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The Westminster Society
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday 11 May 2023 1.30pm
MINUTES
Present: Pam Bullett (Downs), Steve Burgess, Michael Cooper, George Dixon, Vee English (Masters), David Gibbs, Hazel Green (Porter), Flick Hart (Bodey), Jon Hart, Honor Hollis, Liz Kemp, Diana Ley (Scott), Mary Lines (Schofield), Liz McDonald (Lankester), Alison Melville, Liz Mylon (Andrew), Angella Owen (Carter), Peter Steadman, Diane Todd (Collier), Peter Todd, Rob Tunnicliff, Peter Relf.
Apologies: Alan & Sharon Wilson, David Tinsley, Janet Farren, Frances Ann Johnson, Christine Peet, Sylvia Vetta, Andrew Spencer, Jo Dudley, Tracey Perkins, David Coote, Graham Baldwin, Jenny Pontiggia, Will Bissett
1. Annual report
Finance: David Gibbs amplified what was in the Annual Report and added that £5k had been moved from the current account to an instant-access reserve account which attracted interest. Plans are afoot to open a savings account for £10k at the Skipton Building Society with an even better interest rate.
Membership: After discussion of Peter Steadman’s report, part of which highlighted the need for recruiting more members, help was volunteered to re-recruit lapsed subscriptions. Peter Steadman to circulate a list to AGM volunteers
Reunion: There was appreciation for the rescheduling of the Reunion amid Oxford Brookes University’s emerging plans for the Harcourt Hill campus. It now appears that the University will continue to use the campus for one more academic year. A review of the 2024 May Reunion will inform the decision on when to hold the 2025 Reunion.
Links: It is hoped that a second regional event will be held at Leatherhead on Thursday 24 October 2024 and that members may be able to attend another carol service in December 2024.
Communications: Honor Hollis clarified the team’s work on newsletters, the website and the magazine. Peter Relf highlighted the need for technological skills in email and website presentation and in desktop publishing.
Heritage: The issues faced by the Our Westminster College Heritage project in the light of the closure this summer of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History was considered closely. There was strong goodwill that the project should succeed despite difficulties.
2. Election of officers
To ensure a smoother phasing of Executive posts, Mary Lines (Secretary) and Peter Steadman (Membership) were elected for a two-year tenure beginning September 2024.
Helen Lewis, Liz Stock, Honor Hollis, Mike Cooper and Linda Finch were elected as General Committee members for the 2024-5 academic year. Thanks were extended to ex officio members of General Committee. Peter Relf to congratulate Tom Dobson on submitting his PhD thesis on Westminster College.
The meeting closed at 2.30pm
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday 11 May 2023 1.30pm
MINUTES
Present: Pam Bullett (Downs), Steve Burgess, Michael Cooper, George Dixon, Vee English (Masters), David Gibbs, Hazel Green (Porter), Flick Hart (Bodey), Jon Hart, Honor Hollis, Liz Kemp, Diana Ley (Scott), Mary Lines (Schofield), Liz McDonald (Lankester), Alison Melville, Liz Mylon (Andrew), Angella Owen (Carter), Peter Steadman, Diane Todd (Collier), Peter Todd, Rob Tunnicliff, Peter Relf.
Apologies: Alan & Sharon Wilson, David Tinsley, Janet Farren, Frances Ann Johnson, Christine Peet, Sylvia Vetta, Andrew Spencer, Jo Dudley, Tracey Perkins, David Coote, Graham Baldwin, Jenny Pontiggia, Will Bissett
1. Annual report
Finance: David Gibbs amplified what was in the Annual Report and added that £5k had been moved from the current account to an instant-access reserve account which attracted interest. Plans are afoot to open a savings account for £10k at the Skipton Building Society with an even better interest rate.
Membership: After discussion of Peter Steadman’s report, part of which highlighted the need for recruiting more members, help was volunteered to re-recruit lapsed subscriptions. Peter Steadman to circulate a list to AGM volunteers
Reunion: There was appreciation for the rescheduling of the Reunion amid Oxford Brookes University’s emerging plans for the Harcourt Hill campus. It now appears that the University will continue to use the campus for one more academic year. A review of the 2024 May Reunion will inform the decision on when to hold the 2025 Reunion.
Links: It is hoped that a second regional event will be held at Leatherhead on Thursday 24 October 2024 and that members may be able to attend another carol service in December 2024.
Communications: Honor Hollis clarified the team’s work on newsletters, the website and the magazine. Peter Relf highlighted the need for technological skills in email and website presentation and in desktop publishing.
Heritage: The issues faced by the Our Westminster College Heritage project in the light of the closure this summer of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History was considered closely. There was strong goodwill that the project should succeed despite difficulties.
2. Election of officers
To ensure a smoother phasing of Executive posts, Mary Lines (Secretary) and Peter Steadman (Membership) were elected for a two-year tenure beginning September 2024.
Helen Lewis, Liz Stock, Honor Hollis, Mike Cooper and Linda Finch were elected as General Committee members for the 2024-5 academic year. Thanks were extended to ex officio members of General Committee. Peter Relf to congratulate Tom Dobson on submitting his PhD thesis on Westminster College.
