Minutes from the Annual General Meeting 2024
Held on Wednesday 3rd January 2024 at 7.00pm at Addington
1 Welcome address by Sam York FBHS – Chair.
Sam welcomed everyone to Addington.
2 Attendance and Apologies for Absence (Committee members in bold)
Attendance: Sam York, Nick Turner, Judith Murphy, Alison Craig, Danny Anholt, Amy Bannister-Bell, Brendan Bergin, Becky Monk, Jen Morris, Christian Allderidge, Liza Allen, Islay Auty, Alice Bannister-Bell, Ruth Baxter, Andrew Bennie, Carol Bennitt, Cheryl Bezants, Julie Biggs, Nicole Biggs, Anne Bondi, Ann Bostock, Beth Boyes, Jess Campbell, Sue Chadwick, Mandy Chaffin, Sam Champney-Warrener, Clare Chamberlayne, Joanna Chilcott, Annette Christey, Laurel Cooke, Becky Cooper, Sarah Corner, Margie Craib, Mark Cunliffe, Linda DeMatteo, Maggie Doel, Tim Downes, Charlotte Duncan, Liz Eaton, Cherry Elvin, Emily Farleigh, Sarah Fitton, Victoria Gallantree, Steph Geran, Christopher Gillison, Caro Haynes, Ellie Halsey, Judy Harvey, Chris Hewlett, Hilary Hughes, Pammy Hutton, Sally Jackson, Gary Johnston, Richard Johnston-Smith, Sabrina Jones, Rachel Lee, David Llewellyn, Mandy Luesley, Sarah MacDonald, Mima Manning, Helen Martin, Debbie Melville, Oonagh Meyer, Caroline Moore, Becky Monk, Lisa Morris, Kirsten Owen, Ann Peate, Caroline Peatfield, Annette Philpot, Robert Pickles, Faith Ponsonby, Gemma Porter-Rawlings, Jane Reed, Sue Ricketts, Mark Robinson, Kylie Roddy, Jillie Rogers, Tessa Ryley, David Sheerin, Jayne Smart, Eric Smiley, Lisa Spence, Dan Spencer, Clare Stryzyk, Wendy Suddes, Jenny Ward, Katie White, Lizzel Winter, Karen Whiston, Rachel Wright.
Apologies: William Blane, Biddy Brasted-Watts, Frances Cattell, Carole Broad, Nicola Brook, Carrie Byrom, Julian Campbell, Sue Charters, Donn Collins, Stephen Cruikshank, Sarah Dale, Joanna Day, Becky Diamond, Ann Dicker, Ernest Dillon, Jocelyn Drummond, Debbie Follett, Kirsty Fontaine-Henley, Lyndsay Gammon, Julia Gourley, Jennifer Ham, Fiona Harrison, Amanda Holloway, Pippa Hatton, Nikki Herbert, Jane Jarvis, Jennifer Johnston-Harman, Donald Kear, Posy Knapp, Dale Lasseter, Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Rob Lovatt, Anthony Lowry, Erik MacKechnie-Guire, Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Tessa Martin-Bird, Kathy Merrick, Jeremy Michaels, Alec Miles, Sandra Morrison, Maria Naynuk, Sally Newcomb, Aart Noordijk, Sue Payne, Linda Pearce, Sue Pimbley, Patrick Print, Heidi Reed, Liz Rennie, Sue Ringrose, Alex Robarts, Dianne Roberts, Sally Robinson, Alex Robinson-Barr, Clare Sansom, Catherine Shine, Sarah Simpson, Simon Somers, Caroline Stevenson, Sarah Stewart, Liz Taylor, Sarah Thorne, Michaela Tomlinson, Hugh Train, Melissa Troup, Becci Trower, Steph Vickers, Elspeth Watson, Gill Watson, Ella-Louise Webb, Hilary Westropp, Hetta Wilkinson, Debbie Wilson, Jo Winfield
3 Minutes of last AGM (held 4th January 2023 at Keysoe)
The minutes were approved as a correct record, proposed by Jillie Rogers, seconded by Lisa Morris.
