Category: Minutes

Present: Robin Boucher, Yvonne Eaton, Adrian Mongredien, Robert Dilworth, Nev Bray, Sue /Brown.

1. Chairman’s welcome
2. Apologies for absence – Ian and Pat Scruton, Marion Wright, David Fill.
3. Notes from meeting held on Zoom on 23rd February 2021. There were no matters arising but Robin mentioned Yvonne’s long service to the group, having been a founder member and secretary for the past 30 years. He presented her with a pair of crystal glasses as a mark of appreciation from the group.
4. Chairman’s report
   • During the first half of 2021 we were constrained by Government restrictions on meetings, due to the Covid pandemic. Some of us met on Zoom while others felt unable to do so. In the autumn we were able to meet face-to-face once more. Despite the difficulties, the year was not without some achievements.
   • Following Yvonne Eaton’s retirement form the position of secretary, Sue Brown agreed to take on the role for the next couple of years. Thankyou, Sue, for undertaking this work.
   • While we were unable to meet, Sue Brown and Robert Dilworth worked on production of a list of baptisms and burials which now appears on the Group’s website. 3,286 entries are now available for visitors to examine.
   • In mid-June, I led a walk up Mill Street. The weather for the evening was beautiful and around thirty people turned out, which was close to the permitted attendance for an outdoor event at the time. The walk was well-received – the appearance of a peacock near the starting-point was clearly a good omen!
   • Meanwhile I had also started preparing a publication, based on oral interviews which our predecessors had undertaken from the late 1980’s onwards. Group members helped with proof-reading and supportive feedback and the Parish Council made a grant from its Solar Fund towards production costs. “A Way of Life That Has Gone” was published in December; the PVHG publicity machine rolled into action (thankyou Robert and Sue) and it was launched at a signing session in the Memorial Hall. At the time of writing over half of the print run of 100 copies has been sold.
   • Our autumn meetings included a session looking at the 1735 estate map of Packington and a very interesting presentation by Sue Brown on the Leeson family, prominent in Packington from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. We concluded by starting to plan our contribution to the village’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration to be held in June 2022.
   • Ian had been transcribing some of the wills and Robin would discuss with him the way to take this forward.
   • Robin also stated that whilst he was willing to stand as Chairman for the coming year he did not consider that he should continue holding the position for a long time.
5. Treasurer’s report Yvonne reported that we had a balance of £673.43 in the bank. Income consisted of £105 in membership fees, sale of books £233 and £706 from the Solar Fund grant. Expenditure consisted of £72 for the hire of venue 35 from 2020 to date, and the payment to Context for the printing of “A Way of Life that has Gone” of £814.
6. Election of officers for 2022
   • Chairman Robin Boucher
   • Vice-Chairman – to be decided by those present as and when the need occurs.
   • Secretary Sue Brown
   • Treasurer Yvonne Eaton
7. Membership fees for 2022 would remain at £10 for individuals and £15 for couples. The meeting decided that potential new members could attend two meetings before being asked for a subscription.
8. Dates of meetings for 2022 – Below is a list of proposed dates for meetings in 2022, following the pattern of previous years.
   • 25th January 2022 Tuesday
   • 22nd February
   • 22nd March
   • 26th April
   • 24th May
   • 2nd-5th June Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
   • 28th June
   • No meetings in July or August
   • 27th September
   • 25th October
   • 22nd November
   • No meeting in December
   • (24th January 2023 – Annual General Meeting)

The meeting closed at 8.20

At Venue 35 – the Memorial Hall Meeting Room – on Tuesday 28th January 2020 at 7:30 pm

Present: Chairman Robin Boucher, Secretary & Treasurer Yvonne Eaton, 10 members, and 4 visitors

Apologies: No apologies received

Robin welcomed our four visitors. The minutes of the previous AGM were read, approved and signed. Matters arising:–   The hall insurance policy has not 2been checked with regard to key holding members entering the venue to withdraw any archive material at any time, this to be looked into.

Chairman’s report:- 

“2019 began on a positive note with the provision of a cupboard in Venue 35, the Memorial Hall Meeting Room, which was large enough to contain the group’s archive material.  During the year we have begun to sort through the material, though there is much more work to be done on this.  Group members have become more familiar with the size and scope of what we have.   

• In February we heard from village resident Paula Dring about her researches into the life of Rev. Joseph Goadby who played a major part in the establishment of the Baptist denomination, both in Packington  and in the wider locality.   
• In April we took part in an open evening at which Memorial Hall user groups displayed information about their activities to local residents.  This was valuable publicity for the group and led to prospective new members joining us. 
• One of these, David Oakley, told us about soldiers of Packington who had fought in the wars against Napoleon. 
• David also agreed to co-ordinate a project to collate a photographic record of Packington in 2019 – all group members contributed and the results are available on our website.   
• In June I led a walk up Packington High Street, which was reasonably well attended despite the weather making its best efforts to frustrate us.  The walk was complemented with a display of photographs of the High Street over the last hundred years and more.   
• Although we did not meet formally over the summer, we completed publication of the booklet “Gems from the Gilwiskaw” which Laura Cooper had drafted shortly before her death in 2017,.  From a print run of 100 copies, around a quarter have been sold at the time of compiling this report. 
• We also put on a display of photographs and other relevant items as part of the village Open Gardens at the end of August.
• In the autumn group member Sue Brown told us about her work on medieval Packington
• Also in Autumn, Adrian Mongredien produced a draft document on the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.  This led to wider discussion both at our meetings and via email about the origins and early history of our village.  

I believe this summary of activities reflects a Group which has become more firmly established over the year – it has been pleasing to see new faces at our meetings and we will continue to present an open and welcoming face to the village and the wider world. My personal thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Group’s work over the year – roll on 2020! “

Adoption of the chairman’s report proposed by Sue and seconded by Pam. All agreed.

Treasurer’s report:-

• The group is in funds with the sum of £515.19 in the new Lloyds current account.
• As members are aware we were forced to close the Nationwide Building Society account as they are no longer providing a savings service for small groups.
• I must thank Robin for his help in opening the Lloyds account especially as 2 lots of applications needed in hard copy were not received by Lloyds head office, fortunately the third application was, it took from the beginning of December to 24th January to have a valid current account.
• We still have books on hand, for sale and so far, 29 copies of “Gems from the Gilwiskaw” have been sold.

Adoption of treasurer’s report proposed by Sue and seconded by David. All agreed.

Election of Officers:

• Chairman – Robin Boucher, proposed by Yvonne, seconded by Adrian. Carried
• Vice Chair – Again to be left in abeyance.
• Secretary/treasurer – Yvonne Eaton, proposed by Nev, seconded by Sue. Carried.
• Committee members appointed –
  • Robin,
  • David Oakley,
  • Robert,
  • Yvonne, and
  • Diane (not present) if she agrees.

Any Other Business:-

The question of membership fees was agreed at £10 each and £15 per couple, as last year. Anyone attending 3 meetings is expected to pay, but any new members attending from September onwards, their membership fee would also cover the following year.

The meetings to be as previously, every fourth Tuesday of the month with the exception of July, August and December. Members agreed that these AGM Minutes be circulated again prior to the 2021 AGM. AGM closed!