Welcome to Wanstead Vets

The meeting convened at 13.15, broke for lunch at 13.45 and reconvened at 14.35

In Attendance: Ed Flack, Joe Few, David Riddle, Bob Rutter, Bob Perkins, John Yeo, Andy

Marsh, Alan Walters, Mark Boyd, Stuart Phillips, Dave Butler, Gerry Caley, Derek Stew,

Pat McSweeney, Alex Evans, Paul Siggins, Martin Grimshaw, Peter Hamilton, Doug

Crockett, Bob Skidmore, Andrew Colman, Bambos Panayis, Derry Blyth, Baldev Sehmbi,

Bob Haswell, Terry McDowell , Brian Atherfold, Bill Hewson, Kofi Agbolegbe, Mike King,

John Rouse, David Hamilton

1) Apologies for absence: Martin Roffe, Gareth Jones, Bob Feeney, Trevor Small

2 & 3) The Minutes of the 2023 AGM were unanimously accepted with no matters

arising.

4) The Secretary gave his report:

2024 has proved to be a challenging year both for the club and section and we can only

hope that 2025 will see an upturn in fortunes of both.

Our playing record in matches was patchy. Once again we played 14 matches with 5 wins,

2 halves and 7 defeats. Bob captained us in 11 matches with myself and Andy standing in

for him on 3 occasions. My thanks goes to the 36 members who represented us in these

matches as well as those who partnered the captain and collected the money and of

course to Pete and the rest of the committee for their collective efforts. Two members

made their match debuts, Andy Colman and Peter Hunt. Only Joe Few was available for

all 14 matches.

Even though the website was visited over 42,000 times in 2024, members were still

waiting for my pleading emails before they committed to matches. We did have full teams

for every match although it is now unusual to have 16 a-side games. Please don’t wait for

me - sign up early, it makes life so much easier

I think it is fair to say that many clubs are struggling to recruit new seniors to join their

sections. This has led to many clubs re-evaluating their fixture lists as they are unable to

guarantee to get teams together. Sadly some have chosen to drop Wanstead from their

fixtures for 2025 with some citing poor food, poor bunkers and tees and inconsistent

greens. I think everyone would agree that these criticisms were fair at various parts of this

year but things should be looking much better for next season. However we are down to

just five matches home and away next year. Our opponents will be Woodford, Stock Brook

Manor, Hartswood, Royal Epping and Theydon. We are augmenting this with visits to

Orsett, Muswell Hill and Canons Brook as well as our normal range of competitions and

roll ups so I think you will agree that there will still be plenty of Vets golf to look forward to.

Our competitions ran successfully again this year with our knockout competitions

completed in a timely fashion with minimum input from me so my thanks to everyone who

got their matches completed by the deadlines.

Whilst numbers were a bit down we were able to host two successful candlelit suppers

again this year. My thanks to Stuart and Andy for their efforts in organising and for all of

the members and guests who went along. Our quiz nights were extremely well supportedand our thanks go to Uncle Bob for his work in making them so successful. Stuart will give

a fuller report in a few minutes.

The working party completed its final session back in March so can I ask members to raise

a glass in thanks to all of those that gave up their Monday mornings for the clubs benefit

over the course of many seasons.

I asked Derek just a few weeks ago if he could recall any members who had passed

during 2024. We happily agreed that this year there hadn't been any. This of course

changed on December 6th when we lost Chris Hearn after a short but very aggressive

battle with cancer. Although he hadn’t played much vets golf in the past few years,

preferring to have a cordial midweek two ball with Dave Evans, Chris was a great

supporter of the section and never missed candlelit suppers and quiz nights - horse racing

questions were always a shoe in for him. His great sense of humour and general

bonhomie will be greatly missed and our love and best wishes go to Beverley and of

course Dave and Pat who spent a lot of time with Chris.

Whilst members will be familiar with Chris’s exploits on the golf course only a few will be

aware that he made his international cricket debut aged 65 under the captaincy of England

international Chris Scholfield in a star studded Lashings team featuring West Indians, Tino

Best, Gordon Greenidge and Kirk Edwards, Pakistans Wasim Jaffar and Englands Devon

Malcolm and Chris Lewis to name but a few. The match was played at Hornchurch CC on

a bright July day in 2016. The pitch must have been a minefield as our hero could only

muster a stylish single coming in at first wicket down. Edwards and Jaffar had edged and

snicked their way to an incredibly fortunate 233 run opening partnership off of 19 overs.

Lashings, bolstered by Chris’ single ended their 20 overs with 242-2.

Whilst he was perhaps past his athletic prime by now (3 porks pies, 4 sandwiches and 3

slices of cake had taken their toll) he still bamboozled the Hornchurch middle order with

wicked spin and flight finishing with 1-14 from his two overs including a missed stumping

by the New Zealand ‘keeper who received some sage advice from the wily Hearn.

He will be sorely missed.

Please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to absent friends.

