The Old Almondburians' Society
OAS News Society
Old Almondburians’ Society News
DATES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2010The Executive Committee of the Society meets upstairs at the ‘Woolpack’ in Almondbury on the following dates:
Monday, 1st March; Monday, 12th April; Monday 10th May; Monday, 7th June; Monday, 5th July; Monday, 6th September;  Monday, 4th  October; Monday, 1st November; Monday, 6th December.
Any member of the Society will be made most welcome.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 2010

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was due to be held at the ‘Woolpack’, Almondbury, on Tuesday, 5th January 2010 at 7.30 pm. Unfortunately, due to snow, there was no quorum with only four members in attendance. The meeting was therefore rescheduled for Monday, 1st February 2010 at 7.30 pm, again at the ‘Woolpack’.

Attendance
Bryan Hopkinson (chair), Nicky Briggs, Andrew Haigh, Martyn Hicks, Keith Crawshaw, Gary Woodhouse, Nicky Murphy Roger Dowling, Emily Comer, Walter Raleigh, Vicky Taylor, Paul Balderstone

Apologies for Absence 
Apologies were received from John Broadbent, Dave Herbert, Linda Jackson, Daniel Shaw, Gerald Stead and Angela Melling.

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday, 6th January 2009 were read and approved and there were no matters arising.

Chairman’s Report
Bryan Hopkinson reflected on a fairly unspectacular year of consolidation after the fantastic year of celebrations for the four-hundredth anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter. The numbers at the dinner this year were low, but it was still an excellent dinner, which shows that it ’s not all about numbers. It was an achievement to mount another Founders’ Day Service this year and the new committee will want to build on that. He concluded by saying that he hands on to his successor in good confidence that the Society can continue to move forward.

Treasurer’s Report
Keith Crawshaw began his report by saying that Fred Sheard, who has been doing the Audit for many years, had decided that he didn ’t want to continue. Keith hadn’t anticipated it being too difficult to find a replacement, but he had received three rejections! He had therefore had to ask Alan Swift, a work colleague, to do the audit this year but, since he isn ’t an Old Almondburian, we will need to give a bit of thought to a new Independent Examiner and he said that if anyone has any ideas regarding a suitable candidate, then they will be most welcome. Keith went on to present the accounts for the financial year ended 31st August, 2009, saying that there were no major changes from the draft accounts presented at the December meeting of the  Executive Committee. He noted that income from subscriptions continues to increase, but that the printing and postage costs for the magazine have also increased. There were no dissenters to the accounts as presented and the Chairman thanked Keith.

Membership Secretary’s Report
Andrew Haigh reported that 14 new members have been recruited since last year’s Annual General Meeting. Unfortunately, there have also been a number of deaths and resignations and he had also had a clear out of persistent debtors, meaning that membership currently stands at 817, overall a slight decrease on this time last year. Of these 817, 158 are last year ’s school leavers enjoying their first year’s membership for free, 47 are current staff, 33 are overseas members, 23 are life members and 8 have opted to continue paying their subscription at the old rate but to no longer receive a copy of the magazine. The Chairman commented that to have over eight hundred members is still pretty good.

Subscription rate for the Financial Year commencing 1st September 2010
The Chairman observed that the Society has plenty money at the moment, so there is no need to amend the subscription rate. There were no dissenters.

Election of President
The Chairman proposed that Robert Lamb should be invited to continue as President of the Society. He was elected nem con. There were no President’s Remarks, due to his absence from the meeting.

Election of Executive Officers for 2010
The Chairman then moved onto the election of Officers, going through the list of those who were nominated for office at the December meeting of the Executive Committee:

Joint Chairmen   Emily Comer and Nicky Murphy
Vice-Chairman   Nicky Briggs
Honorary Secretary   Andrew Haigh
Honorary Treasurer   Keith Crawshaw
Media Editor   Roger Dowling
Ordinary Committee Members  John Broadbent, Emily Earnshaw, Martyn Hicks, Gerald Stead, Vicky Taylor
Chaplain    Rev Dave Herbert
Representatives of the School  Angela Melling and Walter Raleigh
The nominated officers were all elected unanimously and Nicky Murphy then took the chair.

