Steve Beswick.  Peter thanked Chris for auditing the accounts and he pointed out he would no longer be able to do this as now President.  Jo Pateman volunteered her husband Geoff for the job.  The accounts were approved by Wendy Barker and seconded by David Doyle.  

SECRETARY’S REPORT:

Sally detailed the various places she and others had visited/contacted looking for new premises.  After 

pretty exhaustive searches she and Davina went to the Red Cross hut.  They would be very happy to have us but Tuesdays were not available.  After much discussion it was agreed that we should move our bridge and play on Monday and Thursday nights.  There is ample parking and they are happy for us to store our things there.  There are tables we can use – slightly larger than card tables but quite satisfactory. They have a fully equipped kitchen where we can make tea/coffee as required.  For both nights the rent they would like is £70 per week.  She agreed to write to their Booking Officer Norman Ell and ask that we start with a trial period of 3 months but hopefully it will prove a suitable new home for us.  We will start there on Thursday 2 January.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES:

Club Pairs Championship – Chris and Paula Parkin with Runners up David Doyle and Arthur Norton.

Ladies’ Pairs – Sally Stuttard and Cathy Nicholls - Mens’ Pairs Malcolm Percival and Richard Watkins.

The Frank Taylor Trophy was won by Cathy Nicholls.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Sally Milton proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee Ann McCann and Chris Thomas and 

with no nominations Roy Anderson, Cathy Nicholls and Terry Stuttard have agreed to join the Committee.

With no other business the meeting closed at 7.00 pm.

Held Tuesday 1 October 2013 at 6.30 pm

At The Northfield Hotel

PRESENT:  President Chris Parkin, Treasurer Peter Jackson, Secretary Sally Stuttard, Committee Members Ann McCann, Davina Lord, Jan Chadwick, Malcolm Percival and 36 Club Members.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

First all of all Chris asked for a minute’s silence while we remembered those of our members who died last year - Alice Jackson and Ron Thorne.  

As Chris has just taken over as President he said how pleased he was to be elected and that he planned to run the club on a pleasant and friendly footing.  Unfortunately the Northfield have told us that they are planning changes and that we can no longer play there next year but Sally would give a report on a possible new venue.

APPROVAL OF LAST YEAR’S MINUTES & APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: 

In the Treasurer’s report “deficit” should be changed to “surplus” and were then approved.  This was proposed by David Doyle and seconded by Ann Watkins. 

Apologies For Absence were received from Claire Pearse, Richard Hills, Terry Stuttard, Rose Dascombe, Doreen Beswick, Marjorie Price, Sheila Coda, Tony Miles, Paul Rees and Neil Barrington.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Peter presented his accounts and ran through the figures.  We have had a good financial year having started with £4,740 we ended up with £6,200.  The increase was in large part due to the increased numbers on Thursdays and Peter made special thanks to Doreen Beswick for all the help she has given him over this recent difficult time.  Arthur Norton  also thanked Chris who said it was very much a team effort particularly including David Doyle and Steve Beswick.  Peter thanked Chris for auditing the accounts and he pointed out he would no longer be able to do this as now President.  Jo Pateman volunteered her husband Geoff for the job.  The accounts were approved by Wendy Barker and seconded by David Doyle.  

SECRETARY’S REPORT:

Sally detailed the various places she and others had visited/contacted looking for new premises.  After 

pretty exhaustive searches she and Davina went to the Red Cross hut.  They would be very happy to have us but Tuesdays were not available.  After much discussion it was agreed that we should move our bridge and play on Monday and Thursday nights.  There is ample parking and they are happy for us to store our things there.  There are tables we can use – slightly larger than card tables but quite satisfactory. They have a fully equipped kitchen where we can make tea/coffee as required.  For both nights the rent they would like is £70 per week.  She agreed to write to their Booking Officer Norman Ell and ask that we start with a trial period of 3 months but hopefully it will prove a suitable new home for us.  We will start there on Thursday 2 January.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES:

Club Pairs Championship – Chris and Paula Parkin with Runners up David Doyle and Arthur Norton.

Ladies’ Pairs – Sally Stuttard and Cathy Nicholls - Mens’ Pairs Malcolm Percival and Richard Watkins.

The Frank Taylor Trophy was won by Cathy Nicholls.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Sally Milton proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee Ann McCann and Chris Thomas and 

with no nominations Roy Anderson, Cathy Nicholls and Terry Stuttard have agreed to join the Committee.

With no other business the meeting closed at 7.00 pm.

  MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB – COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Held Tuesday 8^th September 2015 at the Methodist Church, Minehead.

