June 2017

"SOCIETY AGM"

                  Arthur Williams outgoing President                                               Arthur presents the Air Ambulance

                                                                                                                                  with a cheque for £2000

The June meeting of the Chelmsford and District Welsh Society held on Thursday 22^nd June was the last of the 2016/17 season and included the Annual General Meeting. The outgoing President Arthur Williams outlined the programme of events that had been staged during his time in office and thanked all the committee members that had served him so well in his time in office.

Also during the year several successful events took place to raise money for charity. These included a garden party, coffee mornings, a lunch and a musical evening. The money raised allowed the society to give a £2000 cheque to the Essex Air Ambulance, the lead charity of Arthur’s year. Another beneficiary was the Tillingham Hobbies Club that runs worthwhile activities for 6 to 17 year olds in Arthur’s home village. Retiring committee member Maureen Byatt was made an Honorary Vice-president of the Society in recognition of all the hard work she had done for the society over the years including a year as Society President.

Treasurer Carys Williams gave her report showing that the society had made a small overall loss on the year, but in general, the society’s finances were in a healthy position. It was decided to increase the annual subscription for the coming year to £20 to cover this shortfall. All agreed that this still reflected incredible value for money.

Arthur then passed on the Presidency to Brian Farmer who in turn appointed Ivy Price as his Vice President for the coming season. The AGM was then formally closed and all those who attended were treated to a generous strawberry supper. After the drawing of the raffle new president Brian Farmer gave a short illustrated presentation on his time in the African state of Malawi. Brian included photos of the countryside and wildlife as well as the customs and dress of the local people who were most industrious and friendly. At that time the country was a one party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda and although still one of the world’s poorest countries does now have a multiparty system of government.

On Saturday 24^th June the new president Brian Farmer held his first event, a fund raising afternoon tea, at the home of Shirley and Don Moody. Our thanks to Shirley and Don for the use of their barn and all the facilities. The Society will next meet after the summer break on Thursday September 28^th at 7.30 p.m for the “Croesol Yn Ol (Welcome Back) meeting where the president will introduce his charity for the year and Mike Price will show extracts from this year’s National Eisteddfod.

              Arthur Williams hands Maureen Byatt                                           Arthur Williams hands over the                                 the office of Honourary Vice President                                             Presidency to Brian Farmer

                   Gwenno Pope, Secretary                                                            Ivy Price, Vice President

                   Afternoon Tea at Shirley & Don's                                             under the watchful eye of Bessie

Arthur Williams presents a cheque for £250 to the "Hobbies Club" in his home village of Tillingham