EMSWORTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

 

September/October,   2005

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - A.G.M. JULY 2005 INTRODUCTION

 

Since the last A.G.M. the Association has functioned without a Chairman and I have, as Deputy Chairman, taken on the role, although rather unwillingly. I would far rather deal with the day-to-day maintenance of the buildings and I am not prepared to undertake the duties of Chairman for another year. I would appreciate someone coming forward to fill the post.

THE BUILDINGS

Following the completion of the Mountford Rooms, small improvements have been made - a hearing loop system is now installed, maintained by Roy Markham, projection screens put up and refurbished tables and chairs donated by Warblington School and the Emsworth sailing Club.

In the old school building, Hampshire County Council funded a major redecoration and' refurbishment programme which was carried out in April. We greatly appreciate their generosity, as internal redecoration is our responsibility.

Looking to the future, we would like to resurface the old playground, incorporating a barbeque area and boules court. The installation of a mezzanine floor in the storeroom is on hold due to lack of f7unds.

Perhaps I should mention at this point that both Hampshire C.C. and the local police would like our passage gates to be locked at night.

FINANCE

Payment of subscriptions is now done annually, in January, which simplifies the administration and accounting.

Our income from lettings is again on the increase. We have a variety of rooms to offer now, to suit many differing groups, classes, events and functions.

This year we have had some very generous donations to help our finances:-£25,000 from the estate of Dr Laurence Mountford. Half the loan from Havant Borough Council-has been paid off. Mrs Pru Madden has presented us with her portrait of Dr Mountford and I feel it would be appropriate to display it in the new Mountford corridor. £2,000 from the estate of Joan Howard.

• £1,500 from the Masonic Lodges to help with the cost of the hearing loop. £3,000 from the Emsworth business Association for equipment in the new kitchen. £1,000 from Springfields Nursing Home to help with the cost of the hearing loop and skittle alley. £760 from the Emsworth Art Group for new lightweight art tables, with £380 from Hampshire C.C. to cover the full cost. £500 from Melana School of Dance.

We are also very grateful to our art groups, who have donated substantial amounts raised at their exhibitions.

There have been other donations, large and small, towards our funds and we are very grateful for them all. I would like to mention especially Mary Faulkner, whose sale of cards is prodigious, and she also runs our stall at the Horticultural Show.

SOCIAL

We now have a social sub-committee with Alison Patrick at the helm. This year it has successfully organised two concerts, a fashion show, the Christmas Bazaar, a wine-tasting evening, the St. George's Day dance, a barbeque and skittles evening, and car boot/table top sales. In the coming year they are anticipating more sales, a "60's" evening and a Burns' Night Celebration. Dawn Cooper will, as usual, be organising the Pet Show in September and we look forward to our Bazaar at Christmas and quiz in February. I'm sure we are all relieved that we can turn our thoughts towards such social occasions instead of being engrossed in buildings projects.

THE COMMITTEE

We had two resignations during the year -

1.        Derek Molyneux, who had been a member of the committee for many years in various roles, including Treasurer, Maintenance and member for Health and Safety.

2.         Christine Colquhoun resigned as Booking Secretary, which task she had so ably done for

five years. Thank you to both of them for all their hard work.

Conversely we have welcomed Alison Patrick as a new member and Roy Markham has returned to the committee after a short absence.

Positions that need filling are Chairman, Secretary (Judy Carrington is with us for only half the year), Minute secretary, Newsletter Collator and Publicity. None of these jobs is very onerous or time consuming - they are undertaken by members at the moment who are responsible for other tasks. Please come forward if you feel you can help.

Thank you to the existing Committee for their help and support during this busy year. With your help a lot has been accomplished.

Rex Ballard-Neale Treasurer's Report; AGM 20^th July 2005

The accounts to the 31^st March 2005 contain a number of exceptional items that must be removed from the income and expenditure account to obtain a fairer picture of our financial situation. There have been a number of significant donations this year, in particular from the estate of the late Dr Laurence Mountford as well as grants from Hampshire County Council for refurbishment and maintenance. These exceptional items reduce the income from £105,483 for this year to approximately £37,500, which is broadly in line with the figure for the financial year 2003/4. On the expenditure side the kitchen refurbishment dominates, which reduces the excess of income over expenditure from £41,324 to about £13,000

The net expenditure for this year was £68,159 due to a refund of architect’s fees in relation to the new annex, less the exceptional items and allowing £2,800 for loan repayments to Havant Borough Council gives an annual running cost for the EGA of about £31,000.

