Annual General Meeting 2026 – Draft Minutes
Annual General Meeting – 2026
Thursday 9th April 2026 at 7.30pm
At The Eyot Centre, Wargrave Road, Henley on Thames RG9 3JD
Draft Minutes
Welcome & Introduction – Society Chairman, Geoff Luckett The Chairman, Geoff Luckett, welcomed all members to the meeting, and introduced the Baroness Buscombe of Goring, President of the Society, who was to Chair the meeting.
Opening Remarks – Chairman of the Meeting, Baroness Buscombe of Goring – The President, also welcomed members and thanked the Executive Committee for their hard work during the year.
Present: Pauline Vahey, John Buxton, Angus Ross, Lesley Plumb, Lady Rosemary Hardie, Jilly Carter, Susan Rumford, John Rumford, Sue Brosnan, Kay Robertson, Geoff Snell, Janet Snell, Ceri Thompson, Chris Thompson, Mia Tritton, Alistair Washbourn, Karen Washbourn, Louise Dodd, Diane Miller, Peter Stone, Jeanne Stone, Gill Dodds, Nigel Grundy, Claire Symons, Virginia Crosbie, The Baroness Buscombe, Judith Hare, Martin Hare, Phil Gladman, Tim Corn, Chris Leeming, Geoff Spurrier, Angela Harwood, Judy Clinton, Joan Clark, Monnik Vleugels, Catherine Notaras, Julian Brookes, Nick Richardson, Sandra Moon and Geoff Luckett.
Apologies for Absence: Barbara Phipps, Veronica Carlton, Ian Carlton, Alan Pontin, David Nimmo Smith, Ian Tritton, Darren Poulos, Madeleine Probert, Geoff Probert, Monica Brohm, Hilary Bennett, Roger Bennett, Hugh Crook, Dr Jenny Copeland, Caroline Whittaker, Stephen Christie-Miller and Anne Long.
The Minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting which had been previously circulated, and posted on the Society’s website, were proposed for approval by Chris Thompson and seconded by Pauline Vahey and passed on a show of hands.
There were no Matters Arising from those Minutes.
The Chairman’s Report this year took the form of a slide show. The Chair spoke to twenty slides which detailed the events, visits and projects for the year. The report was proposed for acceptance by Virginia Crosbie, seconded by Lesley Plumb and passed on a show of hands.
The Treasurer Sandra Moon presented The Annual Accounts which had been circulated to members as part of the AGM pack and were proposed for adoption by Jilly Carter, seconded by John Buxton and approved by members on a show of hands. There were no questions for the Treasurer.
The Planning Report prepared by the Chairman and Vice Chairman, had been circulated to members as part of the AGM pack, prior to the meeting and the Vice Chair updated members on one particular matter, Thames Farm, which had gone to appeal with a decision expected in May.
Appointment of Auditor The Honorary Treasurer reported that Brian Villiers, our Auditor for many years, had asked to stand down after this year’s Audit. Martin Hare, a member, had volunteered his services, and having been proposed by the Honorary Treasurer, and seconded by John Rumford, was welcomed into post by Members.
Election of the Executive Committee In accordance with the Constitution all members of the Executive Committee stood down, and having been properly proposed and seconded, were re-elected as follows:
Honorary Treasurer – Sandra Moon, Honorary Secretary – Nick Richardson, Executive Committee – Julian Brookes, Joan Clark, Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Catherine Notaras and Monnik Vleugels and Geoff Luckett.
In addition, having been proposed and seconded, Angela Harwood Postiglione offered herself for election and was duly voted in on a show of hands.
(The first meeting of the new Executive Committee will be held on Monday 13th April 2026, when from the above they will elect their Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Honorary Membership Secretary).
Any Other Business – A member asked whether the Committee knew of any developments at the Imperial Hotel, Station Road, which has been closed for 20 years. This Grade II Listed building is slowly deteriorating and needs refurbishment. The Committee are regularly in touch with the owner, currently a resident of Hong Kong. We are told that the owner is shortly to return to the UK permanently when his concentration will be entirely on the hotel.
Another member asked if Committee had any updates on the situation regarding Henley Fire Station, recently threatened with closure. The Vice-Chair stated that we had heard, unofficially, that the whole Fire Service arrangements for Oxfordshire were under further review. We will keep track of developments.
Another member asked if the Society kept an eye on planning matters in nearby Remenham and the Chair explained that we had repeatedly asked Wokingham District Council to keep us informed of new applications in that area, but they had steadfastly refused to follow the example set by SODC.
Another member raised the question of pothole repairs and the Chair requested that any member who knew of bad potholes would advise the Society, preferably with photos and Committee would pursue the matters.
Another member congratulated the Committee on their programme of events for 2025 and singled out various ones that she had truly enjoyed.
The meeting closed just before 8.30pm when members were invited by the President to join the Executive Committee for drinks and refreshments.
1, Lime Court, Henley on Thames Oxfordshire RG9 1BN
07860 145982
Email – thehenleysociety@btinternet.com,
Registered Charity 234205
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