AGM Committee Report 2026
2025 was a great year for our society with a wonderful series of lectures covering a wide range of subjects. We have had lectures on the ‘Arts and Crafts Movement’, the ‘Works of Frank Lloyd Wright’ and John Singer Sargent’ to name a few. I would like to thank our programme organiser, Sara, for an excellent series. This year we have a variety of lectures ranging from The Lamorna Artists last January, the Koh-I-Noor and Dumfries House.
As a committee, we review lectures after they are given and report back to Head Office. We welcome members’ views as well, either verbally or by email and we take these into account in our feedback.
I would like to thank other members of our committee who work very hard during the year, some in jobs that are less visible.
The days of special interest organised by Georgie Hayward have been superb and very popular. These days were fully subscribed and had waiting lists. Unfortunately, the lecturer Georgie has booked for the day of special interest next October has cancelled. Georgie is in the process of fixing another lecturer, so listen out for news of this.
Last September we had a wonderful afternoon at Rodmarton Manor organised by Anna. This year she has booked an afternoon in June to Brockworth court, near Gloucester.
The day trip this year is to the American museum near Bath and this is now fully booked.
Jill Nielson organised a fabulous tour to Valencia last September which was greatly enjoyed. We’re staying at home this year! Jill has planned a visit to Kent in September and this tour is now booked out.
We are very grateful to our projection team run by John Hayward with help from Guy Rooker. One of our members, Anthony Hewlett is able to help occasionally. We are always pleased when members volunteer to help in areas that they are skilled in.
I would also like to thank Adrian, our treasurer, who has been a great support to me and the society in general with his steady hand on finances. Our Community Arts’ projects are being enthusiastically researched and managed by Lis Holmes. In 2025 the society donated a grant of £250 to ‘In Tune’ at Gloucester Cathedral in memory of Sylvia Coppen-Gardner, a past president of our society. We donated £750 to Sherborne Church of England Primary School towards their after school art project, plus another £250 grant we received from Head Office. As Adrian said earlier, this grant is no longer available. They are now only giving it to societies which are small and struggling financially. We also gave £500 collected from guest fees in 2025 to pay for a pipe to be installed on the new organ at Gloucester Cathedral. Our main charitable project this year, 2026, is Mindsong - a charity that works with dementia sufferers through music. We will be donating £1000 to this very worthwhile cause. We see our charitable donations as an important part of our contribution towards arts’ development in Gloucestershire. I hope you agree to the resolution to increase this grant to £2000 which is in line with other local societies’ charitable contributions. We will continue to use our guest fees for other Community Arts’ projects.
Finally, all the committee are very grateful for the enthusiasm and support of our members. Every time I come into the hall before a lecture, there is a vibrant and friendly atmosphere, members enjoying meeting each other in anticipation of the lecture to come. We are a thriving society in terms of numbers and finances.
We have a membership currently of 258 with a waiting list of 28.
We look forward to another enjoyable year ahead of inspiring lectures and events.
Nickie Clarke April 2026