We had a great turnout for our AGM on Friday 9th May. There must have been 55 people attending.
People started arriving at 6pm, greeting old friends as well as welcoming new members. It was good to see some of the long-time members again too, like Verlie Heal, Bob Ford and Hugh Griffith.
Colin and Diane Thomas greeted people as they came in with a glass of fizz or juice.
Chairman Gwyndaf John opened proceedings by welcoming everyone and saying that we had apologies from another 17. He said that as this was a special occasion, marking the 25th anniversary of the Society the celebration would be free and we would look back over the first 25 years since the Society’s creation. As he spoke, there was a slide show on the screen behind him showing photographs of our events over the 25 years – approximately 1,000 photographs!
In his Chairman’s Report, Gwyndaf described many of our activities over the past 12 months, including our walk around Windsor, where we had been recorded on YouTube watching as the Welsh Guards marched past.
Membership was reported to be approximately 115 (to be confirmed when final subscriptions were received). Gwyndaf welcomed new members Teifion and Barbara Jones, Russell and Veronica Fowler and Huw Meredith (Eirwen’s son).
Lloyd Jones then gave his treasurer’s report, indicating that the Society’s finances were in good shape, even after financing the evening’s food and drink!
Gwyndaf then reported that two new committee members have been seconded – Mike Owen as Minutes Secretary and Colin Thomas, who will initially assist with the Golf Day.
All the committee members were willing to stand again, and were duly unanimously re-elected.
Before closing Gwyndaf said that the committee intended to add an ‘In Case of Emergency’ contact to our membership details, and during the year members would be asked to nominate a suitable contact.
Sue Jones then proposed a vote of thanks to past and present committee members.
The formal part of the meeting then ended and we replenished our glasses while Ann Tennant provided us with an excellent evening meal with a choice of chicken or salmon.
The slide show of photographs continued during and after the meal as Gwyndaf opened the review of 25 years of the society’s history.
Ann Evans described how she came up with the idea and the first meeting in 2000 – a barbeque hosted by Gwyn and Jean Owen.
Gwyndaf then read out short reports from Ralph Broomby and Gwyn Owen, who were amongst our first chairmen, neither of whom could attend as they were on holiday in the Mediterranean.
Bob Ford then spoke about his time as chairman, and the 2004 trip to visit the Norwegian Welsh Society.
David Powell recounted his time in the society, featuring an eventful trip to the Magic Circle, and his chairmanship during Covid, when we all had to learn how to use Zoom and we had the Archbishop of Canterbury addressing us on the small screen.
Finally, Gwyndaf thanked all the people who had helped make the society such a success, including those who had lent us their living rooms and gardens for Christmas drinks and summer lunches, our caterers (especially Ann Tennant), as well as 
the organisers who had arranged outings, golf days and trips and all our committee members (giving special thanks to Jonathan Pegler and Maldwyn Pugh).
After a successful and enjoyable evening we turned off the projector, cleared the tables and chairs, and went home by 10pm.