Present:      Chris Parkin – President

                    Peter Jackson – Treasurer

                    Sally Stuttard – Secretary

Committee Members - Roy Anderson, Jan Chadwick, Davina Lord & Terry Stuttard 

Apologies for absence received from Cathy Nicholls and Malcolm Percival

It was suggested that we start bridge on Tuesdays at 6.45pm during the winter months – the start of October to the end of March.  This was agreed on and will be proposed at the AGM for approval.

Jan, Davina and Malcolm have all done their time on the Committee so we need 3 more volunteers.

Davina has been doing such a good job with the website she was asked if she would be our Web Administrator.   She agreed to this.

Chris wanted to check that everybody was happy with our using the Golf Club for evenings when the Methodist Hall was not available.  We thought the majority of our members were happy with this arrangement.

Christmas Dinner – Chris will check the date of the Golf Club dinner so we do not clash with them.  He will also ask their terms for catering our Christmas dinner and Sally said she would ring the Northfield for theirs.

Lessons – as Chris is in the process of moving house he will not be giving lessons this year but may well do so in the new year.

Peter presented the accounts, showing a surplus on the year of £1,741.82 with a balance in hand of  £7,616.82. He reiterated his desire to give up being the Treasurer and Chris said he would enquire if anyone would be prepared to take over from him.

The AGM will be held here on Tuesday 6^th October at 6.30 pm.

With no other business the meeting closed at 6.35pm.

MINUTES OF MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB A.G.M. HELD THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER 2014

AT 6pm AT THE METHODIST CHURCH HALL, THE AVENUE, MINEHEAD.

PRESENT:  President Chris Parkin, Treasurer Peter Jackson, Secretary Sally Stuttard, Committee Members Davina Lord, Roy Anderson & Terry Stuttard & 36 Club Members.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:  

Chris thanked everyone for coming.  David Doyle is home from hospital and doing well.  He asked for last year’s Minutes to be approved – Sally Milton approved, seconded by Davina Lord.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  

Received from Malcolm Percival, Doreen Adams, Liz Roach, Ann McCann, David Thrush, Jan Chadwick, Cathy Nicholls, Jean & Eric Jones, Maureen Pearse, Val Anderson, Jean Hughes and Sara Warren.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  

Peter presented his accounts showing a balance of £5,875 as against £6,191 last year.  There has been considerable outlay this year buying tables, bidding boxes and new Bridgemates but room hire costs have gone down and the lessons have generated some income.  Altogether we are in profit.  (The old Bridgemates have been given to Yeovil Bridge Club and we asked that they make a donation to Air Ambulance for them). Thanks to Geoff Pateman for auditing them and to Davina, Doreen and the others who have helped out when he has been away.

SECRETARY’S REPORT:  

Having spoken to the EBU there is no need for the Thursday sessions to be reported to them.  We would have to pay the EBU half the PtoP rate (approx. 17.5p per player) and the only advantage to members would be the EBU magazine which is on the internet and also most Tuesday players would be happy to pass theirs on if asked.

There is no change to the Committee.  Davina, Jan and Malcolm have one year more to serve.

The room voted overwhelmingly to have a coffee break with time for a chat and we should improve the quality of the biscuits.

Christmas – it was agreed that the last session would be Tuesday 23 December starting again on Tuesday 6 January 2015.

Christmas Dinner/Buffet before play – it was voted on by a large majority that we should have a Christmas Dinner and Sally agreed to look into possible venues for this and will report back.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES:

Club Pairs Cup -  Cathy Nicholls & Sally Stuttard

Ladies Pairs – Sheila Coda & Sandra Love

Mens Pairs – Chris Parkin & Roy Anderson

Frank Taylor Trophy – Sally Stuttard

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  

Chris thanked everybody who comes early to help set up the room and also tidy up at the end of the evening.  Paul Grierson thanked the committee for all their efforts.  With no other business the meeting closed at 6.25 pm.

Next year’s AGM will be held on Tuesday 6 October.

Minehead Bridge Club Committee Meeting

Thursday 29 October 2015

Present:  Chris Parkin, President.

                Peter Jackson, Treasurer.

                   Sally Stuttard, Secretary.

Committee Members:  Linda & Derek Trump, Terry Stuttard and Roy Anderson

Apologies for absence from Cathy Nicholls and Janet Handley

Chris welcomed Linda and Derek as new members of the Committee.

The meeting was called as Peter wished to step down as treasurer. Davina Lord has offered to take over the position and this was unanimously Approved.

Chris thanked Peter on behalf of the committee and the club for all his work over the years as treasurer and also his commitment to the club helping out over and above the call of duty.