The meeting closed at 2.30pm
ANNUAL REPORT - May 2024 update
Finance
The Society’s finances continue to be on a sound footing. An end of year financial report will be compiled once the 31 May has passed, the end of our financial year. One main focus of attention has been the closure of the HSBC account which has now been achieved, despite David Gibbs’ ill health over the Christmas break and HSBC’s obstructive administration. Arrangements have been made to transfer £10k into an instant access savings account. We are trialling for one year public liability and professional indemnity insurance. This will be reviewed in Oct 2024.
Membership
In autumn 2023, there was a major effort to contact members for whom we only had an address and phone number about the need to change their standing order subscription to the new NatWest bank account. By April, Peter Steadman was able to report that the Society has 467 subscribing members along with 56 Life members and 74 Joint (non-paying partner) members, bringing the total number to 597. By contrast, the database of active records (Ws who keep in touch with the Society, but who are not members) stands at around 2,200.
Peter Steadman has also researched projected membership figures based on life expectancy. Without recruitment, the Society’s membership would be around 300 in 2030 - unable to function or provide services as it does now. General Committee has agreed there is a need to recruit younger Ws as members and as volunteers. Peter Relf has alerted the General Committee to staffing and service issues. To secure succession planning, there is a need for deputies for several posts. The General Committee has also agreed that the Society should transition gradually towards more online activities.
Reunion
Because of continuing uncertainty about Oxford Brookes University’s continued use of the Harcourt Hill campus beyond summer 2024, it was decided to trial a Reunion alongside The Fishes reunion in May 2024 and to explore the use of a local venue away from the campus for part of the programme. Many thanks to Mary Lines and the Reunion team for arranging two reunions just 9 months apart.
Links
A regional event was piloted on 26 Oct at Leatherhead, linking to other public events on the day. Eight Ws very much enjoyed a concert. Their meal at a restaurant meant there was no time to visit an art exhibition! The Christmas carol service at the Chapel on 11 Dec was attended by 40 Ws who helped current students raise the roof.
Communications
An autumn email newsletter was delayed awaiting confirmed arrangements for the OBU carol service. There have been further emails in 2024 which, with staff training, can now be compiled and sent by the Communications team - currently 5-strong. The website is updated from time to time and the magazine for Spring 2024 was printed and distributed in February.
Heritage
The start of the Heritage project was very slow. There were other OCMCH commitments that prevented the time needed to get started. Just before Christmas Tom Dobson was able to devise a profile form for Ws to submit and this process has now started. The tight deadline of September 2026 (Westminster College’s 175th anniversary and the Society’s 140th anniversary) means that the scale of the project will need to be reduced. In 2024, it emerged that OCMCH itself would close this summer with all its staff being served redundancy notices. The quest then was to preserve access to the documents that Tom Dobson had specified for the project. This is being promised, but all material relating to Westminster College will have to leave the campus.
AGM
This year’s AGM is earlier than usual. Elections will be for posts beginning on 1 September 2024.
The four Executive posts have a two-year tenure. To ensure a smoother phasing of office holders, two of them are standing afresh for a two-year tenure beginning this September: Mary Lines (Secretary) and Peter Steadman (Membership). The two who will be continuing for their second year of office are Peter Relf (Chair) and David Gibbs (Treasurer) both of whom will retire from those roles in August 2025.
The other elected General Committee members have a one-year tenure. Those standing for re-election for the 2024-5 academic year are: Helen Lewis, Liz Stock, Honor Hollis, Mike Cooper and Linda Finch. We thank John Wallace who is retiring from the Committee this summer for his loyal service to the Society.
Ex officio members (not elected) are Sylvia Clift (retiring Chair) and Anne Cossutta (OBU Alumni). The new OBU Methodist chaplain is not in a position to be chaplain to the Society as before. The closure of OCMCH means that Tom Dobson who has been a very good friend to the Society is having to leave us in that capacity.
Finance
The Society’s finances continue to be on a sound footing. An end of year financial report will be compiled once the 31 May has passed, the end of our financial year. One main focus of attention has been the closure of the HSBC account which has now been achieved, despite David Gibbs’ ill health over the Christmas break and HSBC’s obstructive administration. Arrangements have been made to transfer £10k into an instant access savings account. We are trialling for one year public liability and professional indemnity insurance. This will be reviewed in Oct 2024.
Membership
In autumn 2023, there was a major effort to contact members for whom we only had an address and phone number about the need to change their standing order subscription to the new NatWest bank account. By April, Peter Steadman was able to report that the Society has 467 subscribing members along with 56 Life members and 74 Joint (non-paying partner) members, bringing the total number to 597. By contrast, the database of active records (Ws who keep in touch with the Society, but who are not members) stands at around 2,200.
Peter Steadman has also researched projected membership figures based on life expectancy. Without recruitment, the Society’s membership would be around 300 in 2030 - unable to function or provide services as it does now. General Committee has agreed there is a need to recruit younger Ws as members and as volunteers. Peter Relf has alerted the General Committee to staffing and service issues. To secure succession planning, there is a need for deputies for several posts. The General Committee has also agreed that the Society should transition gradually towards more online activities.
