Minutes of the Highwaymen AGM on 10 November 2016 at 14:15 hours
Introduction
Following an interesting Q&A session with Leigh Powell, the new Course Manager, Gerald Bullock (GB), the HWM Captain,
welcomed 50 members to the 21st AGM. In opening the AGM, GB paid tribute to Ian Emeny, a Highwayman, and to friends of
the Highwaymen, Bob Findlay and Sue Fender, who had passed away since the last AGM.
1 Apologies for Absence
There were 12 apologies from those who could not attend.
2 Minutes of the last AGM
The minutes of the last AGM on 5 November 2015 were approved unanimously.
3 Matters arising
There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.
4 Captain’s Report – Gerald Bullock
GB reported that during the year
• there had been 45 rollups with 3 cancelled due to bad weather.
• total attendance was 1,830 with an average of 41 per rollup, which was slightly up on last year.
• a total of 117 different players had participated.
• total prize money was £1,551 and 76 members had won prizes. Peter Gray was top with £69.50; closely followed by Laurie
Morse on £69.
• Dick Ewington, Geoff Lloyd and Alan Meyer had the most roll-up attendances with 37.
• including club matches, Maurice Manning had 50; Bill McIntosh had 46 and Gerald Bullock had 45.
• 26 Inter Club matches were played and next year we have added Caversham Heath
• 4 over 75’s matches were introduced; thanks to Maurice Manning who organised them.
• new Club Handicaps have been introduced. This will require changes to the HWM Constitution to be proposed next AGM.
• competition winners were:
o HWM Championship – Thomas Trophy
Malcolm Lucas
o Best Gross Score (Claret Jug)
Jeff Rankin
o Balgarnie Cup
Paul Rozier
o Elliott Cup
Malcolm Lucas
o Eclectic
Bob Jarvis
o Kim Short Trophy
Bill McIntosh
o Serenyi Salver
Geoff Harrison
o Costello Cup
Peter Gray
o Winter Pairs (Bob Wilkie Shield)
Bill McIntosh/Martyn Thomas
o Staunton Memorial
Doug McPherson/Paul Rozier
o Baxter Trophy
Margaret Deery/Jean Ebbon/Paul Rozier/Ian Shilling
o Chris & Derek Thomas Bowl
Gill Tyler/Chris Dalton
o Patricia Baxter
HWM lost to the ladies.
GB went on to thank the following
• the committee for their support and for their individual duties; a lot of hard work goes on by the committee.
• Ian Greenaway - handicap secretary/diary and all things to do with the web-site.
• Richard Snook - all social events including the Autumn and Christmas Dinners.
• Bill McIntosh - competitions
• Maurice Manning - weekly notes (travelogue and weather commentator) and general assistance
• Nigel Deacon - match secretary and organizing the Men’s Invitation
• Chris Dalton – treasurer/defibrillator and training.
• Roger Smith - minutes and general assistance
• Peter Christmas and Tim Ockenden for helping with rollups. Tim also for his photography.
• Rod Rigby for organising the HWM tour this year to Barnham Broom and the Quizes. Rod is now taking a well-earned rest
from this role. The 2017 tour will be to St Pierre and will be organised by Gerald Bullock, Maurice Manning and Roger
Smith.
GB closed by stating that it had been an honour to serve as Captain and was sure the new Captain will get the same level of
support.
5 Treasurer’s Report – Chris Dalton
CD tabled the financial statement to 31 October 2016 and reported that
• the HWM Fund stood at £2,344 compared with £2,048 at the corresponding time last year.
• reserves were £2,950, mainly relating to the Xmas Dinner payments from members (£1,830) and Competitions and Prizes
(£820).
• total income was £10,786 (2014/15 - £11,927) and total expenditure was £10,541 (2014/15 - £12,215) leaving a surplus
for the year of £246 (2014/15 – deficit £288).
• event income was down on last year – primarily on the Autumn Dinner and the Christmas Dinner both of which had
lower attendances. A detailed analysis of event income and expenditure was included with the Accounts but, in summary,
the major events were the Xmas Dinner (£3,241; 2014/15 - £3,416) and the Autumn Dinner (£1,525; 2014/15 - £1,820).
Both events are subsidised so both made small losses. In total, there was a deficit of £57 on events compared with £400
last year.
• rollup income rose slightly to £2,020 from £1,978 last year, reflecting slightly higher attendances.
• the HWM donated £1,000 to the Captains’ Charity.
• charity income was £165 compared with £45 last year.