Any Other Business:
Bryan Hopkinson wished to propose that membership should be open to Nicky Briggs’ father, who is willing to take over the role of Archivist or, indeed, anyone else who can demonstrate a close association with the school. Walter Raleigh thought it odd that a retired member of staff can become a member, but that someone who has been a Governor for many years cannot. Keith Crawshaw felt that Governors are almost members of staff and could certainly be treated as such for membership purposes under the rules, so he doesn ’t have a problem with that. He does, however, have a problem with others being able to join. Martyn Hicks was worried that we might be put in a position where we might have to refuse membership to someone. Roger Dowling suggested that the solution would be to make membership open to Governors or others by invitation of the committee. Bryan Hopkinson said that he would be happy with that and we could simply add that clause to section two of the rules. However, Paul Balderstone felt that we would need another category of membership, since there are many worthy causes, but it is not the same qualification as former pupils of the school.
Keith Crawshaw said that he is personally very much against it. He is happy for Governors or anyone with a specific association with the school to become members, but he thinks that this is far too fundamental a change for a few of us to decide tonight and he thinks that it must be discussed more widely amongst the membership. Roger Dowling agreed, saying that there is no pressure on us to extend it beyond the Governors.

Nicky Briggs proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Chairman, saying that he thinks that Bryan has done a sterling job this year. This was agreed by all present.

The Meeting closed at 8.38 pm and was followed by the customary pie and peas supper.

(Signed)_:

A M Haigh (Secretary)  
N Murphy (Joint Chairman)
Executive Officers 2010

President 
King James’s School
Work Telephone:  (01484) 223930

JOINT Chairman 
Emily Comer 4 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Mobile:  07855) 264043
 
Nicky Murphy 4 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Mobile: 07710605061

VICE CHAIRMAN
Nick Briggs 122 Kaye Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD5 8XU

Honorary Secretary
Andrew M. Haigh  2 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Home Telephone: (01484) 432105
Mobile Telephone: (07770) 220733
Work Telephone: (01484) 400032

Honorary Treasurer
Keith Crawshaw 5 Benomley Drive, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD5 8LX
Telephone: (01484) 533658
Work Telephone: (01924) 409311

MEDIA Editor
Roger Dowling Orchard House, Oughtrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA13 0RD
Telephone: (01925) 756390

Ordinary Committee Members 

John Broadbent Oaklea, 97 Lowestwood Lane, Wellhouse, Golcar, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD7 4EW
Home Telephone: (01484) 650171

Martyn Hicks 12 Gernhill Avenue, Fixby, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD2 2HR
Home Telephone: (01484) 539409
Work Telephone: (01422) 371751

Gerald Stead 60 Holly Bank Road, Lindley, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD3 3LT
Home Telephone: (01484) 654406

Emily Earnshaw 19 Rectory Drive, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD5 0JT
Home Telephone: (01484) 535999
      
Vicky Taylor 24 Alma Drive, Dalton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD5 9EF
Mobile Telephone: 07818 475272

Chaplain 
Rev. David Herbert  The Manse, 5 Nursery Lane, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7NW
Home Telephone: (01668) 219584

Representatives of King James’s School 
Work Telephone: (01484) 223930

Telephone: (01484) 223930

Head Boy Akash Bhalla

Head Girl Alice Dewhirst

Badminton Section 
Andrew M. Haigh 2 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Home Telephone:  (01484) 432105
Mobile Telephone:  (07770) 220733
Work Telephone: (01484) 400032
e-mail:  andrew@rdhaigh.com

Cricket Section 
Jack A. Taylor 13 Trenance Gardens, Greetland, Halifax, Yorkshire HX4 8NN

Golf Section
Simon A. Russell ‘Phoenix Cottage’, Upper Hagg Road, Huddersfield Yorkshire
e-mail: simon@aimbry.net

Tennis Section 
Andrew M. Haigh  2 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Home Telephone:  (01484) 432105
Mobile Telephone:  (07770) 220733
Work Telephone: (01484) 400032
e-mail:  andrew@rdhaigh.com

Archivist 
Nich Briggs 122 Kaye Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD5 8XU

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER 
Vacant

Vice-Presidents
E. Brian Carter, M.F. Dyson, Robert Brook, K.G. Shaw, Peter L. Burns, Frederick J. Sheard, D.G. Armitage, J.A. Ward, Richard J. Green, Geoffrey Douglas, Keith Crawshaw, Paul A.G. Balderstone, J. Richard Taylor, John M. Drewery, Jack A. Taylor, J. Amanda Taylor, Malcolm J. Taylor, James N. Taylor, David Gary Croft, David A. Bush, Graham Cliffe, Robert Williams, Ian Shaw, Bryan Hopkinson.


MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Our total membership currently stands at 817. Since the last magazine was published, we have been delighted to welcome the following four new members to the Society: Haydn James Charlton, T H Firth, Andrew Mitchell, Rebecca Sixsmith.
 
Of our 817 members, 158 are last year’s school leavers who are enjoying their first year’s membership with the compliments of the Society, 47 are current staff, 33 are overseas members, 23 are life members and 8 have opted to continue paying their subscription at the old rate but to no longer receive a copy of the magazine.
There are also 22 people who are life members or who are still paying their subscription at the old rate who have failed to notify us of a change of address, resulting in their newsletters being returned. With your help, we have tracked down a good number of such members in the past, so thank you to the members who supplied this information. The members with whom we have currently lost contact are listed below and, if anyone knows the whereabouts of any of them, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
Subscriptions are due on 1st September each year so, if you receive a letter with this newsletter pointing out that your subscription is not up-to-date, please do complete the updated standing order mandate that accompanies it and return it in the envelope provided without delay. Alternatively, you may renew online, using PayPal or a debit or credit card, by visiting www.oas.org.uk and clicking on the ‘Join/Renew Online’ button here.  
A. Richard Teale (1961-1968), Whitley Bay
Alex Burrell (née Law), Fareham
Amanda Tiplady (née Turner) (1988-1991), Kirkheaton
Andrew Mellor (2002-2007), Almondbury
Anthony D. Bedford (1958-1961), Honley
Becky Honour (2003-2008), Kirkheaton
Brian Pollard (1946-1951), Waterloo
Chris & Caroline Shaw (1993-1998), Leeds
Clare Barlow, Ipswich
David John Senior (1961-1968), Swansea
David Samuel Reilly (1956-1961), Sheffield
Dominic M. Young (2002-2008), Highburton
Dr. George Allen W. Ross (1954-1962), Buckhurst Hill
Edward Asquith, Canterbury  
Ellis Leonard (2003-2008), Waterloo
Gary Woodhouse, Fenay Bridge
Geoffrey Hilton (1953), Holmfirth
George Barnwell (2003-2008), Kirkheaton
George Howard Robinson (1950-1958), Taylor Hill
Gillian Anne Moorhouse (1988-1991), Kirkheaton
H.J. Norris, London
Ian Steven Hinchliff (1964-1971), Holmfirth
Jackie Hart (née Chilvers), London
Jessica Scarlet Cartwright (2002-2007), Lepton
John Michael Linton (1956-1963), Barnsley
John Michael Sykes (1946-1954), Grange-over-Sands
John Stephen Calverley (1955-1962), Leeds
John Stuart Cooper (1952-1957), Oakes
John Stuart Sykes (1950-1955), Burton-on-Trent
Julian Robert Stafford (1965-1972), Cambridge
Keith Hudson (2003-2008), Lascelles Hall
Kim Dyson, Longwood
Laurence Morgan, Skelmanthorpe
Linda Jackson (1977-1982), London
Lindsay Williams née Ogden (1978-1983), Bath
Maria Lijka (1974-1976), Stainland
Martin Armitage (1968-1976), Nottingham
Martin Harrison (1962-1969), Knaresborough
Michael Richard Leech (1987-1989), Thurstonland
Michael Stuart Gibson (1956-1963), Brighton
Michael Ward, London
Nicholas Andrew Mann (1962-1970), Silsden
Nicholas Leventis (1974-1977) West Bridgeford
Peter Ashton (1950-1955), Almondbury
Peter B. Hindle (1949-1955), Worcester
Peter Chris. Gawthorpe (1962-19690, Warwick
Peter John Tiplady (1986-1989), Kirkheaton
Peter Large (1973), Hounslow
Peter Robert Brown (1971-1975), Kirkburton
Peter Scott (1949), Ascot
Poppy Stahelin, Lepton
Richard Edwards (1979-1984), Milton Keynes
Richard Morley Brook (1942-1945), Almondbury
Richard Shaw, Edgerton
Robert John Davidson (1968-1976), Uxbridge
Roger Furniss (1956-1961), Berry Brow
Rosie Stahelin, Lepton
Sally Battye née Meigh (1988-1991), Holmfirth
Simon Burnett-Boothroyd (1981-1984), Mansfield
Simon Gelling (2003-2008), Fenay Bridge
Terence John Barden (1944-1950), Leeds
Terri Copeland, Huddersfield
Trevor Holberry (1947-1951), Sowerby Bridge
Wayne Hickman, Bradley