Minutes of AGM - 7 November 2016
Minutes of AGM - 7 November 2016
November 12, 2016
Minutes of the First Annual Meeting of the MagnaMasters Association was held at the The Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY on Monday 7 November, 2016 at 6pm
In attendance: The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Jeremy Randall; The Vice Chairman, Michael Davis-Marks; the Hon. Treasurer, Martin Miles, the Hon. Secretary, Ian Locks and 25 other members. The full list is attached to these minutes.
Apologies for absence were received from Neville Chamberlain (Fuellers); Graham Dickinson (Insurers); Raymond Layard (Horners); Ald. Vincent Keaveny (Solicitors); Mark Seligman (International Bankers); Fiona Adler (Hon. Vice President); Sir Roger Vickers (Barbers); Roger North (Water Conservators); Adrian Scott-Knight (Fletchers); Michael Powell (Gold and Silver Wire Drawers); Dr. Ian Frood (Coopers).
Welcome The meeting opened with a brief welcome to the Royal Air Force Club by Air Vice Marshal Patrick O’Reilly as host for the evening. The Chairman, Jeremy Randall, welcomed members present saying it was good to see 29 people attending with apologies from 11 others. He said he was particularly grateful to Patrick O’Reilly for arranging for us to hold our AGM at the magnificent RAFC Club, in which we were using three rooms, and to Mark Hardy who had kindly arranged the wine tasting which followed the meeting. He reported to members the very sad news that Lt. Col. Paul Holder, Master Carman of our year, was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy to retard Stage Four pancreatic cancer, by definition terminal. Paul had been due to return to South Sudan as part of the UN mission when he was taken ill. He was recently married to his partner, Annemiek, a Dutch journalist he met in South Sudan, who is expecting their baby in December. The meeting expressed its support for Paul and Annemiek.
Chairman’s Report In his report the Chairman said he hoped those present agreed we had made a good start in the organisation’s first 16 months. He reminded the meeting we were formed at Ironbridge on 7 June 2015. Our first open committee meeting was held on 14 September 2015, attended by 22 members, at which a draft constitution was considered (for approval today and attached) and a programme sketched out for 2016. We were invited for our first visit to the Stepney City Farm by member Kevin Moore (Public Relations Practitioners); A website was established in September last year and communications have been maintained on a monthly basis. We sat down almost 160 at our inaugural dinner held at Stationers’ Hall on 2 February this year after having to move from Apothecaries’ Hall to accommodate higher than expected numbers. Thanks were due to all those who helped make this a success including especially Bryan Spearman and Stephen Barnard. We had joined CartaConsort visits to RHS Wisley, Bletchley Park and Denbies Winery; supported our President Alan Yarrow with three tables to hear his recollections of his year as Lord Mayor; some 60 of us joined Robin and Sophia Neill for Rigoletto at their home in Herefordshire; we filled two tables at the Leander Club for the opening day of Henley Royal Regatta; supported the Bakers’ Great Fire event with 13 people; 32 of us attended a delightful evening at Westminster Kingsway College organised by Nick Andrews (Patternmakers) and his wife Hilary and generously entertained beforehand at the London home of Tony Alston (Farmers) and his wife Mary: perhaps the visit to Westminster Kingsway College might become an annual event? We had supported a number of other events by our members’ companies including the Drapers Christmas Fair, the Glaziers Art Fair, Wizardry in Wood at Carpenters’ Hall; Our second open committee meeting was held on 15 September 2016 attended by 24 members; we had 99 members in June 2015 including our honorary President and Vice Presidents and we were missing just two just one or two email addresses; membership in 2016 is taking a little longer to reach a similar level with some 85 members signed up for the current year at the last count. Our subscription year runs from June (the month of our formation) but most of us did not join until after the first committee meeting in September last year ….so still time to reach the 100 in 2016. Congratulations were due to Roger North (Water Conservators) who had carried the flag for golfing events. Partnered with Jim Conybeare (Master Mariners) Roger won the back nine prize at the Lord Mayor’s Charity Golf Day and partnered by Jeremy Balcombe (Tin Plate Workers) won the Past Masters’ Cup as part of the Livery Golf Day at Sonning. The programme for 2017 was taking shape. Kathleen Duncan (Musicians) suggested and it was agreed to include the organ recital by the Lord Mayor on 14 March
28 Feb Shrove Tuesday Banquet - Mansion House
14 March - Lord Mayor’s Organ Recital of Saint-Saëns at St Paul’s Cathedral in aid of LM Charity (Kathleen Duncan)
27 April Charterhouse Magical Music Tour, Patrick O’Reilly
Other suggestions being pursued were:
Wine Tour (Revised format) - Jeremy Randall
Farm Tour - Tony Alston (Farmers)
Post Office Tower Dinner - Mike Shepherd
Visit to York - Mark Hardy
Visit to Portsmouth - Michael Davis-Marks (Probably not 2017)
Visit to Kew (12 people/groups of 12?) - Mark Henderson confirmed the was exploring this with Michael Godbee and Patrick Chapman
Tower of London special invitation plus dinner (Limit 30) - Ian Frood to investigate.