Reunion
Because of continuing uncertainty about Oxford Brookes University’s continued use of the Harcourt Hill campus beyond summer 2024, it was decided to trial a Reunion alongside The Fishes reunion in May 2024 and to explore the use of a local venue away from the campus for part of the programme. Many thanks to Mary Lines and the Reunion team for arranging two reunions just 9 months apart.
Links
A regional event was piloted on 26 Oct at Leatherhead, linking to other public events on the day. Eight Ws very much enjoyed a concert. Their meal at a restaurant meant there was no time to visit an art exhibition! The Christmas carol service at the Chapel on 11 Dec was attended by 40 Ws who helped current students raise the roof.
Communications
An autumn email newsletter was delayed awaiting confirmed arrangements for the OBU carol service. There have been further emails in 2024 which, with staff training, can now be compiled and sent by the Communications team - currently 5-strong. The website is updated from time to time and the magazine for Spring 2024 was printed and distributed in February.
Heritage
The start of the Heritage project was very slow. There were other OCMCH commitments that prevented the time needed to get started. Just before Christmas Tom Dobson was able to devise a profile form for Ws to submit and this process has now started. The tight deadline of September 2026 (Westminster College’s 175th anniversary and the Society’s 140th anniversary) means that the scale of the project will need to be reduced. In 2024, it emerged that OCMCH itself would close this summer with all its staff being served redundancy notices. The quest then was to preserve access to the documents that Tom Dobson had specified for the project. This is being promised, but all material relating to Westminster College will have to leave the campus.
AGM
This year’s AGM is earlier than usual. Elections will be for posts beginning on 1 September 2024.
The four Executive posts have a two-year tenure. To ensure a smoother phasing of office holders, two of them are standing afresh for a two-year tenure beginning this September: Mary Lines (Secretary) and Peter Steadman (Membership). The two who will be continuing for their second year of office are Peter Relf (Chair) and David Gibbs (Treasurer) both of whom will retire from those roles in August 2025.
The other elected General Committee members have a one-year tenure. Those standing for re-election for the 2024-5 academic year are: Helen Lewis, Liz Stock, Honor Hollis, Mike Cooper and Linda Finch. We thank John Wallace who is retiring from the Committee this summer for his loyal service to the Society.
Ex officio members (not elected) are Sylvia Clift (retiring Chair) and Anne Cossutta (OBU Alumni). The new OBU Methodist chaplain is not in a position to be chaplain to the Society as before. The closure of OCMCH means that Tom Dobson who has been a very good friend to the Society is having to leave us in that capacity.
The Westminster Society
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday 2 September 2023 5.15pm
Westminster College Chapel
Minutes
Minutes of the previous meeting have been available on the website westminsterians.uk
Present: Ian Rusha 70-73, Neil Grecian 72-76, Jane Causebrook (Adams) 73-76, Joani Adkins 73-76, Joyce Dunning (Brockway) 76-81, Jon Hart 66-69, Flick Hart 66-69, David Gibbs 66-69, Graeme Kilner 72-76, Mike Cooper 73-77, Carol Pilkington 61-64, Tom Pilkington 61-64, David Horne 73-76, Jane Horne 74-77, Keith Berry 61-64, Liz Berry 61-64, John Tranter 60-63, Gail Nichol 61-64, Elizabeth Megahey 64-67, Chris Varle 65-68, Sandra Watson 64-67, Wendy Brown 64-67, Maggie Bradshaw 64-67, Ann Sangwin 65-68, Jan Watts 65-68, Bob Williams 64-67, Peter Wilbourn 65-68, Stuart (Scotty) Morton 64-67, Peter Steadman 74-78, Liz Stock 72-75, Jane Ayre 72-75, Mary Lines 75-78, Dot Stairmand (Young) 63-66, Sheila Nelson (Bolam) 61-64, Peter Relf 63-66.
1. Apologies and correspondence
Apologies were received from John Wallace, Frances Ann Johnson, Honor Hollis who has Covid, Jenni Lister, Dennis Brammer and Clive Wilkinson who both sent greetings to the Class of ’63, John Grayson, Neil and Jill Barnett, Wendy Watson, Bob Jones who sent greetings to the Class of ’73, Sylvia Clift and Mike Worsley. Correspondence with Southlands College alumni whose reunion was also today was shared.
2. Annual report + financial statements
Each topic was considered and approved by the AGM.
Finance: The reconciled financial accounts were received and approved. The HSBC bank account will be closed by the end of 2023. Thanks to David Gibbs, treasurer, especially for the 3-year comparison. Exploration of insurance needs for an alumni society are proving more complicated than anticipated. Thanks to Mike Cooper for continuing to explore.
Membership: The database of 702 members is regularly updated. The quest is intensifying to get all members arranging £10 standing orders to the NatWest bank account before the end of 2023. Thanks to Peter Steadman, membership officer, for keeping detailed records.