  We would like to give him something to commemorate his contribution to the Club and he has promised to give it some thought.

Peter said we have some spare money which is not getting any interest if we could think of anything we need.  Nobody had any ideas except maybe some card shufflers.

Chris felt it was unnecessary to continue with announcing one no trump as 12-14 as that is what everybody plays.  If anyone plays a different system then of course that should be announced.

With no other business the meeting was declared closed.

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING OF MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB HELD AT THE NORTHFIELD HOTEL  
On TUESDAY 19 February 2013

PRESENT: Treasurer Peter Jackson:  Secretary Sally Stuttard.  
Committee Members:  Davina  Lord, Ann McCann, Chris Thomas, Malcolm Percival and Chris Parkin.  Apologies for absence received from Alice Jackson and Jan Chadwick

MATTERS ARISING:

The Committee unanimously approved starting up a Website for the Club.  Davina volunteered to look after running the site.  Bridgewebs give you a 3 month free trial and if we continue with it after that the cost is in the region of £50 per annum.

The lessons that Chris Parkin, Terry and myself are running at Old Cleeve are well attended and Chris has incorporated many of the students into Thursday nights running a 20 board duplicate.  This seems to have been a great success and we have been getting many more tables than previously.  

Malcolm asked if there were any complaints about going from Rubber to Duplicate but Chris said there had only been positive feedback.  If anyone does want to play Rubber bridge that can, of course, happen alongside.  We were worried that with the price increase of the room hire we would have to move premises but if present levels persist that would no longer be the case.

Many thanks to Chris Thomas who is leaving the area and moving to Exmouth.
He has been a great help to the Club – teaching bridge, directing and has generally been a great asset - he will be greatly missed.

MINUTES OF THE MINEHEAD BRIDGE CLUB  A.G.M.

Held Tuesday 6 October 2015

Present:  President Chris Parkin, Treasurer Peter Jackson, Secretary Sally Stuttard

Committee Members:  Davina Lord, Malcolm Percival and Roy Anderson and 29 Club Members.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

Chris thanked everyone for coming.  We then held a minute’s silence in remembrance of those members who have died over the last year.

We have had a lot of apologies for absence for which many thanks.

He thanked all the helpers who prepare the room before play, make up the boards and again those who help clear up at the end of the evening.

Attendance has been quite good over the year but we would like to encourage more Thursday players to come and try Tuesdays – there are one or two different faces but mainly the same as on Thursdays.

At the last Committee Meeting it was suggested we start at 6.45 pm either in the winter months or all year round.  The vote was carried overwhelmingly for the early start all year round.  If necessary we will review this after the spring.

We have two proposals for the Christmas Dinner – either the Northfield Hotel or the Golf Club.  The vote was in favour of the Northfield.  Peter reckoned we have enough in the kitty to cover the price difference so members would pay just £15 for the dinner.  Chris asked what kind of bridge would we all like to play then and the vote was for straight Chicago.

As Christmas Day falls on a Friday and New Years Day also a Friday it was decided to play on Tuesday 22 December and Tuesday 29 December but not on the Thursdays Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.

Thanks to the retiring Committee Members Jan, Davina and Malcolm.  With no nominations,  Janet Handley and Linda and Derek Trump have agreed to stand.

Prizes were awarded to:  Club Pairs - Sandra Love & Ron Tapp:  Ladies Pairs - Jean Cunningham & Jean Jones, Mens Pairs - Terry Stuttard & Malcolm Percival and the Frank Taylor Trophy - Sally Stuttard.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Peter presented his accounts showing a surplus of £1,700 and we have ended the year with a balance of £7,600.  Receipts are much the same but expenditure is down – cheaper room hire and no more expensive equipment this year.  Thank you to Geoff Pateman for auditing the accounts.  Peter reiterated he would be very glad to retire if a suitable volunteer could be found to take over from him as Treasurer.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Some members had asked about a Duplimate machine which gives a print out of all the hands.   The machine would cost in the region of £3000, someone would have to make up the boards, store them and with all the extra work involved it was decided not to pursue this.

Wendy asked that we give Jackie a vote of thanks for all she does with plenty of cheerfulness and the much improved quality of the biscuits!  This was unanimously applauded.

Jackie Moody brought up whether we should have random teams on the 5^th Tuesdays rather than the present system. It was voted by 8 to 13 to carry on as we do at the moment.

Ann Watkins proposed a vote of thanks for Chris, Sally and Peter for all their hard work.

Next year’s AGM will be held at 6.00 pm on Thursday 6 October 2016.

With no other business the meeting closed at 6.55 pm.