5 Honeystreet

theButty TRUST matters No.183 Summer 2008 Crofton AGM venue

The pumping station in steam Neil Lethby then outlined the was an added attraction that financial situation. The financial ensured a good turn out to report was passed with two votes this year’s AGM at Crofton on against — from Brian and Juanita Saturday 10th May. Poulton.

This was the first time that the Marketing and Membership AGM has been held outside Director John Kirby explained the Devizes since 1996 when it was reason for a proposed increase in held at Burfield. the membership subscriptions

The meeting was held in a from 1st January 2009 to £20 a marquee on the lawn and year for an adult with a pro rata followed by a meal. increase for other memberships.

Crofton proved a beautiful The proposal was carried setting for the business meeting unanimously. and encouraged Trust members Sam Weller proposed a vote to take an active role in the of thanks to Brian Poulton for his meeting and to enjoy a sociable 32 years’ service to the Trust as afternoon. branch member, branch

After hearing a message from committee member, trustee, the President, the meeting heard Trust Council member and from Terry Kemp who reported Chairman. Brian was given a on the Trust’s activities during round of applause. 2007. David Lamb suggested a very

The President’s AGM

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for attending this the forty sixth Annual General Meeting of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and welcome to Crofton Pumping Station.

Unfortunately I am not able to attend today due to having booked a holiday which unfortunately coincided with today’s meeting.

However, I’m sure that the meeting will go just as well for you all knowing that I’m safely tucked up on my deck chair…

The President’s job at an AGM, as far as I have ever been able to make out in all the years I have been doing such things, is firstly and most importantly to thank you all for taking the trouble to attend and secondly, to tell you how hard the Members of Trust Council and other volunteers have worked over the last year in making sure that the Trust continues to be a success. 2007 was a challenging year for the Trust in a number of respects but I am pleased that after a period of uncertainty, the Trust Council has risen to the challenges it faced and has managed to turn the whole organisation around and now I’m pleased to be able to report to you that the Trust is on a sound footing for the future.

Much work still needs to be done, particularly within its trading subsidiary, but I am confident that the team in place will succeed in its endeavour of ensuring that the Trust we so love and cherish, has a bright and certain future.

The Trust President, Sir Anthony Durant was unable to be at the AGM this year — this is the text of his address that was read out to the meeting by the Trust Director of Heritage and Fundraising, Terry

My thanks go to every member of Trust Council for their unstinting efforts over the last few months and I am particularly encouraged that new members will be elected as Trustees today.

I am particularly pleased this year to be able to tell you that Trust Council has succeeded in securing the services of two new Vice Presidents; Richard Benyon the MP for Newbury and David Bruce whom many of you will know through his connection with the Bruce Trust and who I’m told is here among you today.

With a renewed sense of formal way that this could be done that has been established over the years — to consider appointing Brian Poulton as a VP.

It was agreed that this proposal would be considered by Trust Council.

Mike Corfield added a vote of thanks to the other Trust Council members who had resigned, Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Mike Lee who he said was, “thankfully still our Engineer” — to Mike Davis the Bath Chair for 10 years and David Lindop “our Treasurer for such a short time” .

They also were give a round of applause.

Brian Oram proposed a sincere vote of thanks to the current trustees for the difficult path they have had to tread and the way that they have dealt with

address

purpose, spurred on by the need to undertake some high profile restoration and improvement projects over the coming years, Trust Council has vigorously pursued a renewed policy of fundraising.

As you know, that can’t happen overnight but a solid start has been made.

I can report to you that against a total of approximately £36,000 raised in the whole of last year, in the first four months of this year over £50,000 has been raised for specific projects so far, with more fundraising schemes still to come.

I must thank all the many individuals who have made this turn around possible in what is one of the most important areas of Trust life.

In fact I must thank all of our volunteers and paid staff for the remarkable effort and individual and team contributions they have made in the past year and I know, from hearing the reports in Trust Council which I have attended this year, that they continue to do so. Well done to everyone.

Last but not least, I can tell you that at next year’s AGM I will be handing the Presidency of the Trust over to Michael Ancram who many of you will know has been connected with the Trust for many years.

The Trust in 2007

Highlights of Terry Kemp’s review of the year

We have moved on from the ‘crossroads’ and the disagreements of last September to a point were we are able to report good news and continuing success.

This is possible because a terrific amount of work has been undertaken by Trust Council — all volunteers — with help and advice from professional advisors and the Charity Commission.

The position of the Chairman still remains vacant. This is a deliberate decision that follows advice we have been given.

In the meantime, day-to-day operational decisions are undertaken by an executive committee who have been granted limited delegated powers by the Council.

We will, however, be using the good offices of our present President and our future President to recruit a new Chairman in the future.

We are a multi-functional charity and business with many activities that make up the whole.

Membership numbers are being maintained with recruitment replacing those who leave.

Our volunteer base is extremely strong along the waterway — running and staffing branches, events, shops, pumping stations, the museum, boats and other works.

The Trust appreciates the vital work of volunteers and this year we have published our ‘Volunteer Charter and Handbook’ .

We have begun a new volunteering partnership with BW with our volunteers working not only with the annual clear up but also in fitting new handles to the lock beams between Reading and Crofton.

Our thanks to everyone who took part and especially to Mike Lee who dealt with many of the arrangements.

The property and heritage issues the Trust is involved with are canal wide.

We need a full assessment of what we need to plan and budget for — and in 2008 we will produce a Conservation Plan for all our sites.