ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1900 THURSDAY 15th JANUARY 2026
Present
Colin Hughes (CH) Life President
Ian Freegard (IF) Chairman
Pat Prior (PP) Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Brenda Ryan (BR) Membership Secretary
Martyn Cornish (MC) Webmaster
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member
Colin Redstone (CR) Member
Lenny Carroll (LC) Member
Penny Wallis (PW) Member
Gilian Blake (GB) Member
Committee Apologies
Ian McHugh
Member Apologies
Brian Wead, David Scott, Julia Appleby and Christine Senior
Crossed the Bar
Details provided since the last meeting:
Richard Geall, Darren (Daz) Grosvenor and Commander Mike Bates. A one-minute silence was held.
Minutes of the last meeting 10 September 2025
The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by PP, seconded by DS.
Actions from the last minutes
Amendments to Rules and Regulation – to be covered in the Agenda.
Venue for Annual Dinner in 2027 – to be covered later in the agenda.
Treasurer’s Report
PP said that the balance in the current account was £1822.14 with a small liability of £14.28. She said that the funds moved into a savings account now held £5211.64. The small amount of interest gained (£8.99) would help offset bank charges. Bank charges had amounted to £37.38. Members sending payment by cheque were now adding £1 onto the total to offset bank charges, which were gratefully received. (As agreed at the AGM).
PP also said that paying in cash resulted in charges, so asked for approval to have payments transferred to her own account, which would then be immediately BAC’sd into the Writers account. This was agreed and would be shown in the accounts for audit – the audit would be taking place on 30 January 2026. 2 committee members would verify the cash prior to sending it to PP.
The breakdown of the dinner was as follows:
Money in £4430, paid out £4899.50 (£459.50 loss). However, the raffle and Heads and Tails made £638, minus £97.50 expenditure, leaving a profit of £540.50, so overall, a small profit had been made.
The Grand National Draw made £1665 in ticket sales, less expenditure on printing, postage and prizes, leaving a profit of £756.40.
IF would be added on as a bank signatory.
Membership Report
New Members since Last Meeting Update
|
Name |
Current/Former Rank/Rate |
|
Julia White |
Ex 2/0 |
Total Membership (After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned or CtB since October 2023):
|
Honorary Life |
Life |
Members |
Totals |
||||
|
Nov 25 |
Jan 26 |
Nov 25 |
Jan 26 |
Nov 25 |
Jan 26 |
Nov 25 |
Jan 26 |
|
3 |
3 |
27 |
26 |
301 |
285 |
331 |
314 |
Subscriptions/Standing Orders
Unfortunately, we have 17 members lapsed due to non-payment of subscriptions in 2025 hence the lower number of members this month.
Where those whose subs are still outstanding for 3 months or more, as per the Association rules section 6 and letters sent in 2025, membership has been lapsed, if however those members wish to reinstate please just contact me at bnr1@btinternet.com .
Please follow this link to the website, which will show if your subs are overdue and if they are due for January 2026 https://rnwa.co.uk/members/renewals-due/ .
Merchandise
JD said that there was still a good supply of sweatshirts and polo shirts, held by PP. They have been advertised on the website and in the newsletter.
Rules and Regulations
The new Chairman said he would go through the paper and then pass it to CH and LG to ensure they were happy with the amendments . Once they were ready, IF said he would forward them to MC to place on the website.
Annual Dinner 2027
LG was still chasing up potential venues and would report her findings to the committee.
Grand National Draw 2026
As discussed, and agreed at the AGM, this would be virtual tickets. Another newsletter would be produced with the exact details. If there was less expenditure of printing and postage, there was a strong possibility of the prize money being increased in 2027.
Any Other Business
On the issue of bank charges, AH asked who we banked with (Lloyds) and mooted that all bank charity accounts now appear to attract these charges imposed.
IF said he was delighted to join the Committee in the new post as Chairman; this would be on a co-opted basis, and he would seek formal ratification at the AGM in October. He would find the right opportunity to thank the outgoing President (now Life President) properly for all his hard work over his many years in post.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 19.40.
The date of the next meeting is Thursday 19th March 2026.