4 Matters Arising from those Minutes
No matters arising that aren’t covered below.
5 Chairman’s Review for the Year 2023
See attached “F&I Chairman’s Report for 2023” presented by Sam York FBHS.
6 Treasurer’s Report for the Year 2023
Jude Murphy reported that as of 31/12/2023 we have 218 members. See attached financial summary (available just 2 days after the year end and already audited and signed off by our independent examiner). Events in 2023 either made a small loss, broke even, or were profitable – and the Committee agreed to subsidise them as needed so that they all ran. Detailed analysis by event available if anyone wishes to go through the detail – email our Treasurer Jude Murphy.
The £4k profit for the year reflects the excellent events run that were well supported and made money. This all helps to subsidise the costs of running the Annual Course each year. See attached financial statements /report. The accounts were proposed by Jen Morris, seconded by Danny Anholt.
7 Election of Committee for 2023
As outlined in the “Committee elections and planning for the AGM” document and emails sent out to all members prior to the meeting, we received four nominations for the place arising from Alison Craig’s planned retirement after her second stint of 9 years on Committee.
A ballot was held, with voting slips, from those present at the meeting, counted during the meeting by the Vice Chair and Treasurer, and the winning member was Liz Eaton FBHS. Congratulations to Liz, elected to the F&I Committee for her first term of 3 years.
Separately, Alison has offered to take on the permanent role of Hon Secretary, and, with the approval of the Members at the AGM, the Committee have invited her to take on that (non-voting) permanent role. This was approved with a unanimous show of hands.
The wording of the Constitution can now be altered accordingly to reflect a permanent Hon Secretary position.
The F&I Committee for 2024 will therefore be Chaired by Sam York FBHS, with Vice Chair Nick Turner FBHS, supported by Treasurer Jude Murphy FBHS, and Committee members Danny Anholt FBHS, Amy Bannister-Bell BHSI, Brendan Bergin BHSI, Liz Eaton FBHS, Becky Monk BHSI, and Jen Morris BHSI. The permanent (non-voting) Hon Secretary will be Alison Craig BHSI.
8 Remembrance
Sam York was delighted to report that we lost none of our members during the year. (Keep it up, folks!)
9 Presentation of Thank yous and Awards
Sam Champney Warrener – thank you from everyone for running the closed Facebook page so well for us.
Sally Newcomb – thank you from everyone for running the website so well for us.
Jude Murphy and Alison Craig – thank you for keeping everything running so impeccably for F&I throughout the year.
Pammy Hutton and Tim Downes – thank you for everything you both do, for F&I and for the BHS, throughout the year.
Thank you to the incredible Ann Bostock, this course could not run without you!
Thank you to all those running Study Groups over the 2 days, our excellent discussion group speakers both days, and our superb trainers this year Dickie Waygood and Gareth Hughes.
Presentations of the F&I Annual Trophies and recipients:
The Tom Searle Award – for “an up-and-coming member who is supportive and inspirational” – not presented this year. More nominations next year please.
The Achievement Award – for “determination and commitment to the path they want to follow” – presented to Maggie Doel BHSI
The Pat Smallwood Award – for “exceptional effort, service and support to F&I” – presented to Faith Ponsonby BHSI
The Queen Elizabeth II Award – for “dedication to the equine industry, as recognised by F&I” – presented to Caroline Moore FBHS, followed by a standing ovation for Caroline and all our worthy winners.
10 Any Other Business
F&I Scottish “Equine Sports Assembly” Conference next year 7/8 October 2024, organised by our Jen Morris, working together with BHS Scotland and Horse Scotland, including a Gala Dinner with speakers Saturday 7th. At Scottish National Equestrian centre near Edinburgh Airport. Day 1 dressage with Ferdi Eilberg, Day 2 SJ with John Ledingham. Interactive format. Beautiful Scotland. Be there.
11 Dates for next year and date of next AGM
Annual Course Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th January 2025, at Addington.
AGM Monday 6th January 2025 at Addington.