The Twelfth Annual General Meeting of The Widecombe History Group was held at The Church House, Widecombe, on Wednesday 6th May 2009 at 8.30p.m.  

Apologies:  Doug & Lynn Pigeon, Carl Heywood, Belinda & Tim Owen, Roger Whale, Dot Jim & Ruby Churchward, Betty Andrews, Margaret Phipps, Rodney Cruze, Tanya & Barry Welch, and George Radford.  

The AGM was held after the regular May meeting. Roger Claxton was in the chair and 42 members attended. 

The minutes of the Eleventh AGM were adopted after being read at the June 2008 meeting.  

The following were elected as officers for 2009/10.  

Chairman                                                             Roger Claxton

Vice-chairman                                                     Terry French

Secretary                                                            Anthony Beard

Treasurer                                                             Jenny Pascoe

Programme/Education Trips Co-ordinator              Ann Claxton

Members                                                              Sue Boustead, Mary Pascoe, Sam Boustead  

Website Co-ordinators                                       Roger Claxton & Sue Boustead

Programme/Education Trips Assistants              Wendy Beard, Maggie Faulkner

Archivist/Librarian                                              Richard Wells

Researchers                                                      Peter Rennells & John Kimber

Newsletter Editor                                               Sue Booty

Heritage Marquee Co-ordinators                          Eileen & Peter Carrett   

Treasurer's Report: Jenny Pascoe reported on another very successful year ending February 2009. Our finances showed a surplus of income over expenditure of £918.88. Our publications are continuing to sell well and our current balance of funds is £4916.02. The accounts were adopted and a unanimous vote of thanks was expressed to Jenny. Jenny asked that a vote of thanks should be recorded to Andrew Tilt for once again auditing the accounts.

Chairman’s Report: Roger Claxton thanked everyone for the support and enthusiasm that is shown for all the projects, outings, and meetings, that have been held this past year. The group could not function without this continual spirit of cooperation and the willingness of all, to do their bit, which adds to the success of all we do. He felt that he could not name every individual and task undertaken by them but felt that the whole club know what each and everyone does so please accept his sincere thanks. 

Secretary’s Report: Anthony Beard said that he could only reiterate what Roger had said. The success of this group is all due to the support that the committee and officers get from all the members. If anyone is asked to do something for the group they are all only too willing to help. At the risk of forgetting something or someone he would like to mention: The team that has been working for the past year to restore ‘The Uncle Tom Cobley & All - Mechanical Horse’. Everyone who has helped with the guided walks and talks that we have given to outside groups.The team that staged another successful Widecombe Fair Heritage Marquee. All those that help at our monthly meetings, organised the programme of events and assisted in any way during the past twelve months. The officers for their help and support and, those that have been making considerable efforts to get “The Heritage Centre Project  off the ground. Again many thanks to you all for your support, encouragement, enthusiasm and the way in which you have all responded in helping me. 

The Proposed Heritage and Educational Centre:  Roger Claxton then reported on the progress so far with regards to the above.The Old Reading Room in the Old Rectory Yard is the proposed site. Negotiations are in hand with the Exeter Diocesan   Committee to see if we can agree a rent, a mutually acceptable building restoration plan, a long lease, and a sustainable future for the building. The whole scheme will depend on the possibility of obtaining considerable grants from both national and local sources. In order that this can be achieved there are certain steps that will have to be taken. First we must maintain a membership list and an annual membership subscription should be paid to the group. To this end our treasurer produced a book for members to sign in and pay a nominal membership sub of £1.00 at the May Meeting each year, or at the first meeting attended after that date. That membership subscription can be ‘gift aided’ by the signing of the necessary form, and all future donations to the group from those members thereafter, can also be beneficial to the group as a result. 

Constitution The Group has to have a new ‘Constitution’ in order to comply with the requirements of Inland Revenue and Grant-giving organisations and a draft copy was circulated at this meeting for all to take home to read. Members were asked to read it and make their comments and suggestions to Roger Claxton by the end of May, for consideration by the Committee that was then appointed for that task. To this end it was then decided to adjourn the meeting until Wednesday 3rd June 2009, when it will be re-convened., primarily for the purpose of agreeing and adopting the new constitution.