EERC Annual Meeting 1924

Transcript

The annual general meeting of the members of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club was held at the Bridge House Hotel, Eton, on Tuesday evening, when a very satisfactory report and balance-sheet were submitted. Mr. L. F. Blane (last year’s captain) occupied the chair at the commencement of the meeting, and Mr. H. A. Baker took his place on being elected to the captaincy for the ensuing year. Among those also present were:

Messrs. V. H. Hobbs (vice-capt.), R. H. Edridge (hon. treas.), J. W. Tull (hon. sec.), T. Luff (assist. hon. sec.), M. Lightfoot (hon auditor), D. B. King, W. J. Dowsett, J. W. Croft, V. J. Pottow, J. Meredith, H. Powers, T. J. Cartland, A. G. Horlock, C. D. Dyson, H. Luff, A. Merson, A. F. Hobbs, H. Mayo, N. Bradley, C. L. Andrews, L. W. S.. Howard, W. R. Smith, B. Stewart, S. E. Little, G. W. Bayley, G. Newton, T. South, W. M. Pottow, F. L. P. Webb, etc.

The Annual Report

Mr. TULL read the annual report as follows:- The Committee have much pleasure in presenting their 73^rd annual report.

Membership. The membership last season was 53, a slight decrease on the previous year.

Regattas (open). The Club was represented: at most of the open regattas last season, and our crews are to be congratulated on a very satisfactory record.

At Reading, our Junior-Senior-Four won the Maiden Erlegh Challenge Cup, beating Marlow R.C. in the final heat by length. Our Junior Four won their two heats but lost the final to Maidenhead by one length.

At Marlow, our Junior Senior-Four were beaten by Maidenhead for the Town Cup, and our Junior Four, after winning their heats, lost in the Final to Exeter College, Oxford.

At Staines, Junior-Senior-Eight put up a splendid performance by beating Thames in their first heat, and Kingston in their second heat, but lost to Anglian by half a length in the final. Our Junior Four were beaten by Lensbury [original “Lensberry”] in their heat.

At Maidenhead, we entered for the Telegraph Eights, but were beaten by Thames in the first heat.

At Bourne End, we entered a Maiden Four, who were successful, beating Maidenhead and Marlow in their heat, and Reading in the Final. A Junior-Senior-Four lost their heat to Marlow by two feet.

At the Club Regatta our Junior Four won the ‘Ruthven Challenge Cup,’ beating Staines in their heat, and Maidenhead by two lengths in the final. The following members represented the Club at Open Regattas during the last season,

V. H. Hobbs, V. J. Pottow, C. D. Dyson, H. A. Baker, H. Luff, G. Newton, J. W. Croft, W. Dowsett, N. A. Bradley, R. J. Box, D. B. King, L. W. S. Howard, H. W. Mayo, G. W. Bayley, M. R. Burgoyne, J. G. White, and R. Wheeler.

Club Races. A number of club races were decided during the season. The ‘William Robert King’ Cup was won by N. A. Bradley, G. W. Bayley, V. J. Pottow, J. W. Croft. The Trial Junior Fours ‘Devereux’ cup was won by N. A. Bradley, R. J. Box, R. G. King, C. L. Andrews. The ‘Herbert’ Swimming Cup was won by V. J. Hobbs, our Vice-Captain. The Annual Eight Oar race between crews representing Windsor and Eton for the ‘Peters’ cup, given by Sir George Peters, our president, was this year won by Eton, after a stirring race from start to finish. Sir George umpired the race, and afterwards generously entertained the crews and members at the Club Headquarters.

Annual Regatta. The annual regatta was held on August 11^th, a few weeks earlier than usual, in order to co-operate with the Windsor and Eton Carnival Week Committee.
The entries for the Club races were not quite so many as usual, owing to several members being away, but the open events attracted a large number of entries. The Wakefield Memorial Challenge Cup was again won by the Staines pair, N. L. Huggins, J. N. Gundry (Miss Nixon, cox.), and the open Junior Fours, for the Ruthven Challenge Cup, was won by our Junior Four, who beat Maidenhead in the final.

