ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 2nd February 2006: Present: 20 people including dealers Mike Tarrant, Christine Broom & Hilary Lloyd.
The Minutes of the Previous AGM: were read, approved and signed.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: Richard Hawes (RH) welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that at the last AGM he was elected Chairman as we said goodbye to John Woodford who had now become our President. He welcomed Ron Kemp (RK) as the new Secretary. RH thought that we had had a very interesting and successful year, and asked Alan Leach (AL) to discuss the finances later. The year started with our visit to the Shanklin Historical Society, and finished with the American Supper in December. During the year, two things stuck in his memory - the first being the queue that went round the corner of Dabells before the Fair opened; and the second being the huge amount of displays that filled the Parish Rooms for our Newport evening, particular thanks to Barry Price for providing the majority. He pointed out that your committee had met a number of times during the year to ensure that the club continued to be successful. Major items that had been discussed include: The formalisation of the structure of the club into one that has paid up members, and a properly formulated constitution - RK will talk more on this later.
The annual postcard for 2006. Our proposal is to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the institution of the award of the Victoria Cross
RH thanked the committee for their hard work throughout the year, all of the speakers, the dealers and those who attended the meetings for making the year so interesting. He said that for 2006, RK has prepared a full programme of events, details are available for you. He stated that your committee is prepared to continue in their existing positions, and he asked for a vote on this later in the meeting. RH asked for any volunteers to join the committee, as there is currently one space.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Alan Leach (AL) reported that the club was prospering, with a £135 profit last year. This was mainly due to a profit of £150 on the annual fair, and he gave thanks to the dealers and buyers who attended the event. The limited edition Nelson PC also gave a boost to club funds. AL referred to a book entitled "Nelson, Postcard Hero", where our PC had been included.
SECRETARY'S REPORT: Ron Kemp (RK) reported that he had tried to publicise the events over the past year in the local newspapers and also PPM, but was not guaranteed space. The web site was proving useful, as several people had made contact via the site. RK asked members to provide articles for the newsletter, and asked specifically for a PC or two with text. RK outlined the annual membership, and said that it would allow members to attend any of the meetings free of charge, a membership/programme card and newsletters.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: John Woodford proposed that the existing committee be re-elected en-block. RH asked of there were any other nominations for any post, and there were none. The meeting voted in favour of electing back in the existing committee.
AOB: RK proposed that the club move to a members club with an annual subscription, but leave an option for visitors or guests to pay on a per evening basis. The meeting voted in favour of adopting an annual membership, starting immediately.
OTHER BUSINESS: Correspondance: RK read a letter received from Janet Cowland, a member of the Plymouth PC. She was asking for information about the novelty cards produced by WJ Nigh, but unfortunately no one at the meeting was able to help. Club Postcard 2006: RH said that the subject this year was the introduction of the Victoria Cross, and he would produce a mock up of the card for RK to take to the printers. It was hoped that the card would be ready for sale in early March. Meetings for 2006: RK read out the events he had arranged for the coming year. This included the first "away day" to publicise the hobby to the rest of the Island. The first trip has been arranged to Sandown in July. Club Noticeboard: RH and AL told the meeting that a folding display board would be purchased from Staples soon, to enable displays to be put on. IW Local History Day: RK outlined the two events at Newport and Ryde that would be taking place later in the year, at which the club would be participating. He asked for members to help at the event for an hour or two. AOB2: Clarification was given to the meeting about the proposed Victoria Cross PC, including the fact that Lt. George Cairns (VC) was buried at Brighstone churchyard. Also that there were two coloured ribbons to the VC, one for the Army and one for the Airforce. CLUB MEETING: "A" is for…."
