The Fifteenth Annual General Meeting of The Widecombe History Group was held at The Church House, Widecombe on Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at 7.30 p.m.

Apologies: Barbara Norrish, Arthur & Rosemary Wrayford, Michael & Mo Wright,    Roger Whale, Dot Jones, Derek & Lynne Hext, Tony Heath, Ruth Parnell,   Barry & Tanya Welch, Dougie & Lynne Pigeon, Joan Brooks, Joy Routley,   Patrick Garvey, Alan & Mary Goodall, Rose Mortimore, Jenny Pascoe and   Patrick Watson.

This AGM was held prior to our monthly meeting. Mrs Sue Boustead was in the chair and   37 members attended.

The minutes of the 2011 meeting having been read and signed as correct at the meeting held
on 1st June 2011 were formally adopted.

The Secretary reported on the recent management committee meeting of 26th April 2012 when the AGM agenda was reviewed. It recommended that the WHG should continue to have Five trustees. In accordance with our constitution, the 2011/12 trustees will stand down. They are permitted to stand for re-election and they are all prepared to do so. There has been no other nominations. It has been agreed that the chairman and vice-chairman should stand for two years to help with the continuity of the group. The management committee last year consisted of the Five trustees and Five Ex-official members, Ten in all. The committee agreed that this should be an optimum number. However as six members have offered to be committee members this year, rather than upset anyone who was prepared to stand, they agreed to recommend all Six should be co-opted this year making a total of Eleven and the committee will review the situation again next year 2013.
An inventory will be made of the books etc still in hand.

Chairman's report:
Sue Boustead reported that: 2011 – 12 Has been an eventful year, we have seen quite a few changes. It had been decided that in order to achieve our aim of now, nearly 4 years to have a Widecombe HERITAGE CENTRE we would need funding and so to do this we needed to put our group on a more formal footing. We adopted a constitution and have achieved charity status. This was done with much hard work by various members of the committee beavering away in the background, we all owe them a heartfelt vote of thanks,   As we have a constitution we have had to make several changes to the makeup of the committee, it was decided to appoint 5 trustees who will all stand down tonight as the constitution dictates and a vote will be held to elect 5 Trustees to stand for the year 2012 – 13, also of course the officers will be elected and the management committee will be named. At present the Heritage centre idea of a building erected in the car park is on hold, if pursued it will entail Huge expense, this in turn would need very careful thought as to the responsibility of running it long term. We have therefore been looking at yet a further option of using part of the Church House and more details of this will be announced as and when it happens. Our aim is to continue to try and create the heritage centre, an ongoing challenge, to respond to the wider publics questions etc., to make a success of our heritage tent at the Widecombe fair and to enjoy all our future activities. Sue Booty stood down after producing our news letter for 10 years and Maggie Faulkner has taken up the reins. We have our first Chronicle which I trust you have all had a copy and enjoyed as much as myself. I believe no 2 is in the pipeline. Ann Claxton has handed over her program organizer reins to Marcia Babington and we now have in place 2012 – 13 program of walks talks and events. Marcia has produced 18 months programs in record time, a one off necessity to comply with our constitution rules of our year beginning in May. Already we have had 4 very good illustrated talks; I particularly enjoyed the Dartmoor Duck! Tonight we have a talk on Greenway by the National Trust which we visit later this month. Thanks to Aileen Carrett for her continued photographic recordings of our outings and events. Digitising has recommenced this year and the 4 teams are working their way through the ever increasing archive, which as usual has been kept in order by our archivist.  Personally I am enjoying my participation in digitizing and feel very privileged to handle some of the old documents. As you may know, we are able to do this in great comfort due to the generosity of Ann & Roger allowing us to use an annex in their home.  The heritage tent was a great success at Widecombe fair last year. The Horse made its appearance again, we sold some of our books and pens etc. and all the exhibits were greatly appreciated by the visitors even when they entered the tent to shelter from the rain - later in the year we shall be circulating some lists for your input of help on 2012 fair day eve, and fair day.  Finally I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of the committee for their encouragement, guidance and help to me personally, for their hard work and research this last year for the group, and to all others in the background who beaver away and add so much to our mutual enjoyment in running the group. I hesitate to name names because I may leave someone out, that would be dreadful, however you all contribute whether it is in a formal or informal capacity or by just attending our meetings and supporting us. Many many thanks. One last thing – I have enjoyed this year as chairman but could not have done so without the groups approval, support and patience..        Thank you.