Organisation: Regular meetings of the Executive and the General Committee were noted. Thanks were given to ex officio members of the General Committee: Sylvia Clift: former chair, who supplied cakes for the Glasgow Room and booked the Tarriers for the evening event, Miriam Moul, who is now superintendent minister of the Oxford Circuit (a new chaplain will be appointed), Tom Dobson, who opened the archives for the reunion, arranged an interesting display in the Glasgow Room and hung the college flag and festooned bunting on the chapel steps, Anne Cossutta, of the Oxford Brookes alumni office, and our secretary Mary Lines who also represented the Westminster College Oxford Trust. Mary gave an update on Oxford Brookes vacating the Harcourt Hill campus. The Trust oversees the lease of the site on behalf of the Methodist Church. Oxford Brookes took out a 99 year lease in 2017, but have not yet indicated how they might proceed once the site is vacated.
Welfare: work on mental health support and mentoring scheme for current students was noted.
Reunion: Thanks to the reunion team, especially Mary Lines and Liz Stock, for planning this year’s reunion.
Communications: Thanks to the communications team, especially Jenny Pontiggia and Honor Hollis. The website has been refreshed, the magazine is already in preparation and the email newsletters will now be prepared by the team. Thanks to Peter Steadman for all he has done to make newsletters so friendly and informative.
Links: The aim to broaden links - continuing area links, trialling a regional event, developing online links - was approved. Thanks to Margaret Baldry for keeping area links alive in East Anglia.
Heritage: Thanks that Tom Dobson, digitisation officer for the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History is now team leader for Our Westminster College Heritage. The project, online and in a publication in 2026 will celebrate Westminster College and the contribution to society of former students and staff since 1851. 2026 will be the 175th anniversary of the college’s foundation.
3. Proposed changes to the constitution
Each proposed change (see below) was considered and approved by the AGM. The changes included an additional objective (to value the contribution to society of Westminster College, its alumni and staff), arrangements to enable a more gradual change of Executive officer posts, a broader approach to Links and less fuss over online meetings. The revised constitution was then signed by the Executive: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership officer.
4. Elections
Those willing to stand for the Executive and the General Committee were elected by the AGM:
The Executive: nominated & seconded by:
Chair Peter Relf Peter Steadman & Ann Darley Cook
Secretary Mary Lines Peter Relf & Peter Steadman
Treasurer David Gibbs John Hart & Ken Reid
Membership officer Peter Steadman Peter Relf & Mary Lines
The General Committee: nominated & seconded by:
Links (2 reps) Helen Lewis Mike Cooper & Peter Relf
John Wallace Sylvia Clift & David Gibbs
Reunion Liz Stock Mary Lines & Peter Relf
Communications Honor Hollis Eileen Baglin-Jones & Peter Relf
Volunteers (2 reps) Mike Cooper David Gibbs & Peter Relf
Linda Finch Will Bissett & Honor Hollis
5. Thanks
Thanks were given to retiring members of the General Committee: Frances Ann Johnson, who we hope will continue to keep the flag flying for links in the North-East, and Will Bissett, who we hope will continue to be an adviser to the Society as well as a bagpipe player. Linda Finch, who takes Will’s place knew Will at college in the 1980s and has met him since as a drummer in the Reading pipe and drum band. She is also an Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University. Helen Lewis who joins the General Committee has had many years successful experience running The Fishes reunion.
Thanks to all Westminsterians who continue to celebrate Westminster College whether in person at reunions and links, by phone or online.
6. The college song
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday 2 September 2023 5.15pm
Westminster College Chapel
Minutes
Minutes of the previous meeting have been available on the website westminsterians.uk
Present: Ian Rusha 70-73, Neil Grecian 72-76, Jane Causebrook (Adams) 73-76, Joani Adkins 73-76, Joyce Dunning (Brockway) 76-81, Jon Hart 66-69, Flick Hart 66-69, David Gibbs 66-69, Graeme Kilner 72-76, Mike Cooper 73-77, Carol Pilkington 61-64, Tom Pilkington 61-64, David Horne 73-76, Jane Horne 74-77, Keith Berry 61-64, Liz Berry 61-64, John Tranter 60-63, Gail Nichol 61-64, Elizabeth Megahey 64-67, Chris Varle 65-68, Sandra Watson 64-67, Wendy Brown 64-67, Maggie Bradshaw 64-67, Ann Sangwin 65-68, Jan Watts 65-68, Bob Williams 64-67, Peter Wilbourn 65-68, Stuart (Scotty) Morton 64-67, Peter Steadman 74-78, Liz Stock 72-75, Jane Ayre 72-75, Mary Lines 75-78, Dot Stairmand (Young) 63-66, Sheila Nelson (Bolam) 61-64, Peter Relf 63-66.
1. Apologies and correspondence
Apologies were received from John Wallace, Frances Ann Johnson, Honor Hollis who has Covid, Jenni Lister, Dennis Brammer and Clive Wilkinson who both sent greetings to the Class of ’63, John Grayson, Neil and Jill Barnett, Wendy Watson, Bob Jones who sent greetings to the Class of ’73, Sylvia Clift and Mike Worsley. Correspondence with Southlands College alumni whose reunion was also today was shared.