On the balance sheet the Association has unrestricted funds of £18,400, which therefore represents about 7 months of running costs. This is in line with our agreed policy to keep between 6 and 12 months running costs in hand to offset the possibility of losing a significant letting. The EGA must remember though that it has an obligation to repay the development loan obtained from Havant Borough Council and servicing that debt must temper any desire to commit funds to projects that will incur significant costs.

JFB 18/7/05

Abridged Version of 2005 Accounts

Income and Expenditure

Mrs Judy Carrington 1946 - 2005

Judy was born and brought up in Kent. After attending Ashford Grammar School she went to Nottingham University where she gained a B.Sc Honours Degree in Horticulture.

Married, with two small boys, Judy moved to Emsworth in the early 1970s. Very soon she was involved in the developing Emsworth Community Association, and with friends, established the "Under Fives" activities. This became the core activity of the Association as it included Mothers (and fathers) from all sections of the community and had wide ranging benefits (including welcoming "Vietnamese Boat" families). She became a school governor and was the youngest member of the E.C.A. management council

All this work - and fun - was done so calmly and efficiently because she used her undoubted ability for intellectual strategies and her own sense of impartial justice.

Later, Judy ran her own horticultural business, mainly raising bedding plants and advising on garden practice. Having taken a thorough secretarial course, she became computer literate and honed these skills with all the current developments. How useful this has been to many of us!

Judy was an excellent cook and needlewoman and organiser of quizzes and other appropriate social events; she played badminton, table tennis and went rambling and hiking. This modest, multi-talented lady enjoyed a challenge and a change and always prepared thoroughly for all events. Tactful and discreet, how thankful we were when she took over, in a temporary capacity, the Honorary Secretary's post for the last 6 months she was in England.

During her two-year struggle to cope with cancer, she was valiant and self-contained, but she died, peacefully, in St.Wilfrid's Hospice on Wednesday, 3^rd August 2005, aged 59 years.

Our heartfelt sympathies go to her family.

Kind and caring, what a blessing Judy has been to Emsworth! We enjoyed her company, tried to reach her expectations of us, and loved her.

Helen Barward

The Emsworth Artists 2005

The Emsworth Artists are holding their Annual Summer Exhibition at the Community Centre, Church Path, Emsworth from Saturday 27^th August until Wednesday 31^st august - open daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admission free.

This exhibition helps raise funds for the Community Centre and there are more than fifty .participating artists who exhibit a very high standard of painting and sculpture. LI these works are for sale.

There are competitions for the most popular exhibit, also for the most popular watercolour in the exhibition, and we ask the visitors to vote. We have found this to be of great interest in the past, and the winning artists receive a prize at the end of the exhibition.

Emsworth Crafts

The market days in the near future are as follows:-

September 3^rd.                               October 1^st.                                     Novembers*

Come and browse, have a cup of tea or coffee and hopefully buy from the large and varied choice of

goods made by our talented crafts people.

Tea Dances

Every Thursday, 2-4 pm beginning again on 8th September. Modern and Sequence dancing, accompanied by keyboard and CD music. Basic Instruction available. £2 per head including light refreshment. Come along for a pleasant sociable afternoon.

For further information ring Brian (373558) or Gloria (374627).

Nearly New Sale

All day Thursdays, 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. The nearly new sales start on 8^th September. Bring any unwanted clothing (winter only) in very good, clean condition. If accepted and we manage to sell it, you will receive two thirds of the price and the centre one third.

You may be sure of a warm welcome and you may pick up a bargain or two. We usually have a very excellent selection of reasonably priced clothing, also cards and handicrafts.     Mary Faulkner.

