Minutes of the RNPA AGM held at the Jurys Inn Hotel Plymouth

on Sunday 14th October 2010 at 0930

Those Present

Committee

Tony Darbyshire                     - Chairman

Jan Larcombe                         - Secretary - Historian 

Valerie Darbyshire                  - Treasurer

Raymond Whitehouse                        - Social Secretary

Stephen King                          - Membership Secretary

Hilary King                             - Newsletter Editor

Danny du Feu                         - Exhibitions

Members

John Flack, Andrea Downing, Mike Keeling, Jean Keeling, Pam Whitehouse, Ric Burch, Geoff Holland, Ian Hooper, Mike Gilbert, Bill Simpson, Bill Porter,

Roy Penny, Elizabeth Penny, Spike Lee, Ray Pogson, Steve Thompson, Pat Thompson. Paul Yockney, Jonathon Robbins

Apologies from Norman Grantham, (who donated £50 towards the reunion) Nigel Craft, Peter Bunting,  David  Price, John Foley, Keith Tuttle, Jan Morgan, Joan Roberts. Bob Pearce,

Item 1. Approval of minutes of last meeting

Roy Penny proposed and Spike Lee seconded that the minutes were a true record and this was duly recorded

Item 2. Roll of Honor.

Peter Bucknell, Linda James, Peter Howton, Russ Whalley, Mike McKnight. Ralph Mortimore and Peter Thorne          

Tony asked the meeting for any remembrances of the above and then led a minutes silence of reflection and respect

Item 3. Matters arising - covered below

Item 4. Election of Officials

Tony asked if there were any volunteers to serve on the committee and as there were none said that all members of the current committee were willing to serve for another year and asked for the members’ approval. Jonathon Robbins proposed and Ian Hooper seconded and the committee were approved without dissent.

Item 5.  Chairman's report

Tony thanked the committee and Pam Whitehouse individually for their work over the last year and asked for a round of applause for all the workers.

Item 6. Secretary's/ Historians report.

a. Use of social media.

Jan reported that he now had 139 “friends” on Facebook but was still only using it to gather more email addresses. He added that following the Opt In to GDPR trawl we now have 171 on our list. Only one person (Steve King) had filled in the information sheet included with the trawl.

b. 2017 Cenotaph March

Jan said that we expect 23 marchers at this years event. There is a people’s march for 10,000 of the public after the veterans march so the arrangements have changed a bit. Marchers have been informed and Danny will be coordinating the arrangements for the day. He added that as next year was the 100^th anniversary of the formation of the branch he was hoping to mark the occasion with some people being interviewed by the media and, if allowed, some serving members marching. He advised that he would contact the RBL to check.

c. Joint reunions with SEs and METs

Jan said that the joint reunions were still planned and that he had recent contact with the SE’s who are going to arrange the 2020 event. He noted that they did not include visits in their progamme but did appear to drink lots of rum. The committee had agreed that Jan should make contact and ask about arranging an RNPA visit during the weekend and suggesting that name tally’s  be used. It is intended that we should fit in with the SE’s social progamme but hold our own meetings as convenient.

The joint reunion will probably be in April 2020 but this has yet to be confirmed

d. Branch 100^th anniversary celebrations 2019

Jan reported that he had a long chat with WO Dua “Scooby “who had given the following updates on the uniformed sides arrangements

The annual symposium on 31^st January 2018. Morning session for the uniformed people and afternoon with sponsors VIPs, invited RNPA and other ex-phots followed by a black tie dinner.

Scooby had heard from a long silent Hilary Roberts of the IWM who was conscious that she needed to do something towards the 100^th celebrations. There was no news on the proposed timeline but she had agreed to a meeting which the RNPA may be invited to attend.

Monetary considerations had ruled out the use of the Wardroom Ball Marquee and had made the use of the Drill Shed unlikely. He was now concentrating on using the WO and CPOs mess for the Ball and was planning for a Saturday in September date. The Committee had agreed that the RNPA reunion would be organised on the same weekend as the Ball.

Post meeting Note. Scooby is planning on 21^st  September for the Ball.

Jan advised that the 100^th anniversary video was underway. Reg Davis had been filmed and Ian Wrightson was next on the list

e. Progress on history of photography in the RN

Jan produced a proof copy of the proposed book and explained that he had Crown Copyright and the Lords Chamberlain’s Office approval to use certain photographs and had submitted the text for approval by the Royal Navy. Subject to this he hoped to have it on sale in the next month or so at £12 a copy.

Item 7. Social Secretary's report

Ray reported that 55 people were attending various events over the weekend. He then outlined the arrangements for the three hour boat trip and the informal dinner at the Harbour fish restaurant

Ray said that he had received requests for a one day “mini reunion” and that this had been a successful format in the past. Following a long discussion and a show of hands it was agreed that Ray should try to arrange a one day event in London in the spring or summer 2019 in addition to the main reunion.

Item 8. Treasurer’s report

Val produced a very clear financial year report together with and account to the end of September 2018. There were no queries and following a proposal by Ray Pogson,, seconded by  Mike Keeling  the Accounts were accepted unanimously.

Item 9. Membership Secretary's report

Steve reported that numbers had dropped over the past year and there were now 76 full members and 42 joint making 118 in all. The problem of getting people to send joining fees was ongoing but it was felt that this was lethargy as opposed to intent.

Steve said he was also producing a “Phots on ships” spreadsheet which details where people served over the years. He had been unable to update it recently but was hoping to update it soon.

Item 10. Newsletter editors report

Hilary said that she was going to produce a newsletter shortly and had enough information for this edition but that she asked that anyone who had photographs or articles suitable for the newsletter forward them to her as she was getting short of material for future editions.

Item 11. Website progress

Tony said that he was going to do a major hit on the website during the next year and that 2019 would see significant changes to how the RNPA website looked. He had plans to change both the style and content and hoped to include the historic record within the RNPA site. He hoped to include lists of ships and establishments where photographers had served.

Item 12. Clothing Sales

Steve displayed all the clothing he had in stock and explained that he was about to place another order if anyone wanted to buy anything.

Danny added that he had stocks of berets and badges for anyone on the Cenotaph march who needed them.

Tony closed the meeting at 1052