Of the 20 people present at the meeting, 11 had brought articles to show - an excellent first attempt at a members meeting. Displays included:
Lynn Carver - Alphabet cards;
Hilary Lloyd - Album (Eagle);
John Woodford - Artists (Esdaile Richardson);
Valerie Banks - Appley Tower;
John Hayter - Army Censors/Cancels/Propaganda;
Alan Leach - Albert, Prince of Wales;
Richard Hawes - A Postcard, also Appley Tower, Arreton, Apse Heath, Angler Pub;
Bernard Taylor - Arkanstall (of Cowes) Arcadia China, Argentor magazine;
Christine Broom - Agriculture;
Ron Kemp - ARQ, Account (Telephone bill);
Morris Fairall - Arethusa, the last warship built at Whites boatyard on the IW in 1965. CLUB MEETING - 6th April 2006: Present: 25 people including dealers Mike Tarrant, Christine Broom & Hilary Lloyd. Apologies: John Hayter, Keith Shotter, Val Banks. BUSINESS: Richard Hawes (RH) reminded members about the local history events being held in Newport on 8th May for one week, and in Ryde on 15th May for one week. He asked for assistance in manning the stands that we have booked, and also for any postcards of Newport or Ryde which could be scanned into a computer to form the display. RK outlined the proposed format of the auction to be held on 1st June. He said that auction forms were available at the meeting this evening, and invited those interested to take a form and complete with details of the lots they would like to sell, including adding a reserve price if applicable. THIS EVENINGS MEETING. Before the main event of the evening, Derek Sprake talked about his new book on Chale, which will be available from 6-7 May. He explained that he had been bequeathed a large selection of memorabilia from the estate of Tom Roberts, a local resident who had recently died, which told of village life from the 1840's to the 1970's. The book is called "Men of Chale". Alan Leach then introduced our speakers for the evening, our dealers Hilary Lloyd and Christine Broom, and their talk entitled "THE BOX IN THE ATTIC". Great Aunt Elsie died recently aged 104. When great-nieces Hilary and Christine were clearing out her house, they presented a humorous conversation when a box in the attic was found, and items of memorabilia uncovered. At first, the contents were going to be thrown away, but as the items were recognised one by one, one great-niece decided to keep them or find out more about them. A comical exchange on whom should look after the goods then ensued, and the pile on one of the tables grew and grew in relation to the other! Among the items found were an IW crested teapot, photographs of them when younger, a fur coat (I'll take that..!"), postcards of Newport, Carisbrooke Castle, Brading and Bembridge ("I'll have those..!"), an engagement ring (was that Aunt Elsie's?? "I might keep that..!"), a Christening Robe, and finally an In Memoriam card depicting the death of a soldier and a plaque from Gloucestershire with a picture of a Soldier. It was then that they realised that the picture may have been Great Aunt Elsie's fiancée who had died during the War, hence the engagement ring found, and therefore why she had never married. The two Great Nieces concluded by saying that they had just found her whole life in "A Box in the Attic" Chairman Richard Hawes thanked Hilary and Christine for an excellent talk and presented them with limited edition postcards as a memento of the event. CLUB MEETING - 1st June 2006: The meeting this evening was the first of our annual auctions, and useful funds were added to our account. In total, 153 lots were offered, of which 63 were sold. Total realisations was £368, and just short of £40 went to club funds. Thanks to Richard Hawes as auctioneer and John Woodford as runner for the evening. Good support was given by the rest of the committee working in the kitchen and helping to set up the room for the auction. CLUB MEETING - 6th July 2006: Present: 20 people including dealers Christine Broom & Hilary Lloyd. Apologies: None THIS EVENINGS MEETING. Ken Chiverton spoke on the way in which Sandown has changed over the years in a talk entitled "IW - A Century of Change". His colleague Bob Bell was the photographer & projectionist, and many views of well known places both then and now were shown. Postcards or pictures of Sandown included: Browns Golf Course, designed by Henry Cotton, entry 4d / 8d / 1/-;
Canoe Lake in 1929, rowing boats or canoes for hire - no longer;
Tent life in Sandown, bathing huts on beach;
Sandham Grounds, putting / tennis / bowls, very popular;
Sandown Library, large drinking trough & jubilee fountain - now demolished;
Chatsworth Model Laundry near Moreys, demolished 1908's, now houses;
Prince of Wales pub & sign;
Sandown Hotel in high Street;
Baileys - ladies shop in High Street;
Broadway, originally Broad Lane;
Pier built in 1878;
Revels pier show 1951 Chairman Richard Hawes thanked Ken and Bob for an excellent talk, and presented them with limited edition postcards as a memento of the event. CLUB MEETING - 17th August 2006: At our annual afternoon fair this year, 12 dealers took 23 tables, and many "punters" crowded the hall during the afternoon looking for the odd bargain or three. More than £100 was raised for club funds. Thanks as usual to all committee members for setting up the hall to accommodate the dealers and their stock, and also for the food prepared in the kitchen. The Annual Competition was won by Richard Hawes, with Ron Kemp second and Lyn Carver third. All three boards will (assuming transport is available) be representing the IWPC at the Picture Postcard Show in London in September. CLUB MEETING - 5th October 2006: Present: 20 people including dealer Mike Tarrant. Apologies: None BUSINESS: RK reported it was not possible to get Thursday evening meetings next year, and Tuesday evenings had been offered. The meeting agreed to accept the offer. Christine and Hilary asked if a fish and chip supper train journey could be arranged for next year on the IW Steam Railway. RK to investigate. THIS EVENINGS MEETING: Roger Whitby-Smith presented the story in dramatic fashion of the sinking of the Royal George in a talk entitled "That Sinking Feeling". He stated that on 29th August 1782 at Spithead, the Royal George sank due to incompetence. HMS Royal George was laid down in Deptford in 1746 at a cost of £50,000, and took 10 years to build. It weighed 2,000 tons, and used 3,780 oak trees, representing 110 acres of oak forest. Britain was at war with France at the time, and the Royal George was used to patrol the coast of France with its normal crew of 800. On 29th August and just before the ship was ready to sail, an additional 310 passengers were taken on, including 250 women and 60 children, and repairs to a starboard sea-cock were started. As the sea-cock was low in the water, the ship had to be made to list by about 8 degrees to port, and middle deck guns and the ships ballast were moved to assist the list. At this time, barrels of rum were loaded on the port side. They should have been stored in the hold but were not, and this extra weight made the ship list far more than required, and water started to seep into the gun ports. Even though officers were told about this, they did nothing until it was too late, and slowly the ship sank. Only 300 passengers survived. Local boatmen from Ryde and nearby villages had rich pickings from the disaster, and over the next few years various attempts were made to salvage the wreck and clear the channel. It wasn't until 1843 that the channel was completely cleared; in the mean time the lions around Nelsons Column were formed from the guns which were melted down.
