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xxxxxxx | NEWSLETTER
NO. 48
It is a great pleasure to welcome to the Society the following members who have
joined since the previous, November 2003, Newsletter was published Richard
Burleigh
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
It is sad to report that Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence, who had been a member of the
Society since 1984, died at her home at Chideock on Saturday, 10th January 2004,
aged 88 years. Elizabeth Lawrence had a wide range of literary interests (and
many active social concerns) and had published a number of books, the latest of
which. Opal Whiteley the Unsolved Mystery, appeared slightly less than four
years ago. Until limited by increasing infirmity in recent years, she had been
an active member of this Society, participating in many events. The funeral took
place at Yeovil Crematorium on 21st January and a Memorial Service was held at
the Othona Community at Burton Bradstock at 12.00 p.m. on Saturday, 21st
February.
The Society's Annual General
Meeting, held at the United Church premises in Dorchester on Thursday, 9th
October 2003 commencing at 7.30 p.m., was reported in the November Newsletter
(No. 47, pp. 5-7), but for practical reasons the actual Minutes of the AGM were
held over for inclusion in this, the May 2004, Newsletter:
Vice-Chair, Dr. Alan
Chedzoy; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Brian Caddy; Hon. Secretary, Jill Bryant; Hon.
Newsletter Editor, Mr. Richard Burieigh; Committee members, Mrs. Devina Symes
and Mr. Harry Polley, and 39 other members were present. Apologies for absence
were received from 29 members, including the Chairman, Mr. Alfred Barrett, who
was away on holiday and in whose absence the meeting was presided by Vice-
Chair, Dr. Alan Chedzoy. The Minutes of the meeting were taken by Jill Bryant. After
welcoming members to the AGM, Dr. Chedzoy paid warm tributes to our late members
Mrs. Peggy Barrett and Mr. Fred Langford, both of whom had died during the year, and members respectfully stood for a minute's silence.
The
Minutes of the previous AGM, held on Thursday, 10th October 2002, which had been
published in Newsletter No. 45 (pp. 5-7), were confirmed (and a copy signed).
There were no matters arising. The Chairman had prepared a written report to be
read in his absence, covering the Society's activities over the year. This was
read to the meeting by Dr. Chedzoy and gave details of, respectively, the joint
event with the John Clare and Thomas Hardy Societies at Wimbome Minster on
Saturday, March 1 st 2003, The Annual Service of Remembrance atWinterbome Came,
on Sunday, 4th May, the Summer Lunch at TheWessex Royale Hotel in Dorchester on
Saturday, 14th June, talks to the Society, two walks Around Sturminster Newton
with Bames and Hardy that our Chairman had led and an addition to the printed
Programme, the Stoke Abbott Bames Night on Saturday, 22nd February 2003. All of
these enjoyable events have been reported in full in either the May or November
2003 Newsletters (Nos. 46 & 47). The Chairman ended his written report with
thanks to the Officers of the Society and to members of the Committee, for their
efforts on behalf of the continuing welfare of the Society.
The Hon Treasurer, Mr. Brian Caddy, then presented the Society's audited
accounts for the financial year (ended 31st July 2003) and these were approved
unanimously. Mr. Caddy was thanked for all his meticulous work on behalf of the Society.
The Society's Programme for 2003-2004 was presented and approved, members anticipating its contents with pleasure.
Election of the Officers of the Society for the year 2003-2004 was then held and the following were unanimously re-elected: Mr. Alfred Barrett as Chairman; both Dr. Alan Chedzoy and Mr. Brian Caddy as Vice-Chair; Jill Bryant as Hon. Secretary; Mr. Brian Caddy as Hon. Treasurer; Mr. Richard Burleigh as Hon. Newsletter Editor; and Mr Stephen Roberts as the Society's Hon. Auditor. Mrs. Devina Symes had decided to step down from the Committee and was thanked for her hard work over the years. Miss Jean Channon and Mrs. Barbara Whillock were elected to serve on the Committee and Mr. Harry Polley was re-elected.
Under 'Any Other Business', David Fox spoke briefly of improvements recently
made to the Museum at Sturminster Newton and encouraged members to participate
in future activities there, and Furse Swann outlined the forthcoming joint
Christmas event with The Thomas Hardy Society at The Brownsword Hall, Poundbury
on Saturday, 6th December (reported in this Newsletter). Dr. James Gibson
presented to the Society a manuscript letter from William Barnes dated 15th
November 1880, a full account of which
also appears in this Newsletter.
Dr. Chedzoy brought the
business of the meeting to a close by giving further thanks to the Officers of
the Society and to members of the Committee for their efforts on the Society's
behalf, and thanked everyone present for their support. Following a break for
coffee, the evening ended with the splendid performance by The Dorset Strolling
Players entitled 'Celebrating Dorset', the delights of which were fully
described in the preliminary report of the AGM in Newsletter No. 47.
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