Lancashire Authors’ Association Minutes of the 114th Annual General Meeting Saturday 16th March 2024 at Euxton War Memorial Hall

 Lancashire Authors’ Association

Minutes of the 114^th Annual General Meeting

Saturday 16^th March 2024 at Euxton War Memorial Hall

 

The meeting was opened at 1.30 pm by the President, Mr Sid Calderbank, who welcomed everyone to the Euxton War Memorial Hall. He then gave a short talk about the History of the Hall.

Attending       David Lythgoe, Sarah Robin, Sid Calderbank, John & Jean Blakeley, Nick Oldham, Peter Jones, Jeanette Greaves, Julie Lloyd Mullen, Jo Rayner, Laura Donald, Olive Riley, Brenda Harper, Julie Procter, Sally Williams, Peter Foster, Michael L. Jackson, Gill James, Judith Addison, Christine Shanahan, Ged Melia, Tom & Heather Ungless,  Michael Higgins, Alison & Malcolm Chisholm

 

1          Apologies were received from Carol Talbot, Brian Hollingworth, Mahmood Ahmed,  Gill Macdonald   Constable.

 

2.        The Chairman, Judith H. Addison, asked everyone to sit in silence for a minute as a   silent tribute to David Kevill and any other members who had died since the last AGM.

 

3.         The minutes of the 2023 AGM were accepted. Proposed Peter Jones, seconded     Olive Riley.

Agreed by those present and signed.

4.         Matters arising from the Minutes. None.

5.         Officers’ reports. These had been circulated to members by email.

The treasurer, Michael L. Jackson, commented on the circumstances that existed when he was appointed last year and explained why he was circulating printed copies of his report, together with Income and Expenditure accounts for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and a balance sheet  for 2021 to 2023.

Olive commented that there had been difficulties with Santander accepting Michael as treasurer caused by letter being sent to the wrong address. Michael was thanked with a round of applause.

6.         Election of Officers.    The President, Sid Calderbank, took over from the Chairman. All serving officers had agreed to serve for another year and in the absence of any opposition were re-elected en-bloc.

7.         The following proposal from the Executive Committee was put to the meeting and accepted unanimously:

“The Association is committed to maintaining an environment free of bullying, victimisation and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all.”

            This statement will now be added to the Constitution

 

8          A.O.B. There was no further business. 

 

Signed……………………………………………….           Date…………………………………….

Following the meeting, the President welcomed Angel Danby who gave us an account of her experiences as a reporter for the Southport newspaper “The Southport Visiter”. Angela retired nine years ago when she accepted voluntary redundancy and began lecturing on journalism to students at Edgehill University, beginning with simple punctuation such as “Where to put the Apostrophe”. She referred frequently to the first  edition of the paper, published on May 4^th 1844, noting how its primary function appeared to have been to list the several visitors to the town, arriving no doubt by rail. Not only would their names be listed, but also the address, hotel or guest house at which they were staying. Hence the name of the paper that has retained its original erroneous spelling despite attempts from time to time to correct it.

            Angela was particularly amused by the occasional evidence of gender bias, most articles having then been written by men and clearly directed towards the fairer sex and how their subsequent experiences might differ from their expectations. Snippets of information over the years such as “Straw bonnets are now being worn by all classes” gave us an idea of how fashion is a perennial subject for debate.

            She also reminded us that reporters today are required to be impartial by reporting only facts, keeping their own opinions to themselves. This was not the case when, in July 1872, a boat collided with Southport pier and the reporter used most intemperate and prejudicial language in his account of the incident. She mentioned sad events from the past that she had found in the paper involving suicides and the deaths of children from neglect. She had herself attended inquests which by their nature are matters of public interest. In her experience, 80 percent of criminal behaviour has involved the consumption alcohol. She particularly enjoyed reading one coroner’s verdict that a man who was found deceased by the roadside, “died by the visitation of God”. She ended her talk with a humorous account of the “Art of the Precis” and graciously answered several questions, before receiving a well-deserved round of applause.

 

The afternoon concluded with Sid Calderbank reciting a Lancashire dialect poem by Cliff Gerard of Billinge, appropriately entitled, because of the venue, as  “Dad’s Medals”.

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 4.00pm and wished everyone a safe journey home.

D. Lythgoe  Minute Secretary