The Westerly Owners' Association - AGM

The 46th Annual General Meeting of the Westerly Owners’ Association
was held at 11 am on Saturday 26th January 2013

Venue: The Hilton Hotel Lydiard Fields Great Western Way Swindon SN5 8UZ

Click photo for a selection of larger photos of the 2013 AGM

Nearly all the 140 members who had registered their intention to attend the AGM at the Swindon Hilton, managed to get there. Many had driven through snow, sleet or rain but all arrived on time. A hot cup of coffee was waiting for them and they had plenty of time to view the exhibitor’s stands and locate an item that ‘might just be useful one day’ on the Jumble Table!

The formal part of the day began with an EGM to amend the constitution to extend the length of service of the Regalia Manager and the Technical Editor from a maximum of four to a maximum of eight years. This was approved by the Membership.

The AGM followed and Commodore, Judith Symonds, welcomed members from Scotland, East Coast, South Coast, South West, Bristol Channel, France and Westerly Nederlands. She then gave her review of the year and reported that WOA continues to flourish. The Treasurer then gave his report and took questions.

Five members were nominated for the Committee and all were accepted. The responsibilities of all 15 Committee members was then ratified. These were Judith Symonds (Commodore), Andy Truscott (Vice Commodore), George Pickburn (Rear Commodore and Boat Show Organiser), Mike Mason (Treasurer), Liz Truscott (Secretary), David Symonds (Commercial Manager), Jill Pickburn (Magazine Editor and Regalia Manager), Robert Jones (Technical Editor), John Ruskin (PR and Communications), Gerry Beddoes, David Jibb, Martyn Langford, Phil Loynes, Denis McCallum and Martyn Morris (Committee members).

Bob Shapland was elected Honorary Auditor

Full minutes of the EGM and AGM can be found in the Members Only area of the website.

Then followed the Prize Giving

As Christine Bull was unable to attend the meeting, Jill Pickburn, our new editor, thanked the members who contributed to Magazine during the year and shared some of the articles and logs that had been considered for awards before making the presentations.

The winner of the Best Article was Ella Walsworth-Bell for ‘The Pleasure and the Pain’, an account of sailing to the Scillies and back with her husband and two young children.

The Best Log was won by Robin Gray for ‘Around Ireland 2011’.

Robert Jones presented the prize for the Best Technical Article. This was awarded to Stuart Rogers for “Stuart Rogers sorts out his Pipe Work’.
The Commodore then presented an engraved glass to David Gill and thanked him for his services as Honorary Auditor for the past six years
This was followed by the presentations of special awards.
The Navigators and General trophy for the best photograph of a Westerly, or part of a Westerly, was won by Lisa Quinn-Thomas for ‘A misty morning on the River Dart. The winning entry is featured on the front cover of this magazine.
The Commodore’s Clock was presented to Keith Thomas for his service to WOA for the use of his boat Dreamtime of Blackwater at the Southampton Boat Show.

The Rayner Challenge Plate was won by Mary Buchanan for ‘Around Ireland the wrong way in 40 days and 40 nights’.

The meeting then adjourned for lunch before the afternoon speakers.

Dr. Tim Smyth from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory gave us a presentation entitled ‘Around the world in 80 minutes at 200 leagues’. It was a fascinating and informative talk and we learnt that the colour of water is actually blue!

The second speaker was Captain William Wells, a former Ship’s Captain and a licensed Commercial Marine Pilot. He talked about his varied working life, lighthouses and the 500 year history of Trinity House.

The meeting finished at 4pm. and a cup of tea was served to members before they returned home. Some members stayed at the hotel and an enjoyable social time was spent by over 40 members.

Liz Truscott, Secretary