At a Court Martial held on 9th September 1782, the Captain, Officers and Ships company were acquitted, stating that a substantial part of the structure must have given way. They blamed the Navy Board, as in an earlier re-fit, it was suggested that the wood used must have been rotten. Chairman Richard Hawes thanked Roger for an excellent talk, and presented him with limited edition postcards as a memento of the event. CLUB MEETING - 7th December 2006: Present: 23 people including dealers Mike Tarrant, Christine Broom & Hilary Lloyd.
Apologies: None ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The Minutes of the Previous AGM: were read, approved and signed. Matters Arising: None CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: Richard Hawes (RH) welcomed everyone to the meeting. He briefly talked about the events which had been arranged for the year, and mentioned the successful auction and fair. He said that the committee had met a number of times during the year to ensure that the club continued to be successful. TREASURER'S REPORT: Alan Leach (AL) reported that the club was prospering, with a small profit last year which would be detailed early in the new year, as he had changed the accounting date to the end of the actual year. Another reasonable profit of £122 was made at the annual fair, and he thanked the dealers and buyers who attended the event. SECRETARY'S REPORT: Ron Kemp (RK) reported that he had publicised our meetings over the past year in the County Press, Newport Beacon and Bembridge News, along with reports in PPM, but was not guaranteed space. The web site is still useful, and he intends to put the minutes of the meetings on each time. RK thanked John Woodford, John Hayter and Jackie Baynes for their articles that he was able to publish in the newsletter, and asked other members for a PC or two with text that he could use. RK asked for advice on other places where adverts could be placed. Suggestions included the Cowes Advertiser, the various Heritage Centres across the island, and it was thought that a bigger article in the CP on the week before the fair would help to swell the numbers of attendees. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: It was proposed that the existing committee be re-elected en-block. AL proposed that Christine Broom and Hilary Lloyd become committee members, and this was unanimously carried. RH asked if there were any other nominations for any post, and there were none. The meeting voted in favour of electing back in the existing committee. AOB: None. OTHER BUSINESS: MEETINGS FOR 2007: RK read out the events he had arranged for the coming year, but stressed that all but the fair are now on a Tuesday and not Thursday. This included a talk by Arthur Reeder on PO Boxes, and the second "away day" to publicise the hobby to the rest of the Island, probably in Ryde or Freshwater. 2007 starts with "B" is for…on 6th February. CLUB MEETING: Alan Leach gave a short presentation on the work he has done so far regarding the house called "Bellecroft" in Staplers Road, Newport. He said that its owners are restoring the house, and recently a PC of the house and guests standing outside was put in the CP "All our Yesterdays" section, and any information was requested. AL thought that there might be a connection between the captain of the Titanic, Captain PG Smith and the then owners, as the PC showed a man who looked remarkably like the Captain. In fact, Captain Smith's daughter married the son of the owner of the house (Sydney Russell Cooke). Bellecroft was used as a summer retreat, and AL has found that another house of the same name in London was used for the winter. Still more research needed! Then Richard Hawes gave his Xmas talk, this time on the manor houses of the IW. He produced a range of PC's of the houses, and talked about each one in turn, also quoting from "The Manor Houses of the IW" by CWR Winter. Among the manor houses he mentioned were: Appuldurcombe, Arreton, Barton, Chale, Gatcombe, Kingston, Mottistone, Northcourt, Nunwell, Shalcombe, Stenbury, Swanston and Yaverland. An interesting journey around the Island based on the important houses of the time. After Richard's talk, the people present enjoyed an American Supper. Thanks to all who provided the food and wine!