2. Annual report + financial statements
Each topic was considered and approved by the AGM.
Finance: The reconciled financial accounts were received and approved. The HSBC bank account will be closed by the end of 2023. Thanks to David Gibbs, treasurer, especially for the 3-year comparison. Exploration of insurance needs for an alumni society are proving more complicated than anticipated. Thanks to Mike Cooper for continuing to explore.
Membership: The database of 702 members is regularly updated. The quest is intensifying to get all members arranging £10 standing orders to the NatWest bank account before the end of 2023. Thanks to Peter Steadman, membership officer, for keeping detailed records.
Organisation: Regular meetings of the Executive and the General Committee were noted. Thanks were given to ex officio members of the General Committee: Sylvia Clift: former chair, who supplied cakes for the Glasgow Room and booked the Tarriers for the evening event, Miriam Moul, who is now superintendent minister of the Oxford Circuit (a new chaplain will be appointed), Tom Dobson, who opened the archives for the reunion, arranged an interesting display in the Glasgow Room and hung the college flag and festooned bunting on the chapel steps, Anne Cossutta, of the Oxford Brookes alumni office, and our secretary Mary Lines who also represented the Westminster College Oxford Trust. Mary gave an update on Oxford Brookes vacating the Harcourt Hill campus. The Trust oversees the lease of the site on behalf of the Methodist Church. Oxford Brookes took out a 99 year lease in 2017, but have not yet indicated how they might proceed once the site is vacated.
Welfare: work on mental health support and mentoring scheme for current students was noted.
Reunion: Thanks to the reunion team, especially Mary Lines and Liz Stock, for planning this year’s reunion.
Communications: Thanks to the communications team, especially Jenny Pontiggia and Honor Hollis. The website has been refreshed, the magazine is already in preparation and the email newsletters will now be prepared by the team. Thanks to Peter Steadman for all he has done to make newsletters so friendly and informative.
Links: The aim to broaden links - continuing area links, trialling a regional event, developing online links - was approved. Thanks to Margaret Baldry for keeping area links alive in East Anglia.
Heritage: Thanks that Tom Dobson, digitisation officer for the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History is now team leader for Our Westminster College Heritage. The project, online and in a publication in 2026 will celebrate Westminster College and the contribution to society of former students and staff since 1851. 2026 will be the 175th anniversary of the college’s foundation.
3. Proposed changes to the constitution
Each proposed change (see below) was considered and approved by the AGM. The changes included an additional objective (to value the contribution to society of Westminster College, its alumni and staff), arrangements to enable a more gradual change of Executive officer posts, a broader approach to Links and less fuss over online meetings. The revised constitution was then signed by the Executive: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership officer.
4. Elections
Those willing to stand for the Executive and the General Committee were elected by the AGM:
The Executive: nominated & seconded by:
Chair Peter Relf Peter Steadman & Ann Darley Cook
Secretary Mary Lines Peter Relf & Peter Steadman
Treasurer David Gibbs John Hart & Ken Reid
Membership officer Peter Steadman Peter Relf & Mary Lines
The General Committee: nominated & seconded by:
Links (2 reps) Helen Lewis Mike Cooper & Peter Relf
John Wallace Sylvia Clift & David Gibbs
Reunion Liz Stock Mary Lines & Peter Relf
Communications Honor Hollis Eileen Baglin-Jones & Peter Relf
Volunteers (2 reps) Mike Cooper David Gibbs & Peter Relf
Linda Finch Will Bissett & Honor Hollis
5. Thanks
Thanks were given to retiring members of the General Committee: Frances Ann Johnson, who we hope will continue to keep the flag flying for links in the North-East, and Will Bissett, who we hope will continue to be an adviser to the Society as well as a bagpipe player. Linda Finch, who takes Will’s place knew Will at college in the 1980s and has met him since as a drummer in the Reading pipe and drum band. She is also an Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University. Helen Lewis who joins the General Committee has had many years successful experience running The Fishes reunion.
Thanks to all Westminsterians who continue to celebrate Westminster College whether in person at reunions and links, by phone or online.
6. The college song
ANNUAL REPORT
The Westminster Society Report August 2023
Finance: Three officers now have online access to the NatWest bank account, enabling efficient financial and membership overview and prompt payments. The fee-bearing HSBC account will definitely close by 31 December 2023. Society finances remain stable. However, long term, the Society's income will decrease as members die. That will inevitably affect what it can afford to do in the future. Exploration of insurance needs is proving far from straightforward.
Membership: Committee members and volunteers are putting much time and effort to a mix of email campaigns and telephone calls asking members to switch banks, and update their subscription payments. Our database, WestBase, is regularly cleaned and updated. The friendly monthly newsletters have needed careful coordination so the right messages go to Members and to lapsed or non-members. We've had special emails to specific groups such as our 1950s contacts, and people closest to Oxford. Membership this month stands at 702 (466 individual, 94 joint [i.e.188], 48 life)
Organisation: The four Executive officers meet monthly online, and the General Committee meets quarterly online and once in person in College. We thank our Chaplain Miriam, our past Chair, Sylvia, Tom from Oxford Centre for Methodism & Church History and Anne from Oxford Brookes Alumni Team for taking an active part in these meetings. We also value our close contact with the Westminster College Oxford Trust. During the year we have agreed policies to support teams and their increasing number of volunteers.
