With the snow having thawed we finally got to hold the club AGM, albeit a week later than planned.
Despite the delay, it was good to see so many members attend the meeting to learn how the club had done in 2025, vote for the 2026 committee and then have the opportunity to raise issues from the floor.
John Smith opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. John thanked the committee for all of their work in 2025 and encouraged all members to ask questions.
Giving his report, Mike Delves announced that he was standing down as Chairman of the Club after almost 20 years at the helm. Mike thanked the existing committee for the work that they had done in 2025, including arranging some fantastic demonstrators, hands on nights and outside events.
Mike then thanked our club members who come along and help whether that is on club nights or at our outdoor events. Without their contribution and support the club could not do what it did.
The highlights from our other officers reports were as follows:
- Financially the club is in a good position, with our main income coming from meeting fees.
- When we are granted charitable status it will have no impact on our club finances.
- The club finished 2025 with 88 members
- So far 65 members have paid their renewal fees for 2026
- 4 Demonstrations in 2025 due to Wolfgang cancelling his demonstration due to injury.
- 5 Demonstrators booked for 2026 – Steve Gordon, Keith Fenton, Mick Hanbury, Ian Ethell & Paul Hannaby
- Tony is already booking demonstrators for 2027.
- Our website and Facebook page have regular traffic and we get views from the UK, Canada and Germany.
- Website – 4100 views in 2025, Facebook – 68154 views in the last year.
- 4 shows attended in 2025, 3 with lathes and our gazebos and craft shop, 1 table top show at the end of November.
- Generally the shows were very good, although rain did spoil a couple of days. There was good interest in the club, what we do and woodturning in general.
- The club is already booked to go to the Woodworks show at Daventry in 2026.
After the reports from club officers we moved on to elect the officers for 2026. Here are the new committee:
Chairman: Richard Pinches, Vice Chairman: Trevor Cocks, Treasurer: Matthew Barrett, Secretary: Virginie Grzelczyk, Event Secretary: Tony Jones, IT & Social Media: Tim Walton, Outdoor Event Secretary: Mike Crockett, Catering & Health and Safety: Dave Gillett, Committee Members: Paul Phillips and Peter Razzell.
Following a break for coffee, we moved onto AOB.
John Wardle spoke about the contribution that Mike had made to the club over many years and proposed that we voted to make him our club Vice President. The motion was unanimously passed.
John then proposed that the club make Mike, and Club President, John Smith , Honorary Members in recognition of their work, contribution, commitment and support of the club.
Once again the proposal was put to a vote, and unsurprisingly passed by a unanimous show of hands of everyone at the meeting
You will be able to read more about Mike and John’s contributions to the club in a later update.
The other points that we discussed were:
- Charity Application – the application was submitted at the end of November and we were still waiting to hear an outcome from the Charity Commission.
- Members contribution on social media or the website. Richard encouraged members to add posts to social media, and said that if they sent articles or reports through to Tim or himself we could add them to the website.
- Hands On Nights – members sharing skills and techniques.
- Members suggested a number of outdoor events that we could consider
- The question was asked “when members are working alone, what do they do if they have a catastrophic injury?” This is a thought provoking question and one that the committee will take away to consider providing guidance.
- Health and Safety advice for new members/ novice turners. Again this is an excellent point that will be taken away by the committee and we will provide further updates in due course.
After a positive meeting, Ray Piggot thanked the old committee for their work, and wished the new committee all the best for 2026.