1

Members present and welcome:

2

Apologies for absence:

3

Minutes of previous AGM held on 12 November 2024 and any matters arising

No questions

Proposer – Barry Wood, seconder Angela Neale and agreed unanimously.

4

Chairman’s Report:

Ken spoke about how the membership had strengthened over the past year. He has been pleased to have been chairman for 10-11 years but will now be standing down.

Neil paid tribute to Ken by saying that the Durrington Bridge Club was formed in 1988 and to date had never granted life membership. Ken has demonstrated significant, sustained and valuable service for over 10 years; a vast contribution to the Club which thoroughly deserves recognition. In appreciation of his service the committee has agreed that Ken should be honoured with a Life Membership and he was presented with a bottle of wine and a Life Membership card.

5

Treasurer’s Report (Neil):

In 2015 table money was £1.50 and this increased to £2 in 2017. There has been no increase since then and, currently, there is no need to increase this. However, the committee may need to make this decision in the next year. At the last AGM, it was agreed with members that the committee could raise table money when and if needed. Membership fee will stay at £10.

Documentation was shared with members showing a comparison chart over the past 2 financial years. This shows a gain over the year of £113.50, compared to a loss last year of £887.34. Neil highlighted that the website and bank fees are not shown. The £48 website charge has already been paid by cheque, with receipt acknowledged, but it has yet to be presented and will be shown in next year’s accounts. The new bank charge is paid one month in arrears. Therefore, the gain is only £60.50.

Rent: in June 2025 this increased from £40 to £45 but we are no longer charged a DUCCA membership. There may be a further increase in the coming year.

Robin asked if we were eating more biscuits as the cost had increased by £58. This was confirmed.

Approval of accounts proposed George Rambridge, seconded Robin Suter and agreed unanimously.

6

Election of Committee Members:

Chairman – Neil Fairbairn

Proposed Kathryn Giles, seconded by Jerry Attwood and agreed unanimously

Treasurer – Roger Campbell

Proposed Neil Fairbairn, seconded George Rambridge and agreed unanimously

Secretary – Jill Lancaster

Proposed Kathryn Giles, seconded Jerry Atwood and agreed unanimously

Play Director – Jerry Attwell

Proposed Kathryn Giles, seconded by Geoff Bernstein and agreed unanimously

Membership Secretary – Kathryn Giles

Proposed Jerry Attwood, seconded Valerie Conway and agreed unanimously

Member – it was unanimously agreed that Ken Bayes will remain on committee, as an account signatory, until the transfer to the new treasurer Roger Campbell has been completed with the bank.

7

Election of Auditor:

Geoff Bernstein has resigned and Angela Neale has offered to step in.

Proposed Marion Page and seconded Barry Wood and agreed unanimously

8

Christmas:

Meal: all monies needed by 25/11 at the latest along with any raffle prizes. It was agreed that there will be a fun bridge session after the meal with prizes awarded to the highest scoring N&S and E&W. (4x£5 tokens = £20). This is scored at the time. The tip will come out of the raffle income.

23/12: a vote it confirmed that the club will run as normal. Action: Neil will inform the office

DUCCA gift: agreed that, as in previous years, we will give x2 £20 vouchers to staff who provide the tea. Proposed Joan Bayes, seconded Valerie Conway and agreed unanimously

9

Any other business:

Votes of thanks to Valerie for providing the biscuits. She is happy to continue. Also, to Jill, Kathryn, Jerry, Roger and Neil.

Averaging hands: Joan queried this as it puts couples at a disadvantage when they may only have been held up by the late play of other players in the previous round. Jerry confirmed that once play has started, we are unable to average. He asked members, who know they are running behind, to take to take responsibility to average.

13

Date of 2025 AGM:

10 November 2026 @ 12:30

Minutes signed by:

NEIL FAIRBIRN - CHAIR

Date:

JILL LANCASTER - SECRETARY

Date: 19 November 2025

Present: Ken Bayes (Chair); Neil Fairburn (Treasurer); Kathryn Giles (Membership Secretary); Jill Lancaster (Secretary) and Roger Campbell (taking over as Treasurer)

1

Apologies for absence

Jerry Attwood (Director)

2

Minutes from last meeting

[Agreed that whilst Ken remains as Chair until the AGM, Neil will chair this meeting.]

Amend previous minutes to show 51 members following death of Neil Hook.

Table money – Neil anticipating we may not need to increase table money although bank charge (£5 a month), rent go up. Agreed to review at each meeting as the committee does have the approval of the members at last year’s AGM to increase at any time.

Cover for directors and scoring – Neil would like to score x2 a month. It was agreed that from next week (28/10) he will score weeks 2, 3 & 5, Roger week 1 and Kathryn week 4.

ACTION: Kathryn will create a schedule

3

Membership Report:

1 new member since the last meeting now 52 in total

3

Finance update & account signatories

Monthly accounts* distributed by Neil with 2 weeks remaining of this financial year.

Shows a gain of £127.25. Adding to this the difference of £35.52 between payments directly to and from bank, there is cash in hand of £162.77

Website fee - £48 has been paid to Bridgewebs but the cheque is yet to be presented although they have confirmed payment.

Bank charges – we will be charged £4.99 a month with effect from 1/10/25 although this has not yet been debited.

*Accounts shared do not include these payments

Membership fees – raised £505

Neil had anticipated a small loss for the year 24/25 but this will now not be the case due to an increase in table numbers over the year.

4

Relationship with DUCCA

Information has already been shared with the committee. DUCCA no longer charges an annual membership since the last rent increase.

5

Competition idea

Jerry not present but may say something at the AGM. Will be done outside the club in people’s homes so will not need ratification of committee.

6

AGM – 18 November 2025 @ 12:30

Discussed when it’s best to hold the AGM as 10 members away for the planned date. Agreed that this will move to the 18/11 @ 12.30pm

Committee changes:

Chair – Ken is keen to stand down. Neil is prepared to take over for the next year.

Treasurer – Roger taking over from the beginning of November (pending ratification at the AGM)

Membership – Kathryn

Secretary – Jill

Ken will remain on the committee until bank account signatories are sorted

Agenda:

Discussed what to go on the agenda. Need to give 2 weeks’ notice to members asking for proposal and anyone to stand on the committee.

ACTION: Neil will post details prominently on the website and put a notification on the noticeboard.

Jill will draw up an agenda.

7

Christmas Lunch

Raffle – some of the proceeds from this will be used to cover the tip. Next year we will incorporate this into the charge.

8

Any other business:

Biscuits – aware that potentially Val may not want to continue.

Banking – membership approx. £500 and Christmas lunch monies of approx. £600. To ensure money does not build up, Roger would like to see this going through the bank account as personal home insurance would not cover any loss. As an interim, Roger proposes using the Post Office on the day to bank monies using an account in his name which will then be transferred to the Santander account. Will use a book of receipts, giving one copy to the person collecting he monies and one for accounts. Discussed and agreed that until the new mandate is in place Neil will pay in funds to the Post Office and transfer to the Santander account.

Santander card – Roger has completed the documentation. When this has been completed Ken will be removed as a signatory.

9

Date of next meeting

TBA – after Christmas