Minutes of the
All Arms Junior Leaders Regiment (AAJLR)
Association Annual General Meeting
Held on the 25th March 2023
at the Min-Y-Mor Hotel Barmouth.
| 1. | The meeting was opened at 1635hrs with Vice Chairman Richard Abraham and Secretary Jim Sherville presiding. | ||||
| 2. | Members Present 19 | ||||
| Richard Abraham | Jim Sherville | Norman Minty | |||
| Bill Sherman | John Tootill | Chris Roberts | |||
| David Hughes | Geoff Brown | Tam Forrester | |||
| Stan Green | Stan Moore | Stan King | |||
| Herbie Slaughter | Keith Ring | Larry Formosa | |||
| John Sabini | Steve Larmouth | David Truelove | |||
| Mike Shannon | |||||
| 3. | Apologies Received 49 | ||||
| Mike Owsley | Henry Holmes | Keith Dance | |||
| Keith Tennant | Alan Gough | Robert Wood | |||
| Ken Baines | Audrey Watts | Dave Reeves | |||
| Dave Moore | Clive Stead | Tony Hattersley | |||
| Terry Philp | Vic Forsythe | Trevor Gibbons | |||
| Fred Philpott | Alan Drinkall | Ted Pillinger | |||
| Richard Gale | John Jablonski | Rene Dee | |||
| Roy Carmen | Jim O'Hagan | Richard Walters | |||
| Ken Hart | Colin Sibary | Malcolm Peplow | |||
| Peter Wilkinson | Eddie Jonas | Geoff Boylan | |||
| Tommy Brady | Paul Boundy | Jeff Banning | |||
| Tom Silverside | Roy Williams | Keith Glenn | |||
| John Thompson | Barbara Parry | Dennis Parry | |||
| Geoff Cox | Eddie Nuttall | John Burns | |||
| Gordon Strange | Ken Hare | Malcolm Palfrey | |||
| Trevor Styles | Di Bailey | Colin Gunning | |||
| Terry Jamieson | |||||
Please let Jim know if anyone’s name is missing from the above list. |
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| Richard remarked that he was pleased to see such a good turnout. Although there were no reports of any members who had passed away, he asked us to remember those who have fallen ill, namely our President Larry Smith, also Terry Jamieson, Doug Hislop (both in Hospital), and Charlie Hollinrake's wife, Nancy. | |||||
| 4. | Minutes of the 2022 AGM. | ||||
| Copies of these minutes had been placed on our website and were also distributed around the meeting for members to read and comment. | |||||
| There being no matters arising, Jim asked for proposer and seconder to adopt the Minutes. | |||||
| Proposed By: John Tootill | |||||
| Seconded By: Herbie Slaughter | |||||
Carried |
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| 5. | Secretary’s Report | ||||
| Jim said that - unusually - he had little to say! | |||||
| He reminded all present that there would be a Raffle that evening and that all proceeds along with other monies raised would go towards the purchase and work carried out to erect a fence round the Rowan Tree referred to in the Treasurer's Report, and the provision of a plaque. Jim hoped most if not all members present today would have seen the results. | |||||
| Jim also gave the result of the poll carried out to gauge the preferences of all the members as to whether we should stay at Barmouth or move to a more central location in England. As expected the vote was almost split down the middle, but as no alternative venue had been sourced and those wishing to stay had 'won' by 7 votes, we are staying in Barmouth for the foreseeable future. | |||||
| 6. | Treasurer's Report | ||||
| Since the last AGM our charity chosen then, Blind Veterans UK, has been sent £1,100.00 and the British Red Cross collections £7.01. That small figure being the odd bit of cash to leave £100.00 in our account. | |||||
| As to that account, Richard said that he had notified Ken for the website and also put on our Facebook page, that Nationwide had closed the long established Treasurer's Book account and did not offer any alternative except one where charges were applied; not even for charities. Being unable to find anything suitable, despite visiting most banks and building societies, Richard reported he had finally put the remaining £100.00 into a Metro bank account under his name, which he did not want to continue, so that is what is left in the 'kitty' bringing him onto to the next point. | |||||
| Richard reported that since he and Mike Owsley set up the Association in 2004 we had donated £7,965.10 to military charities. That is in addition to monies to Ken for the website, funds to the local mountain rescue here, paid for discos, tips to Min-Y-Mor staff, wreaths and flowers to the deceased and ailing plus paid for ties, plaques, pin badges etc. In short, as a 'time limited' association we have 'done our bit'. Therefore, having agreed this with Jim and Mike, Richard's proposal is that we no longer pay a fee for membership of the All Arms Junior Leaders Comrades Association, and to that end he put that to this meeting as a proposal. | |||||
