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AGM

ANNUAL REPORT OF CHAIR OF GRAYSHOTT GARDENERS 13th NOVEMBER 2024

2024 has been a busy and successful year for Grayshott Gardeners, and I would like to thank the Committee and all of our volunteers who work to support the Club and deliver our wide range of activities, particularly Alan and Pamela Wright who stood in as Co-Chairs until I took over in June.

Gordon and Judith Rae donated Snowdrops, the sale of which at three Club nights contributed £776 to our funds against the “Project 500” target of £500 which was a fantastic result. To note that 2025 will be the last year that Gordon and Judith will be able to provide the Snowdrops and the Committee will be seeking a new source for these in 2026.

Thanks to the efforts of our Programme Secretary Sue Wheeler, we had a varied and interesting series of speakers at Club Nights, which was reflected in the support from members with the average attendance being 86.

We are grateful to the speakers who permit us to video their presentations and enable members to replay these and take notes or catch up if they missed the meeting. This year the average viewings have been 49 per meeting.

Our new Events Co-ordinator, Carmen Harvey-Browne organised two David Hurrian Spring pruning workshops in March which were attended by 24 members.

Also, in March we organised two socials for members who had joined in the last two years which we were successful and enabled people to meet others. Thanks to Alan and Pamela Wright for organising these events.

Sue Erler held two flower arranging workshops in March and one in July.

Both the Spring Show in April and Summer Show in July were a great success with 227 entries at the Spring Show, 232 entries at the Summer Show and a total of 131 members and 189 visitors attending. Our thanks go to Pamela Wright and her committee of Anne Waddell, Judith Rae, Karen Cozens, Liz Munson, Amanda Dowden and Sue Erler, plus all the helpers who set up the hall then helped clean up after each show. With thanks also to our members who entered – without your commitment there wouldn’t have been a show.

Jan Bebbington took up the mantle of Plant Sales Coordinator with the result that we made £1058 on the day of the Plant Sale in May and a grand total of £2,933 from plant sales over the year, so our grateful thanks to Jan and all members who provided plants, manned the stalls and those who bought them!

Also, to Jane Jones and Anne Waddell who spent all day with Jan washing the pots prior to them going on sale, a great team effort.

In June we visited the delightful Chinthurst Lodge which despite the rain was enjoyed by 32 members.

In July 27 of us visited West Dean where we had a guided tour by the Tom Brown the Head Gardener and afternoon tea in the Main House.

In September we went to Greyfriars Vinyard for a wine tasting and guided tour. This was thoroughly enjoyed by 18 members

Jane Jones has done another sterling job as Membership Secretary with everything running seamlessly as usual. We will miss her on the Committee after nine years in the role, Carmen Harvey-Browne has been working with Jane over the last couple of meetings in preparation for taking on this role and Jane has kindly offered to support her over the first few months of the 2025 year.

I am delighted that Janet and John Hall took on the running of the Raffles and many thanks to them for doing this valuable task which has contributed £1,136 to Club funds. Prizes are often donated by members, so any unwanted gifts are always welcome!

As well as acting as joint Temporary Chairman for nearly half of the year, Alan Wright has done an excellent job as Treasurer dealing with cash, cheque, card and bank transfer receipts and payments. You will see from his report that we have had another successful year financially, meaning that we are proposing to keep the subscriptions at the same level of £20 for 2025.

My thanks to Sue Wheeler for acting as temporary Secretary this year, to Jane Jones for leading the refreshments team and Karen Cozens for her amazing work producing the handbook, monthly newsletter, posters and other comms related tasks and to Eda Hughes who updates the website with reports of the talks at each Club Night.

I would like to thank Alan and Pamela for their advice and support to me in taking on the role of Chairman.

Thanks to John Price who continues to be the Club Photographer and making the videos of Club nights (with each speaker’s permission).

The Committee will reduce from 9 to 8 for next year with three members covering two positions. Jan Bebbington is standing down as Plant Sales Co-ordinator and I am very pleased to report that Liz Brown has offered to take over this role. Jane Jones will carry on with Refreshments although not on the Committee.

You will appreciate that the Club can only survive with the generous time given by volunteers, both on and off the Committee.

I would like to repeat my thanks to all of our current volunteers who work behind the scenes to support the Club. Many find it rewarding and an opportunity to make new friends. If you would like to volunteer, there are many opportunities to do so without necessarily having to join the Committee or committing yourself on a regular basis. For example – helping to man the sign-in table, helping to man the programme table, refreshments etc.  The more people we have the more we can share the load and provide for our Club members.

Please see me at a future Club Night if you are interested or email me at Chair@grayshottgardeners.net

The Committee for 2025 is:

Gordon Rae – President

Graham Harvey-Browne – Chairman and Sponsorship

Alan Wright – Treasurer

Pamela Wright – Shows Coordinator

Carmen Harvey-Browne – Membership Secretary and Events Co-ordinator

Sue Wheeler – Programme Secretary and Secretary

Karen Cozens – Communications

Liz Brown – Plant Sales

Non-Committee Role:

Jane Jones – Refreshments

Please join me in congratulating this team, on their determination to maintain the club’s structure as we look longer term to a full committee.

Finally, I am delighted to confirm that Stonehill Automotives, now based in Grayshott, have agreed to be our sponsor for 2025 and we look forward to their support over the year.

Thank you.

13^th November 2024