Social Events Update
Table Top and Car Boot Sale                            Sunday 11^th September 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

As our next Car Boot Sale coincides with the Emsworth Food Festival we have decided just for this one day, to extend this sale to encourage the many visitors to Emsworth to visit us throughout the day and to offer some free refreshments, which they may well need. Hopefully this will be better than the average boot sale for anyone wishing to book a stall. The cost will be £5.00 per stall or table but please call as soon as possible if you are wanting to book - space will be limited. We would also be very grateful to anyone who could make a few cups of tea during the day to help us out. To book a space or to volunteer with refreshments please call Alison - 377493 or Gwen -372417

We expect the next one to be on Sunday 6^th November, so put the date in your diary to buy or sell.
60's Evening                                                Saturday 22^nd October 7.30 till 11.00 pm

Please note the new date for the 60's Evening. Originally planned for September, we now have to re-schedule this evening for Saturday 22^nd October. We do hope you can still make it. Tickets will be £5 each to include buffet and soft drinks, (Please bring your own wine/beer as we do not have a license to sell or provide alcoholic drinks). Tickets available on 377493.

Please consult our website for more information and also if you have an event at the Centre to publicise, feel free to use the website to "spread the word". Louise Bud will put you in touch with our site provider.

Emsworth Folk Dance Club

The dates for the club to meet in the coming term are as follows: - 7.30 - 10.00 pm

September 12^th & 26^th,         October 10^th & 31^st,        November 14^th & 28^th,        December 12^th

Brian Hammond and the Malthouse Band provide live music, beginners are welcome as Barbara gives excellent tuition and there is no need to feel that you have to come with a partner -just arrive and you will be warmly welcome. The cost is £3.00 a night. If you play an instrument, why not come and join the band?

Big Draw Day

Saturday 15^th October, 10.00am to 4.00 pm. Come along to Emsworth Community Centre and take part in the national Big Draw Day.

Drop in workshops for budding artists to create individual pastel sections of a huge picture to be unveiled at Staunton Country Park on Sunday 16^th October. £2.00 per person (including entrance to Staunton Country Park).

The Pet Show

To all creatures great and small. Just to let you know the 27^th annual how this year is on SATURDAY 24^TH SEPTEMBER. Please ask your owners to enter you and come and enjoy the afternoon, meeting new and old friends. Just remind them of their age - they have to be under 16 years old. Hope you will all come along again this year.

Please spread the news Saturday 24^th Sept at Emsworth Community Centre. Looking forwards to
seeing you all on the day                                                                        regards   Dawn

Blood Donation

The next session is WEDNESDAY 26™ OCTOBER.

The usual two slots, 1-3.25 and 4.20 - 7.15 pm. Please do your best to go if you are called or if you have never donated, why not drop in and offer to give?

Emsworth Art Group Exhibition and Sale of Paintings

Don't miss Emsworth Art Group's Autumn Exhibition - a splendid opportunity to buy an early Christmas present of an original painting at an affordable price. Admission free. SATURDAY/SUNDAY 29^TH/30^TH OCTOBER, 10.00am to 5.00 pm at the Community Centre.  .

Emsworth Maritime and Historical Trust

Museum exhibitions:-

Now till the 29^th August Tailor of Emsworth. Life and times of Edwardian tailor C.Doling of bath

Road, from 1909 to 1950.

September 3^rd to October 2^nd Pompev Tatters: Shuttle Lace for the 21^st century. Tatting is a form of

lace work used for a diversity of purposes. Demonstrations of objects and the craft of tatting.

October 8^th to October 30^th Emsworth Sailing and Sea Britain. The museum is celebrating

Emsworth's current maritime connections with artefacts, photos and pictures, current-sailing

activities, restoration of the "Terror", and links with History, in particular the great sea Battle of

Trafalgar, 200 years ago.

Havant Workers Educational Association Autumn Courses

Rocks and Minerals to Charles Dickens. The relevance of Geology in a range of diverse contexts such as water, beer and wine, and the study of two of Charles Dicken's historical novels are two of the new subjects of Havant WEA autumn course which start in early October. Art History courses include "Regency Style", the study of the art of the Regency period and "German Art of the 19^th Century". Information revealed in local diaries and journals will be used for study in the Social History course and students participating in the History course will explore the rise of merican power, its culture and present world dominance.

The Hampshire WEA brochure in which Havant branch activities are advertised is now available in libraries, information offices and other public places.

For enquiries and enrolment: Mrs B Sparkes 01243 373036