| Proposed by Richard Abraham | |||||
| Seconded by Stan King | |||||
Carried |
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| Richard said that most, if not all, will be aware that it was Barbara Parry's idea to have a Rowan tree planted inside the camp gates together with a plaque commemorating our time at Tonfanau, in the same words as the one unveiled in 2009 and subsequently stolen. This was following a proposal by Tywyn Town Council that such was planted in memory of the time Ugandan Asians were billeted there some years after our departure. As Jim flagged it up before this weekend, hopefully those who wished to do so have been to the camp today and has seen it in situ. This Association is also very grateful to Eileen Jones, the Chair of Tywyn Town Council - with whom Barbara was at school - for facilitating this. | |||||
| The cost of that tree is £300.00 which Barbara has paid 'up front' and which we shall obviously reimburse. The funds to do that will be our remaining £100.00 as above, plus the proceeds from a raffle this evening which Pauline Sherville has very kindly offered to organise. To that end, all donations will be gratefully received. In addition, I would invite anyone who wishes to do so to 'put their hands in their pockets' and donate a fiver. | |||||
| Richard then moved onto charitable giving. He said that obviously, without a regular subscription stream, we shall have little to pass onto any chosen military charity. However, it is possible that with the raffle and any donations towards the tree and plaque, we may have a little surplus. Charities are grateful for anything they receive so anything left over will go to whichever one we choose now. Rather than read out a list of possible recipients may I have a proposal and seconder for what will most likely be a very small donation? | |||||
| Blind Veterans UK | |||||
| Proposed by Geoff Brown | |||||
| Seconded by Brian Marjoram | |||||
Carried |
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| 7. | AOB. | ||||
| a. | Brian Majoram brought up the subject of the cost of the yearly running of our Website by our Webmaster Ken Hart in Canada. Richard said he would take this on board and write to Ken. | ||||
| b. | It was highlighted that next year is the 20th anniversary of the formation of the AAJLR Comrades Association and that efforts be made by the Secretary and others to encourage a good turnout for the 2024 AGM and Reunion. | ||||
| c. | The dates for the 2024 AGM and Reunion are the 22nd/23rd March. | ||||
| d. | There will be a raffle next year and the Charity chosen at the AGM then will benefit from the money raised which will be sent via the Secretary's Bank account, avoiding any need for opening a further account. The association will then be informed subsequent to that reunion weekend. | ||||
| There being no further business the meeting was closed at 1705hrs | |||||
Jim Sherville |
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| 8. | Addendum - matters subsequent to the 2023 Reunion weekend | ||||
| a. | It is with great regret that we learned after the meeting of the death of Terry (Geordie) Jamieson, who passed away in Hospital on Sunday morning. Richard has written to his wife Ann on behalf of the Association. Mike Owsley is hoping to attend Terry's funeral and is arranging for the Royal Signals flag to drape the coffin. | ||||
| b. | Due to a terrific response from all members and their good ladies the total money raised for our Tree and Plaque, from Pauline Sherville's well organised raffle, was £397 - beyond our expectations. This has been split £300 for the tree and £97 to Blind Veterans UK. Those sums have been paid already thanks to Pauline Sherville, who has sent a cheque to reimburse Barbara Parry, and to Blind Veterans UK. | ||||
| c. | Richard has written letters of thanks to Barbara also, and to Councillor Eileen Jones, Chair of Tywyn Town Council for facilitating the tree and plaque. Eileen has also apparently said that if the Association ceases to exist in the future the Council will ensure the tree is looked after. | ||||
| d. | Richard has had a call (30 March) from Barbara Parry who had received and invoice from the Town Council stating that the cost of the plaque is £37.20 - thus not included in the original £300. Barbara has paid this 'up front' also and as we no longer have any funds Richard and Jim will come up with a plan to reimburse her. | ||||
| e. | Richard has written to Ken Hart re the mention made under AOB at the reunion but has yet to receive a reply. | ||||
Return To The 2023 Reunion Page
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