Welfare: Student numbers at Harcourt Hill are dwindling as Oxford Brookes winds down activities here. We have considered mental health support for current students and encouraged Members to take part in the OBU Alumni mentoring scheme.
Reunion: The 2022 reunion went well and helped us refine the programme for 2023 - integrating the Reunion Service, revising evening meal arrangements and creating more opportunities for conversation. Planning has been helped by OBU Venues office but negotiations still continued ‘up to the wire’.
Communications: The team: Peter, Honor and Jenny relaunched the website and prepared the magazine much earlier but had to delay publication by 2 weeks to include the latest Reunion information.
Links: We are aiming to broaden links: some based on geography, others (perhaps online) on shared interests, and to encourage informal DIY links, like the successful reunions at The Fishes which Helen Lewis organises. In East Anglia, Margaret Baldry has proved that area links can still function though she notes that health and travel concerns can limit participation. On 26 October 2023, we are trialling a small regional event in Leatherhead, Surrey, based at the Methodist Church and featuring a lunchtime professional harmonica concert and, in a lovely chapel nearby, an art show. There will be plenty of time of time for chat. We'd welcome trying other formulas in other regions - perhaps Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham.
Heritage: A new research project to record how Ws have contributed to society since 1851 was launched in this year's magazine and has been gathering volunteers since. Tom Dobson of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History team is team leader. The aim is to produce: an online database which will be accessible from 2025, and an illustrated book to coincide with the Westminster College 175th anniversary in 2026.
The Westminster Society Report August 2023
Finance: Three officers now have online access to the NatWest bank account, enabling efficient financial and membership overview and prompt payments. The fee-bearing HSBC account will definitely close by 31 December 2023. Society finances remain stable. However, long term, the Society's income will decrease as members die. That will inevitably affect what it can afford to do in the future. Exploration of insurance needs is proving far from straightforward.
Membership: Committee members and volunteers are putting much time and effort to a mix of email campaigns and telephone calls asking members to switch banks, and update their subscription payments. Our database, WestBase, is regularly cleaned and updated. The friendly monthly newsletters have needed careful coordination so the right messages go to Members and to lapsed or non-members. We've had special emails to specific groups such as our 1950s contacts, and people closest to Oxford. Membership this month stands at 702 (466 individual, 94 joint [i.e.188], 48 life)
Organisation: The four Executive officers meet monthly online, and the General Committee meets quarterly online and once in person in College. We thank our Chaplain Miriam, our past Chair, Sylvia, Tom from Oxford Centre for Methodism & Church History and Anne from Oxford Brookes Alumni Team for taking an active part in these meetings. We also value our close contact with the Westminster College Oxford Trust. During the year we have agreed policies to support teams and their increasing number of volunteers.
Welfare: Student numbers at Harcourt Hill are dwindling as Oxford Brookes winds down activities here. We have considered mental health support for current students and encouraged Members to take part in the OBU Alumni mentoring scheme.
Reunion: The 2022 reunion went well and helped us refine the programme for 2023 - integrating the Reunion Service, revising evening meal arrangements and creating more opportunities for conversation. Planning has been helped by OBU Venues office but negotiations still continued ‘up to the wire’.
Communications: The team: Peter, Honor and Jenny relaunched the website and prepared the magazine much earlier but had to delay publication by 2 weeks to include the latest Reunion information.
Links: We are aiming to broaden links: some based on geography, others (perhaps online) on shared interests, and to encourage informal DIY links, like the successful reunions at The Fishes which Helen Lewis organises. In East Anglia, Margaret Baldry has proved that area links can still function though she notes that health and travel concerns can limit participation. On 26 October 2023, we are trialling a small regional event in Leatherhead, Surrey, based at the Methodist Church and featuring a lunchtime professional harmonica concert and, in a lovely chapel nearby, an art show. There will be plenty of time of time for chat. We'd welcome trying other formulas in other regions - perhaps Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham.
Heritage: A new research project to record how Ws have contributed to society since 1851 was launched in this year's magazine and has been gathering volunteers since. Tom Dobson of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History team is team leader. The aim is to produce: an online database which will be accessible from 2025, and an illustrated book to coincide with the Westminster College 175th anniversary in 2026.
The Westminster Society constitution
PROPOSED CHANGES to the existing constitution (see below on this page)
The Heritage project and The Westminsterian magazine both record and value the contribution to society of Westminster College, its alumni and staff. This vital aspect of what the Society does is now added to the list of obejctives in Clause 2.
This year, (two years after the 2021 constitution) sees the entire Executive up for election. Technically that could mean an entire change in the leadership in one election, unless the AGM adopts this change. Clause 6 now makes arrangements to enable a more gradual change of Executive officers and limits the tenure of an office to three terms (6 years max). Clause 6 also removes ‘online communication’ from the role of Membership officer. Online communication becomes a responsibility for the Communications team (who already look after the website and the magazine).