Treasurer's report:
Roger Claxton presented the financial report for the year ending 29th February 2012. This showed a favourable financial state of the group. He pointed out that last years accounts  showed a balance of £6771.36. and this years accounts showed a balance of  £6850.65. This  was a very satisfactory state of affairs as we have purchased during the year further equipment to the value of £1203.32. This has meant that we have been able to continue digitising the parish records. He mentioned that this project has got off to a good start with four groups of four members still involved. The problem of where to do the digitising has been temporarily solved with the use of a room at Dunstone where the work is progressing unheeded, as setting up and dismantling the equipment no longer has to be done at each session. Terry French proposed and Margaret Phipps seconded that the accounts should be adopted. Carried unanimously, with a vote of thanks to Roger being recorded.
A vote of thanks were also recorded to Richard Casey who had audited the accounts. It was noted that we now have charity status. Reg No. 1144684

Secretary's Report:
Anthony Beard began with: Here we are, celebrating 15 years of The Widecombe History Group (WHG) and all that time I have been your secretary. I could not have done it without a lot of help, support and cooperation from you all, our members. I would appeal for anyone who feels that they could help reduce my workload to have a word in my ear. There will come a time when I will have to give up this post, and it would be good for the group, if someone could feel that they could 'shadow' me for a year or even two perhaps, with a view to replacing me say in three years time. Perhaps a minutes secretary would help - think about it and have a chat with me, before next year. Do not feel embarrassed to put your name forward, a volunteer is worth a dozen press ganged. I thank all the trustees and the committee for all their hard work on our behalf, and we are now a charity No 1144684. All those of you that have participated by signing a gift aid form, which has helped us with funding and supporting the 50/50 draw each month. Our aim is to keep the meeting costs a low as possible in spite of the rising costs of some speakers and to maintain the sound social aspect of WHG as a friendly but still informative, active and vibrant group. We have hosted a few 'guided tours' of Widecombe. We have had an interesting programme of speakers, walks and talks. We had yet again a most successful Widecombe Fair, thanks to the organising teams, and thanks to those that have helped with them. I would like to thank Widecombe Parochial Church Council for permitting us to use the South Transept as an exhibition area, which I hope helps both the Church and WHG, as an interesting and informative area to visit, for visitors and locals alike. We have had a busy year trying to create a heritage, education, information centre here in the village, and we are continuing in our efforts to achieve this one day, I know progress is slow but we can only try. Anyone that has ideas of how we can take this project forward are encouraged to mention their ideas to the management committee  I have deliberately not mentioned names as it is so easy to forget someone and that would be sad. To everyone who, in any way, what so ever, have helped with the success of this group I say a big, big, thank you. The digitising of parish documents is going well thanks to all involved. Our group is building up assets that are being well used. Our books, paperweights pens etc are still selling well and we have attended a couple of exhibitions days where we have waved the 'Widecombe History Group Flag' so to speak. We aim to promote Widecombe the present, and all it has to offer, as well as record Widecombe the past, there is so much to do concerning this fascinating parish. We have answered numerous letters and emails from all over the world, some seeking family connections, some just looking for information of how to visit and where to stay. This is where our centre, if we could create it, would be so beneficial to the community that we cherish. The Widecombe website does so much good in promoting world wide the 'Story of Widecombe' and all it has to offer.  Again I would like to emphasise how much you all do to make this group the success that it is, I thank you for your support and let us all hope that it will continue for many years to come.

Officers Elected:
Chairman  Sue Boustead. (proposed by Sam Boustead & seconded by John     Butcher - carried)
Vice Chairman  Margaret Phipps. (proposed by Rodney Cruze & seconded by Jim    Churchward - carried).
Treasurer  Roger Claxton. (Proposed by Terry French & seconded by Margaret    Phipps - Carried).
Secretary  Anthony Beard. (Proposed by Terry French & seconded by    Margaret Phipps - carried)
Trustees:
It was then proposed by Sam Boustead & seconded by John Kimber that the same Five Trustees should be re-elected for the year. (carried unanimously)
Sue Boustead, Roger Claxton, Margaret Phipps, John Walling and Anthony Beard.

Management Committee:
The Committee will be Sue Boustead, Margaret Phipps, John Walling, Roger Claxton, Anthony Beard, Maggi Faulkner, Peter Carrett, Marcia Babington, Terry French, Ann Claxton, and Sam Boustead.

Archivist  Richard Wells
Researchers  John Kimber, Mary Pascoe & Peter Rennells
Newsletter Editor Maggie Faulkner
Website Co-ordinators Roger Claxton & Sue Boustead
Programme & Outings Wendy Beard, Mary Pascoe, Marcia Babbington & Aileen Carrett.
Heritage Marquee Aileen & Peter Carrett, Maggie Faulkner, Terry French     and Rodney Cruze.

The Heritage & Educational Committee will be:
Sue Boustead, Margaret Phipps, Roger Claxton, Anthony Beard, Ann Claxton, Jenny Pascoe, Mary Pascoe, Terry French, Sam Boustead, John Walling, Roger Whale, Wendy Beard, Rodney Cruze, Peter Carrett and Mike Wright.

If the Trustees consider a committee needs to co-opt additional members it is in order for them to do so.
The meeting closed at 7.55 p.m.