• income of £1,014 was received from the sale of Club diaries organised by Ian Greenaway. Total production costs were
£1,007. Hard copy diaries will not be produced for 2017 because of low demand.
• the preferred means of payment for events, competitions and the like was bank transfer, which made administration much
easier. The necessary details are available on the HWM website.
• The Accounts were adopted unanimously.
• A vote of thanks was given to CD for all his hard work during the year.
6 Match Secretary’s Report – Ian Greenaway (in Nigel Deacon’s absence)
IG reported that
• the HWM team had a successful season overall - played 26; won 10; halved 7 and lost 9.
• a total of 44 players represented the HWM during the year – in line with last year’s 45.
• 12 HWM played 12 or more matches with MM, GB and BM playing most – in that order.
• Graham Woods was the most successful player with a win ratio of 87%.
• the Thew Bowl (Texas scramble with the Juniors) and the match against the WGC Staff were not played because neither
the Juniors nor Staff could get a team. Hope to play them next year.
• a new meal format – coffee and bacon bap before the match and sandwiches and chips after – was trialed towards the end
of the season with mixed results. This was designed to be quicker and cheaper. No final decision has been taken; we may
ask each individual opposing club what they would prefer.
• the fixtures for 2017 are now agreed – with the same 13 clubs as 2016 with the addition of Caversham Heath.
• 4 over-75s matches were played home and away against Test Valley and Merrist Wood. HWM won 3 and halved 1.
Thanks to Maurice Manning for organising these matches.
• some changes have been made to the rollups for next year in order to better match the number of qualifiers with the
season.
o the Eclectic will be the main winter event with only the first and last rounds counting as qualifiers.
o the Elliott Cup will now be the main summer competition with all rounds counting as qualifiers.
• finally, a big thank you to all who represented the HWM this year and to Gerald for leading the HWM so admirably on
and off the course.
• the production of a paper diary was not viable because of a lack of demand.
• a vote of thanks was given to Nigel Deacon via IG for all his hard work during the year.
7. Election of Committee Members
• No nominations were received and so the Committee remains unchanged. Maurice Manning, who was scheduled to step
down at this AGM, has agreed to be co-opted to the Committee because of his sterling work on the parish notices and
general contribution to the smooth running of the section. Chris Dalton is scheduled to be the HWM Captain in 2017/18
and the Committee is looking to co-opt someone to take over from him as Treasurer in due course.
8. Appointment of Captain for 2016/17.
• Ian Greenaway was appointed unanimously as Captain for 2016/17.
9. New Captain’s Introductory Address – Ian Greenaway (IG)
• IG thanked the Committee and GB in particular for putting him forward as vice-captain last year and the membership, for
electing him as HWM Captain for 2016/17. He considered this a great honour.
• IG then, on behalf of all HWM, thanked GB for all his hard work and congratulated him on doing an excellent job. He
will be a hard act to follow – he led the HWM from the front and managed the committee meetings with a firm hand.
• IG was delighted to report that Chris Dalton had agreed to become Vice Captain for 2016/17 and that all the current
committee members had agreed to stay on for the coming year; as follows:Chris Dalton – Vice Captain and Treasurer. However, CD will need to relinquish that role prior to becoming
Captain next year. A new Treasurer is being sought and any volunteers should contact a Committee Member.
o Bill McIntosh – Competition Secretary.
o Nigel Deacon – Match Secretary.
o Richard Snook - Social Secretary.
o Gerald Bullock– ex Officio but will also pick up responsibility for maintaining the HWM calendar.
o Roger Smith – Committee Secretary and will also pick up responsibility for maintain HWM handicaps
o Maurice Manning – has agreed to be co-opted for a further year and will continue to produce his excellent
weekly Parish Notices.
• IG’s vision is to continue to promote friendly social golf and be inclusive of all HWM members.
• The HWM should continue to support the Pace of Play initiative. As a matter of courtesy to the players going out at the
back of the rollup, any group which has lost contact with the group in front (by one or more holes) should invite the group
behind to play through. The HWM has a varied membership – in age, in ability and in physical condition – and so will
play at different speeds. Nonetheless, courtesy should still be shown to the groups behind.
o
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10. Any Other Business
Dick Ewington had tabled a proposal that all individual competitions should count as qualifiers. GB replied saying that
we already play a lot of qualifiers – 18 versus a minimum of 12 as set out in the Constitution. The proposed change would
result in a lot more qualifiers being played in the winter which was contrary to what we were seeking to achieve by
switching the Eclectic and Elliott Cup. There was general agreement from the floor and no vote was called.
There being no other business, the meeting was declared closed.