On 26th October our choir held a belated Annual General Meeting, belated in that we were due our annual AGM in April 2020, just as Covid 19 restrictions locked down all singing, entertaining and choir management for 18 months.
Our choir President, Mr. David Marriott, welcomed everyone to the meeting and began by saluting the passing of some choristers and Supporters’ Group members with respect and fond memories.
Our steadfast committee have done a great job in supporting the ongoing motivation of our members through personal contact, newsletters, social media and the occasional meeting in a controlled environment. The return to group activity has been carefully managed with everyone agreeing to and actively taking lateral flow tests before attending rehearsals.
Our Concert Manager, Lynden Lowe, has overcome the numerous and repeating difficulties of planning, arranging, and subsequently having to cancel and re arrange concerts which are usually planned up to 18 months in advance. We are excited to be staging two Christmas themed concerts in 2021, namely: –
• 12th December between 12noon and 2pm at Rufford Country Park in the courtyard.
• 16th December, our annual and famous concert with Shirebrook Welfare Band at 7.30pm at Forest Town Arena.
Our Treasurer, Eric Bexon, has successfully managed the accounts over two financial years keeping his experienced eye on and in control of all transactions and ensuring compliance with charity commission, insurance and legal requirements.
Our Secretary, Eileen Lawrence, prepared and promulgated newsletters and maintained contact with many other choir stakeholders.
Our Promotion and Publicity Officer, Geoff Mansfield has kept the website updated and collated and organised the choir archive into a book recording 75 years of the history of the choir.
Our Musical team, Director, Ian Grice, and Accompanist, Margaret Ball have reviewed our strengths, our repertoire and selected exciting new pieces of music and have successfully encouraged new members to join us.
Our Chairman, John Wakeland, was due to lead his first AGM in April 2020 and has managed the cohesion of the team and choristers over the last 18 months to make our AGM yesterday evening a positive and rewarding occasion. There were enthusiastic volunteers taking up committee roles, exciting concerts to look forward to, new members to envelop into our team and camaraderie, a sound financial basis and a choir eager to rehearse and perform.
This photograph shows Chairman John marking the contribution of Marilyn Mansfield to our choir Supporters’ Group. For the last few years Marilyn has led the team of ladies in arranging and delivering our important (for social cohesion and choir family atmosphere) social events and who have, since 2012, raised thousands of pounds in support of choir activities. John’s thanks were enthusiastically echoed by the choir applause as Marilyn hands over this important role to Julie Bexon who is also our Assistant Treasurer.
The AGM pointed to a bright future with us all brimming with optimism, confidence and expectation. It’s great to be back and if you would like to be part of it come along to a Tuesday evening rehearsal for 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Church on Abbot Road, Mansfield. You can be sure of a warm welcome!