Friends of Chadkirk COMMITTEE meeting 8 Feb 2024
Meeting: Thursday 08 February 2024
Time: 19:00
Venue: JP ‘s house
Attendance: Pat Baker (President), John Pengelly (Chairman), Brian Thompson (Treasurer), Roger Pearce (Secretary) Angie Clark, Frances Holmes, Wendy Southam. Apologies: Peter Labrow
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Referring to the notes from the open meeting in January, JP reported that:
The water leak in the road outside the farmhouse had been repaired;
The emergency lighting in the Chapel was now working and, that
The wassail event had taken place successfully.
Chairman’s Report
JP said that since having had a very busy time at Christmas, there was little to report thus far this year apart from what had already been reported above. The ticketing for entry to the Chapel for the Wassail had been successful although the overall event was somewhat more muted than the previous year.
Treasurer’s Report
BT said that the financial position was still sound even after having been a sizeable expenditure on the kitchen refurbishment.
The annual accounts would be ready by the AGM.
There were still some funds if a contribution were to be required to further works.
Kiosk team update
FH reported from the Kiosk Team and said that:
It would help the team if in the first instance a person from the committee keyholders was nominated for each event to oversee the opening and closing of the Chapel and be available to contact should the need arise and secondly, it would help if a volunteer would be ready to be front of house during Open Days. This latter role would include such tasks as meeting and greeting, ensuring the children's game were put out and collected, and giving out applications for membership.
There was a discussion and it was agreed that there would be a nominated committee keyholder member to be available on event days. Subject to PL’s confirmation, the agreed rota for the next few months would be:
25/02 Open Day– RP
03/03 St Chad’s Day- PB
31/03 Open Day/Easter Service – AC
01/04 Egg Hunt/All Fools– JP
28/04 Open Day- PL
26/05 Bank Holiday Bank Weekend Open Day– PL
27/05 Bank Holiday Weekend Garden Party– AC
At the March open meeting, an invitation would be made for a volunteer group to take on the front of house role on Open Days.
Lack of handouts/publicity for handing to public - JP would arrange to obtain leaflet holders for the kiosk wall for storage of notices, handouts, membership forms etc for visitors. Also a simple music player which could be operated from within the kiosk.
General discussion re publicity leaflets. Noted that these are problematic to produce when FoC events have not been fully agreed re performers, times, volunteers, organisers etc.
Review of Wassail Event 2024
See above.
Events Update
St Chad’s Day 03 March. FH had had contact with Litchfield Cathedral to try and get information and support for the next St Chad’s Day. There had been some feedback and FH showed a leaflet that has recently been produced by staff at the Cathedral regarding the history of St Chad.
It was agreed that for St Chad’s Day, copies of the leaflet obtained by FH would be available otherwise it would be a regular Open Day opening.
Easter Service 31/03 - PB would contact Howard Green within the next seven days to confirm if there were to be an Easter Service on 31/03. If so, this would take place at 15:00 and the kiosk would close at 14:30.
Plant Sale 15/06 Because PB would not be available to run the plant sale this year, it was decided to cancel the event on 15/06 and possibly hold a plant sales event as part of the June Open Day. JP would advise SMBC Events in case they get a wedding request.
Entertainment. RP reported that a number of music groups had been booked to play on Open Days. As yet it had not been possible to cover the Garden Party; as proposed,Bring on the Swinghad been invited but were not available.
Footpath Re-instatement/Covid memorial
The immediate focus would now be on the repair and upgrading of the existing path around the Coronation Meadow and not on the now defunct path through Little Wood. Various funds (incl FoC) to support this project were available, but not enough to repair the path properly. This will require FoC to seek grant assistance. Current rough estimate is £25k. SMBC can advance some funds to FoC now (c£7k), but this needs to be expended before the end of the calendar year. Agreed that JP/AC would seek grant monies. (Plan B is to do a lesser scheme with whatever monies are in hand b4 year-end).
AGM 07 March 2024
Apart from RP, the rest of the committee members expressed their willingness to be re-elected. As required, RP would send out notification to the membership.
A.O.B.
AC reported that she had already had discussions regarding the design to be used in this year’s Well Dressing.
The meeting closed at 2150.
Next Meeting
AGM 07 March 2024 FoC at 11.00 in the Chapel