Trophy winners for the past year were as follows:-

2024

Doughty Putter - Bob Skidmore

Roberts Quaich - David Riddle

King Shield - Ed Flack

Presidents Cup - Joe Few

Pajwani Trophy - Gerry Caley

Mixed Greensomes - Not played

“Tail-end-Charlie” Eclectic - Trevor Small

Alex Laing Greensomes - Derek Stew & Martin Grimshaw

Alex Wilkinson - Gerry Caley

Bill Stirling Trophy - Gareth Jones & Doug Crockett

Effor Foursomes - Joe Few & Bob Feeney

Geoff Cole Memorial Cup - Bob Rutter, Gareth Jones, David Hamilton

Stan Suggate Trophy - David Riddle

Charity Bowls - David Hamilton & John Rouse

Vet of the Year - Stuart Phillips

Lets look forward to a successful 2025 for the section.

5) The Treasurer gave his report

An examination of the Statement of Account for the year will show a surplus of more

than £2,500 in the year. This figure is overstated as the Charity monies collected

over the year (£769.50 net) had not been paid away at the time the Account was

closed for the year. Also the surplus figure needs to be adjusted for pre payment of

deposits for the 3 outings already arranged for 2025 and the early receipt of payment

for this year’s December Candlelit.

The principal reason for the large surplus was my decision to retain match fees at

£15.00 per player whilst we moved to sandwiches and chips for post match

refreshment. As a result the decision has been made that the AGM dinner (£26 per

head) will be met from Society funds for all those members who have represented

the Club during the year.

Further perusal of the accounts will observe a surplus on clothing but we will

continue to adopt the policy that receipts for clothing will only cover the actual outlay.

The reduction in cost of prizes from 2023 is due to the surplus of golf balls held and

the generosity of this year’s Captain in providing many prizes personally.

The figures for Charity in the Statement are net figures and it should be put on

record that in addition to the figures shown, the Quiz nights organised by Bob

Feeney (many, many thanks) generated substantial funds which were passed in

cash to both the Club Captain and the Vets Captain for their respective charities.

Also David Riddle’s Charity day for Cancer Research raised £165.

I would also like to put on record my thanks to Stuart for looking after the clothing

during the year.

In the light of the Statement of Account I propose that the annual subscription level

remains unchanged at £10.

Derek Stew has vetted the figures within the Statement and I submit and recommend

that it is approved by this AGM.

Pete proposed keeping the match fees at £15 per match.

Pete said he preferred that everyone paid online as we were now a cashless club

6) The Social Secretary gave his report

March candlelit supper had 68 attendees and there was a general dissatisfaction about

value for money.

December had slightly less numbers at 54 and the general feedback was more positive.

Numbers are generally down from the heyday and only 19 playing members attended one

or both of the events.

Quiz nights extremely popular and Stuart offered a vote of thanks to Bob Feeney.

Match food moving to sandwiches and chips last year had an approval on quality but not

quantity. Last two matches were one course of fish and chips.

Conflicting views on match day meal.

Glenmuir prices for clothing held at 2024 prices.

Stuart thanked Derek and Martin and the committee in general for help in 2024.

He sought suggestions for social events in 2025 and asked if anyone wanted to get

involved in arranging events.

7) Appointment of Captain and Vice CaptainOutgoing Captain thanked Ed, Stuart and Peter. He was overwhelmed at charity support

and he had sent a cheque for £1000 to The Alzheimers Society. He thanked members for

their help and support.

Terry reiterated how much Chris would be missed and then handed over to incoming

Captain Andy.

Andy said that he wanted to focus on the social side of the section this year just as much

as the golf. He wanted to potentially re-brand the Candlelit suppers and fill the club with

members for these evenings.

He thanked Bob and Ed and presented them with gifts.

8) Appointment of Officers

Kofi moved off of the committee as outgoing past Captain and Captain Andy joined the

committee. All other committee members indicated that they were prepared to stand again

and were unanimously re-elected.

9) Proposals for discussion.

Rollup Draw

To introduce a draw 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for groupings. This will be made in

the bar. Anyone missing this draw will have to follow on behind the main groups.

Proposed: Andy Marsh

Seconded: Pat McSweeney

Andy explained his thinking behind the proposal.

David Riddle explained why he was against the proposal. It could be devise not inclusive. It just

brought the same problem as we have now forward by 15 minutes. It would also mean any late

comers wouldn’t be able to join in easily to a 4 ball final group. Gerry Caley said it would mean

people needed to ensure that they arrived on time - if there was a problem they could ring ahead

and ask to be included in the draw. Joe Few felt it would solve the problem of late arrivers, merely

bring the problem forward 15 minutes. Kofi felt that using the Swindle model was not appropriate

for the vets. Stuart explained that whatever proposals are decided there will always be some

groups who prefer to go out earlier.

The proposal was carried by 10 to 6 with 16 abstentions.

Prizes for Internal Competitions

To change from providing golf balls to prize winners to a formula of £!0 / £7 /£3 to be credited to

members bar cards to the debit of the Society’s account.

Proposed: Peter Hamilton

Seconded: Andy Marsh

The proposal was carried by 29 to 2 with 1 abstention.

10) Any Other Business

Andy explored the alternatives for post match hospitality including sandwiches, one course option

for £15. He felt that there should be a reciprocal arrangement for those clubs offering a two course

meal. Ed reassured Andy that all clubs were told of our sandwich plan prior to the start of the

season. Mark Boyd mentioned that the length of time taken over lunch was also a consideration

which led to the option of sandwiches. Gerry and Baldev felt that time was not an issue as there

were only five home matches and people that wanted to play in matches were generally happy to

spend time after matches anyway.

Andy said that his charity for 2025 would be MS society.

The meeting closed at 3.05