ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1900 THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025
Present
Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Tony Mason (TM) Committee Member
Ian McHugh (IM) Serving Member
Greta Grindell (GG) Member
Peter Danks (PD) Member
Bob Millard (BM) Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member
Steph Durrance (SD) Member
Neil Durrance (ND) Member
Committee Apologies
Steve Hamblin, Kathryn Simmons, Mick Goldthorpe, Alf Parr, Brian Wead, Christine Senior, David Scott, Ian Freegard, Dave Hunter, Patrick Magill and David Gadd.
Crossed the Bar
Richard Vigar, Ian McLean, Phillip Kerr, Jenny Sharp and Nigel Bancroft. A one-minute silence was held.
Minutes of the last meeting 21 November 2024
The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by JD, seconded by GG.
Matters Arising from 21 November 2024
No matters arising that are not covered on the Agenda.
Treasurer’s Report
PP reported that the current balance is £6348.15. This figure includes the ring-fenced funds donated for the arboretum and benches. Funds are up mainly due to profit from the Grand National Draw, the raffle at the Annual Dinner and the sales of merchandise. LG had also donated her honorarium payment back to the RNWA.
PP said the accounts were being audited this week and would then be placed on the website.
Volunteer for Membership Secretary
CH reported that the Previous Membership Secretary had resigned, and that CH was keeping the role going until a new permanent Membership Secretary is put in place. Any volunteers, names to CH. This is not an onerous task, and the applicant does not need to live in the Portsmouth area.
Volunteer for Webmaster
CH reported that Sophie had given notice for personal reasons and a new webmaster was urgently required. Sophie will conduct a handover. A volunteer has come forward and hopefully the work can be handed over as soon as possible.
Approval for Purchase of Items for the Memorial and Lectern style Display Board
CH said that it was highly unlikely that all the ring-fenced funds would be required but that ideas for pictures to be used were being sought. Perhaps an old style pay parade photo, class photos from the decades, with photos of the Writer of the Year? CH and IM were managing this project and would like input from members with ideas by mid-February – please email ideas to CH.
Update on Reunion Dinner
LG advised that she had met with the hotel and that prices had increased quite a bit. The dinner/wine/port will cost us £56 per head and after discussion it was agreed to charge members £60 and guests £65.
POST MEETING NOTE After a further discussion, it was agreed to reduce the cost of an Association members ticket to £50, with the RNWA subsidising the ticket cost from the previous dinner raffle proceeds. Guest tickets remain the at £65.
Accommodation has been quoted a Classic Room for 2 people £133.20 or single occupancy £107. A budget room would be £101.70 for 2 or single occupancy £75.60 These rates all include breakfast.
POST MEETING NOTE LG has negotiated a much better rate for the Classic Rooms £120 for 2 or £95 for single occupancy. Budget rooms remain the same. The code to quote to get these rates is GA000794.
Guest of Honour 2025
A discussion took place on who to approach. There were various suggestions, but it was felt that to have a senior person from DLSA – to give an update on what is happening there – was a good idea. A final decision will be taken at the next meeting.
Merchandise
JD said that the supplier was still producing goods. There is still a quantity of sweatshirts to be sold but no polo shirts (although there are 2 orders requested). It was agreed to purchase a supply of polo shirts and to add this into the next newsletter. PP agreed to email JD with quantity and sizes required.
ACTION PP to email JD.
Any Other Business
PD asked what was happening with a tree at the Arboretum. CH said that it was no longer possible to go with this option but that a tree, a bench, and display boards would be sited at Worthy Down for the RNWA and maintained by staff at DLSA. He also updated PD with the situation regarding the 2 benches on Southsea Seafront.
TW asked if the regulation regarding marching at the Cenotaph should be revisited – he would produce a proposed change.
IM updated the committee and members on replacing the old Writer of the Year Boards, having sourced new ones. He updated PD on trophies held and awarded (Writer of the Year, the Grocott trophy for the top scoring person on LWtr Qualifying Course, and the Nigel Prowse trophy award by CNLO for the writer (any rank) who embodies the spirit of the branch).
There being no further business the meeting ended at 1945.
The date of the next meeting is Thursday 20 March 2025.