The changes to Clause 6 about electing the Executive means that there is no need to deal with the Executive in Clause 7 which now deals only with other elected members of the General Committee - hence the new a), b), c), d).
To reflect a broader approach to links (members getting in touch with each other in a variety of ways), references to area links groups are removed in Clause 7 and in Clause 15 where the broader approach is clarified. Area links groups are not shut down. They remain one form of link for the Society.
Clause 8 stops making a big thing about the General Committee meeting in person and/or online. We do both, including a ‘hybrid’ meeting where most are present but some are online using software where they can be seen and heard.
In Clause 7 and in Clause 19 we now give the Westminster College Oxford Trust its proper name.
PROPOSED CHANGES to the existing constitution (see below on this page)
The Heritage project and The Westminsterian magazine both record and value the contribution to society of Westminster College, its alumni and staff. This vital aspect of what the Society does is now added to the list of obejctives in Clause 2.
This year, (two years after the 2021 constitution) sees the entire Executive up for election. Technically that could mean an entire change in the leadership in one election, unless the AGM adopts this change. Clause 6 now makes arrangements to enable a more gradual change of Executive officers and limits the tenure of an office to three terms (6 years max). Clause 6 also removes ‘online communication’ from the role of Membership officer. Online communication becomes a responsibility for the Communications team (who already look after the website and the magazine).
The changes to Clause 6 about electing the Executive means that there is no need to deal with the Executive in Clause 7 which now deals only with other elected members of the General Committee - hence the new a), b), c), d).
To reflect a broader approach to links (members getting in touch with each other in a variety of ways), references to area links groups are removed in Clause 7 and in Clause 15 where the broader approach is clarified. Area links groups are not shut down. They remain one form of link for the Society.
Clause 8 stops making a big thing about the General Committee meeting in person and/or online. We do both, including a ‘hybrid’ meeting where most are present but some are online using software where they can be seen and heard.
In Clause 7 and in Clause 19 we now give the Westminster College Oxford Trust its proper name.
The Westminster Society
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 3 September 2022 5pm
Westminster College Theatre
Minutes
Present: Peter Relf, Mary Lines, David Gibbs, Peter Steadman, Liz Stock, Will Bissett, Tom Dobson, Clive Wilkinson, Joan Wilkinson, Jennifer Day, Tom Day, Robert Jones, Hazel Green, Honor Hollis, Tom Pilkington, Carol Pilkington, John Tranter, Liz Berry, Keith Berry, Ian Rusha, Neil Grecian, Michael King, Rob Tunnicliff, Wendy Watson, Peter Powers, Miriam Moul, Mike Cooper
On Zoom: Sylvia Clift, Christine Peet, Joy Gibbs, Brian Newcombe, Gwen Garner, Wendy Brown.
Apologies: John Wallace, Frances Ann Johnson
After a 132 seconds quiz to mark the 132nd AGM of Westminster College alumni, the meeting opened.
The annual report, already available for members in the paperwork for the meeting, was received.
The financial statement, also in the paperwork and introduced by David Gibbs was approved. David reported that over 300 members had not yet adjusted their membership standing orders to the £10 rate agreed unanimously at the 2022 AGM and had not yet transferred their membership payments from the Society’s HSBC account which incurs charges to its new free-banking account with NatWest.
In his membership report, Peter Steadman outlined how the printers had failed to send copies of The Westminsterian magazine to 100 members. Thanks to Tom Dobson and Derek Gillard the Society has rectified the printers’ error. During 2022-23, the Membership team will continue to encourage members to raise new standing orders to the correct rate and to the free account. Christine Crowther (Gollins) ’65 would be phoning members about that, and another volunteer would be very welcome. Meanwhile, Ann Darley Cook (Darley) ’71 would be keeping in touch with our Horseferry Road contingent, and some of the early years leavers after College moved to Oxford.
In his closing remarks, Peter Relf highlighted how the pandemic had made many members reluctant to meet in person, adversely affecting Area Links. He was grateful that Margaret Baldry was arranging an East Anglia event on 15 October 2022. He also mentioned the possibility of a Legacy project which could record how students and staff of Westminster College had contributed to society over 150 years. He thanked Dave Haigh and Sylvia Clift (attending the meeting via Zoom) for their significant part in making BA awards and celebrations possible, and he thanked the Reunion team led by Mary Lines for organising another enjoyable reunion.
The meeting closed at 5.15pm
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 3 September 2022 5pm
Westminster College Theatre
Minutes
Present: Peter Relf, Mary Lines, David Gibbs, Peter Steadman, Liz Stock, Will Bissett, Tom Dobson, Clive Wilkinson, Joan Wilkinson, Jennifer Day, Tom Day, Robert Jones, Hazel Green, Honor Hollis, Tom Pilkington, Carol Pilkington, John Tranter, Liz Berry, Keith Berry, Ian Rusha, Neil Grecian, Michael King, Rob Tunnicliff, Wendy Watson, Peter Powers, Miriam Moul, Mike Cooper
On Zoom: Sylvia Clift, Christine Peet, Joy Gibbs, Brian Newcombe, Gwen Garner, Wendy Brown.