Visit to RNLI, Poole - Edward Donaldson
The Chairman reminded members if they wished to organise an event for the MagnaMasters they would be most welcome as there was room for more smaller events. Contact either himself or Ian Locks.
Our big event in the coming year would be the Shrove Tuesday Banquet at Mansion House on 28 February and he hoped we could reach last year’s number of 150/160 for this event being held at the invitation of our Aldermanic Sheriff Ald. Andrew Parmley being installed as Lord Mayor this week. We were joining with our previous year group, One4All, to ensure that we had as full a room as possible, aiming for around 160 each. He urged all present to attend with a/their Consort if possible: the price for a four course banquet plus reception at the Mansion House of just £95 each being achieved by membership subscriptions subsiding the not-insignificant room hire charge.
He concluded by thanking all members for their support and not least the three other officers.
3. Financial Report and Accounts: Hon. Treasurer Martin Miles introduced his report which is attached to these minutes together with the Association’s first accounts. He thanked David Illingworth (Chartered Accountants) for acting in this capacity. The report and accounts were adopted unanimously. The Chairman thanked Martin for his stewardship of the Association’s accounts and for his report.
4. To consider and adopt a Constitution The Hon Secretary reminded the meeting that the draft before them had been accepted as a working constitution at the first open committee meeting in September 2015 adapted from the standard document prepared by the Association of Past Masters. He apologised that some of the numbering appeared to have changed in the cut and paste process. The meeting agreed to delete the final paragraph as recommended 12 months previously providing for a Tontine (the method for disposing of any moneys on the eventual winding up of the association), the previous paragraph considered to be doing the job perfectly adequately. It was pointed out this would require further amendment where there was reference to a Tontine. Amendments were also required for the dates of the Company year and the position of Vice Chairman if/when adopted under item 5. It was agreed that the amendments should be made, be reviewed by Mark Hardy (World Traders) and when completed, circulated to all members with the support of Mark as Proposer and a Seconder. (Subsequently Robin Furber (Pewterers) agreed to do this.)
5. Election of Officers The Vice Chairman took the chair and thanked Jeremy Randall (Watermen and Lightermen) for his leadership and guidance as Chairman. He proposed that Jeremy should be re-elected for a further year and this was agreed unanimously. Jeremy resuming the chair proposed that the following be re-elected for the coming year: Michael Davids-Marks (Makers of Playing Cards) as Vice Chairman: Martin Miles (Actuaries) as Hon. Treasurer: and Ian Locks (Stationers and Newspaper Makers) as Hon. Secretary. No other nominations had been received and all three were unanimously re-appointed with thanks.
6. Election of Financial Examiner Martin Miles proposed and the meeting unanimously agreed that David Illingworth (WCO Chartered Accountants) be reappointed as Financial Examiner with grateful thanks.
7.Other business There was no other business and the meeting finished at 6.39pm.
The meeting was followed by a wine tasting and supper for which a charge of £55 per person was made.
