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There are new contact details for Head Office, as follows -

It will still be Ron or Penny to assist you , phone 01684 311677,

The Motorcaravanners' Club Ltd.,

10, Duddage Manor Business Park,

Brockeridge Road,

Twyning,

Tewkesbury, GL20 6BY​​​

Due to alterations by Lloyds Bank, our Treasurer can take payment by cash or BACS, but unfortunately we have to add 50p to every payment made by cheque, due to Bank charges.

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​We will now have to impose a £10 non returnable deposit for rallies where food and/or entertainment have been arranged. This is the result of several recent ' no shows with no communication '  ​​​​

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At a recent Committee Meeting there was discussion about some members who have been leaving a meet early for various reasons. There have been instances of gates being lifted off their hinges, unauthorised routes being used, and even stewards being knocked up at unearthly hours so that they may leave. In an emergency situation, then obviously to disturb the stewards would be acceptable, but these instances have not been emergencies, if you wish to leave a meet early, then in future please arrange with the stewards so that you are in possession of the gate code, or can have access to the gate key and for its return.

At the same meeting it was felt that we could help ourselves in an emergency, by having a fire bucket at the front of our vehicle when on site. We used to do this some years ago, but it seems to have fallen by the wayside, and whilst it is accepted that water is not suitable for every fire situation, it would help in most. Can we continue the use of a fire bucket please. 

Your cooperation in both these matters would be most appreciated.    Many thanks,  Paul

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Next meets :​​

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13th to 15th November    Brailles Village Hall, Upper Brailles,  OX15 5AS     LImited numbers

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11th,12th,13th  December   Pattishall Village Hall, 44, School Road, Astcote, NN12 8NN       FULLY BOOKED

 

15th to 17th January 2027   Chester House Estate, Irchester, NN8 2DH       Limited numbers 

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​                                                                   Chairman's Report 2025/26

For those of you who don't know, I am suffering from health problems at the moment and have been advised against driving, until such time as I have had various tests and treatment, and I am declared fit, which could be some months. I am prepared to stand again on committee, but you must be aware that I will be absent for a period.

May I first of all thank you for attending the 42nd AGM of our Group. Let me start by introducing the members of our hard working committee. Peter is your Secretary, who handles a lot of things we mere chairmen don't understand, such as the website, sending the news for publishing in the Newsletter, and all things to do with the AGM, plus notifications from Head Office, and sending information to new members.

Margaret is our Treasurer, who keeps all our financial records, collects all our monies in and pays them out, producing the accounts and keeping us viable as a Group. On occasions this year she has had to stand in for me at some meets, in my absence.

Pat is my wife, whose official title is Sites Officer, but beyond that she does much more- bookings, entertainment, raffles, welfare, newsletter writer, and generally organising me and the group into the very lean working machine that we are.

I would also like to thank Tony and Kathleen for yet again organising our Christmas Dinner and President's Reception, plus the group website and getting next year's programme printed. Mick Midgley for his Bonus Ball, Tony Park for his unstinting support in helping Pat as an assistant sites officer. Jane for her Bingo sessions. Both myself and the members owe each one a big thanks for their help and support - thank you all.

I would also like to thank those that stewarded, some standing in at very short notice, Mo for checking the accounts, and if I haven't mentioned you personally, all those that volunteer to help on site.

We have had another successful year as a group. Although on some meets the absence of Nene Valley members was disappointing, and on several meets our presence was overwhelmed by visitors from other groups, without whom we wouldn't survive. Being in the chairman's position it is always very pleasing to hear the praise from our visitors of how welcoming and friendly we are as a group, which is why they come to us. That is not just down to the committee - that is down to you, the members, who make them feel welcome. So thank you to you, it makes me very proud to hear of these compliments!

It is not all good news I'm afraid :

It has been quite a fraught year on occasions, and highlighted exactly what I feared and spoke about at last years AGM, in that we are in a very vulnerable position, and each one of us on the committee this year has had health concerns affecting us personally, or our loved ones. As a committee we cannot go on like this. Whilst at the moment we are fulfilling our legal obligations by forming a committee, we need your help, and as the word ' committee ' seems to strike fear into your hearts, none of these jobs involve being on a committee :

We need one or even two volunteers to organise a raffle at meets. A simple job, liaise with Margaret how much to spend on quality prizes, sell the tickets, make the draw, hand the money to Margaret who immediately reimburses you for your expenditure. The raffle is a major fundraiser through the year, and helps offset the costs of the Christmas meet. Without our raffles all costs will rise.

We need a volunteer to keep the stewards kit, and make sure the stewards for the next meet are supplied with sufficient signs etc. It has been suggested that the kit be divided into two parts, to enable easier passing over of the kit. There is sufficient signage for this to be done, if not, we can make it possible and lighten the load.

Entertainment Officer - to book the professional entertainment for about three meets a year and follow up with the agents, just before the engagement, to confirm attendance.

Newsletter writer - an enjoyable little job to do a write up of recent meets, and forthcoming events, convert to pdf and send to Kathleen and Peter for publication. All possible from home with information from the stewards.

Parking volunteers - As numbers have grown at some meets, it would be beneficial to have two volunteers to help stewards park vehicles up at the larger meets.

There is also another reason behind this agenda : 

At the moment, most of these duties seem to be falling onto one couple and one van, and at the moment I cannot do it. My van is already overweight and I am now actively considering downsizing, due to my current health problems. I will not be able to carry any excess weight. I also need to shelve my current workload for a time, as I am not permitted to drive and will be unable to attend meets for some weeks or even months.  Without volunteers coming forward, I cannot ask committee members to take on more workload, and so these jobs will just not be done.

Also, at a recent committee meeting it was discussed that at last years Christmas Meet, several members booked to come to this years meet. We have not seen those members attending another meet during the current year. Consequently we are turning Nene Valley members down to this years meet, as we are already fully booked. These are members we have declined, who by attending meets have indirectly contributed to the funding of the Christmas meet. We are a small group and we cannot find a larger venue with catering in our area, and so in fairness, bookings will not open until later in the year, priority will be given to Nene Valley members who have attended meets during the year. If you steward, you will be given one £10 voucher towards the Christmas meal.

On a more positive note, Pat and myself have worked hard this year scouring the land for possible new venues, which I hope you will support and enjoy. I look forward to being back amongst you and enjoying your company as soon as possible.

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