Apologies: John Wallace, Frances Ann Johnson
After a 132 seconds quiz to mark the 132nd AGM of Westminster College alumni, the meeting opened.
The annual report, already available for members in the paperwork for the meeting, was received.
The financial statement, also in the paperwork and introduced by David Gibbs was approved. David reported that over 300 members had not yet adjusted their membership standing orders to the £10 rate agreed unanimously at the 2022 AGM and had not yet transferred their membership payments from the Society’s HSBC account which incurs charges to its new free-banking account with NatWest.
In his membership report, Peter Steadman outlined how the printers had failed to send copies of The Westminsterian magazine to 100 members. Thanks to Tom Dobson and Derek Gillard the Society has rectified the printers’ error. During 2022-23, the Membership team will continue to encourage members to raise new standing orders to the correct rate and to the free account. Christine Crowther (Gollins) ’65 would be phoning members about that, and another volunteer would be very welcome. Meanwhile, Ann Darley Cook (Darley) ’71 would be keeping in touch with our Horseferry Road contingent, and some of the early years leavers after College moved to Oxford.
In his closing remarks, Peter Relf highlighted how the pandemic had made many members reluctant to meet in person, adversely affecting Area Links. He was grateful that Margaret Baldry was arranging an East Anglia event on 15 October 2022. He also mentioned the possibility of a Legacy project which could record how students and staff of Westminster College had contributed to society over 150 years. He thanked Dave Haigh and Sylvia Clift (attending the meeting via Zoom) for their significant part in making BA awards and celebrations possible, and he thanked the Reunion team led by Mary Lines for organising another enjoyable reunion.
The meeting closed at 5.15pm
Chair - Peter Relf writes:
I had a great time at Westminster and particularly enjoyed music-making and staging theatre productions. This was excellent preparation for teaching music in Hillingdon, Doncaster, Mexborough and Mansfield. I gained a BA degree with the Open University and then supported vocational education in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. With an MBA from the OU, I worked for the Methodist Church, first regionally and then nationally before retiring.
I had a great time at Westminster and particularly enjoyed music-making and staging theatre productions. This was excellent preparation for teaching music in Hillingdon, Doncaster, Mexborough and Mansfield. I gained a BA degree with the Open University and then supported vocational education in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. With an MBA from the OU, I worked for the Methodist Church, first regionally and then nationally before retiring.
Secretary - Mary Lines writes:
I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. I remained teaching in Early Years in Oxfordshire, until retiring. Living in North Hinksey, I have maintained links with the College over the years. I joined the Westminster Society after becoming a trustee of the Westminster College, Oxford Trust who are appointed by the Methodist Church as the managing trustees of the Harcourt Hill site.
I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. I remained teaching in Early Years in Oxfordshire, until retiring. Living in North Hinksey, I have maintained links with the College over the years. I joined the Westminster Society after becoming a trustee of the Westminster College, Oxford Trust who are appointed by the Methodist Church as the managing trustees of the Harcourt Hill site.
Treasurer - David Gibbs writes:
At Westminster I studied music. My teaching career began in primary schools, continued on secondary, leading to head of department posts and to the school gaining performing arts specialist status. I was involved in teacher training through the school’s links with Bath Spa University. I have performed and directed music in educational and church settings, including 30 years as Director of music for church work with Christian Radio.
At Westminster I studied music. My teaching career began in primary schools, continued on secondary, leading to head of department posts and to the school gaining performing arts specialist status. I was involved in teacher training through the school’s links with Bath Spa University. I have performed and directed music in educational and church settings, including 30 years as Director of music for church work with Christian Radio.
Membership officer - Peter Steadman writes:
A year in France, then Leicester, proved enough teaching for me. I went into magazine publishing, installed the firm’s first computer, and grew with the business, retiring early as Database and Distribution Director. Music, especially singing, has always been part of me, and nowadays I run weekly lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Methodist Church.
A year in France, then Leicester, proved enough teaching for me. I went into magazine publishing, installed the firm’s first computer, and grew with the business, retiring early as Database and Distribution Director. Music, especially singing, has always been part of me, and nowadays I run weekly lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Methodist Church.
The Westminster Society constitution 2 September 2023
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Westminster Society was founded in 1886, at the original Westminster College premises in Horseferry Road, Westminster, SW1, under the title Westminster Club.
The Westminsterian began life as the in-college magazine, produced several times a term. The earliest copy in the archive dates from 1892.
Do you know when it became today's alumni magazine? Was it, perhaps, around 1977? Because . . .
The Westminster Bulletin was produced from 1925 to 1977, first as the alumni magazine of the Westminster Club which at some point became the Society it is today. When was that?
Incidentally, the Bulletin followed on from the War Bulletin, which The Principal edited from 1914 to 1918, for Old W's on active service or recovering from war wounds.
Please look at your own back copies or archives of these magazines. It would be good to complete the College archive, and to see in what year these changes took place. Have a sort out before those eager young recyclers move in on you!
Please contact the Society:
[email protected]