Members in Attendance - 7 November 2016
Anthony Alston (Farmers); Simon Archer (Armourers and Braziers); Rodney Benin (Lightmongers); Stephen Bernhard (Gardeners); Patrick Chapman (Management Consultants); Graham Chase (Chartered Surveyors);
Michael Cooper (Parish Clerks) Michael Davis-Marks (Makers of Playing Cards); Kathleen Duncan OBE (Musicians); Christopher Ford (Air Pilots); Robin Furber (Pewterers); Michael Godbee (Tax Advisers);
Graeme Groom (Innholders); Mark Hardy (World Traders); Mark Henderson (Curriers); Richard Herbert (Cutlers); John Hitchins (Skinners); Rowland Hughes (Poulters); David Illingworth (Chartered Accountants); Terry Last (Pavers); Geoff Lewis (Needlemakers); Ian Locks (Stationers and Newspaper Makers}; Martin Miles (Actuaries); Robert Morrow (Masons); Patrick O’Reilly CB (Engineers); Debby Ousted (Mercers); Jeremy Randall (Watermen and Lightermen); Anthony Watson CBE (Leathersellers); Peter Williams (Educators).
FINANCIAL REPORT TO 30 JUNE 2016
Introduction
The decision to set up a Magna Masters Association (MMA) was made at a meeting of Livery Company Masters at Ironbridge on 7th June 2015. The MMA was formally established at a meeting in London on 14th September 2015. At that meeting the subscription for membership was set at £50 to cover the period to 30th June 2016 and a Bank Account for the MMA with Lloyds Bank was opened shortly afterwards.
The Accounts for the period from inception until 30th June 2016 are attached. The Notes referred to in the Accounts are set out below. This Introduction and the Notes which follow are an integral part of the Accounts
Notes
1. 96 members each paid £50 during the year to join the MMA.
2. A number of form al and/or social events took place during the year. Some of these were self-funded and did not involve the MMA in any formal way. The only events in which the MMA had any financial involvement were the Stepney Farm Visit on 20th October 2015, the MMA Annual Dinner on 2nd February 2016 and the “Alan Yarrow Reminiscences” Dinner on 18th May 2016, as summarised below:
Stepney Farm
£300.00 Income (12 people at £25 each)
£300.00 Cost of Event
£Nil Net Expense
Annual Dinner
£13175.00 Income (155 people at £85 each)
£15460.80 Cost of Event
£ 2285.80 Net Expense
AY Reminiscences
£1800.00 Income (18 people at £100 each)
£1933.80 Cost of Event
£ 133.80 Net Expense
3. General expenses related to website (domain fees etc) and printing.
Martin W Miles
Constitution of MagnaMasters
Name and Objects
The name of the Association is
MagnaMasters 2015
Livery Past Masters’ Association
The Object of the Association is to provide opportunity for promotion of social activities and the discussion of topics of general interest exclusive of those of a religious or political nature.
RULES
Members
Those persons who held the office of Master, Prime Warden or Upper Bailiff of the City of London Livery Company in the Mayoralty of 2014-15 shall be eligible for membership.
The Lord Mayor (Ald. Alan Yarrow) and Sheriffs of the City of London for 2014-15 shall be invited to join, and if they shall do so, shall be invited to be the President and Vice Presidents of the Association respectively.
Masters or equivalents of City Companies or Guilds without Livery and Companies or Guilds outwith the City which are considered to be equivalent status may be invited by the Committee to join and if accepted shall be members of equal standing with those qualified under Rule 3. The decision of the Committee as to eligibility shall be final Masters or equivalent of the years for which there is no active Past Masters Association may be invited to join as Associate Members. They must be sponsored by a member of the Committee and have the agreement of the current member from their Company, if any. Associate Members shall have the same rights and obligations as full Members. The decision of the Committee as to eligibility shall be final.
Entrance Fee and Subscription
The annual subscription shall be £50 or such amount as the Committee may approve from time to time payable in advance on 1st July in each year. Each member shall pay on admission an entrance fee of £50 and the annual subscription for each subsequent year by Banker’s Order.
Voting
No member whose subscription shall be in arrears shall be entitled to vote at any Meeting.
Subscription in arrears