Lady Peters … [text indistinct]

Annual Supper. The annual supper was held on November 27^th, 1923, at the White Hart Hotel. Our President, Sir George Peters, occupied the chair, and was supported by the Mayor of Windsor (Sir William Carter), Mr. A. A. Somerville, Alderman G. Mitchell, Messrs. A. H. Dyson, T. H. Boswell, E. C. Devereux, M. Lightfoot, etc. The thanks of the Committee are due to the social committee for their untiring efforts on behalf of the Club during the winter months, and the Hon. Secretary wishes to personally thank these members for all the assistance they have given him when they have been asked.

Club Badge. At a special general meeting, held on July 26^th, 1923, it was decided that the Club should have an official badge for the pocket of the blazer and cap. It was resolved that a sub- committee, comprising the General Committee and Mr. G. W. Bayley, be appointed to select three badges, one of which to be decided upon by the vote of the members at the annual general meeting.

Coming Season. The Committee have decided to put on an Open Fixed Seat Maiden Four Oar race at the Club regatta this year, for the Challenge Cup kindly presented by Councillor Arthur Jacobs, to be called the ‘Jacobs’ Challenge Cup.

The thanks of the members are due to all those who have subscribed to the Club funds during the past season, to the Eton College authorities for the use of their premises for our Club regatta, and other Club events; to Mr. Calvert, for allowing boats to be moored in front of his premises, and to Lieut. Col. J. T. Halligan, for placing rooms at our disposal for meetings, etc.”

The Balance Sheet

Mr. EDRIDGE submitted the club’s balance sheet, which showed the following:-

Receipts: Balance brought forward, £60 12s. 2d.; Hon. members’ subscriptions, £20 19s. ; members’ subscriptions, 1922 (2), £4 4s.; ditto, 1923 (53), £108 14s. 6d. ; per Social Committee (season, 1922-3), £47 8s. 11d.; sale of old boat, £1; entry fees – club races, £2 18s. 6d. ; storage of members’ own boats, £5 15s.; interest on deposit at bank, 9s.; balance on regatta account, 1923, 4s. 6d. ; total, £252 5s. 7d. The payments included the following:-Rent, £15; debentures paid off (2), £10; debenture interest, £1 10s.; rates, £6 3s. 1d.; deposit account, £50; insurances, £3 16s. 6d. ; repairs to premises, £6 19s. 11d.; repair and upkeep of boats, £13 18s.; housing racing boats, £3; care of raft during winter, £1; boatman, £27 Is. 8d.; regatta entrance fees, £23 11s. 6d. ; cartage of boats to regattas, £2 10s.; varnish, paint, timber, soap, etc., £15 14s. 5d.; Thames Conservancy, £8 2s. 6d.; Club prizes, engraving, etc., £6 5s. 6d. ; printing, stationery and advertising, £7, 19s. 6d. ; laundry, £1 13s. 11d.; purchase of new sculls, £12 5s. ; purchase of new mats and straps, £2 9s. 6d. ; cheque book, 5s.; Treasurer’s postage and receipt stamps, £1 10s. 7d.; secretary’s postage and incidentals, £2 7s. 1d.; subscription to Thames amateur Rowing Council, 5s. ; total £223 8s. 8d.; balance at bank, £28 16s. 11d.; grand total, £252 5s. 7d.

Mr. EDRIDGE went on to compare the figures with those in last year’s balance-sheet. He said they had an increased balance of about £18 over last year; but although the honorary members’ subscriptions had increased over £5, the members’ subscriptions showed a drop of £16. The proceeds from the Social Committee’s efforts showed an increase of about £20. Two debentures had been paid, off during the year which left only four now outstanding. They hoped to pay these off in the near future. Their deposit account had been increased by £20, and the actual amount the Club had to its credit at the present time was 1s. 1d. short of £80. He thought that was a record in the history of the Club (applause). They started the year with an absolutely clean sheet – nothing being outstanding. Referring to the debentures, Mr. Edridge said one, which had been paid off (Mrs. Dugdale’s) was an original debenture, dated 21st October, 1885, and signed by the then treasurer of the Club (Mr. William Shurley). He would pass it round for their inspection (applause).

The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Treasurer on his very satisfactory statement, and Mr. ANDREWS proposed, and Mr. D. B. KING seconded, the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Carried.

Re-election of President and Vice-Presidents

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the re-election of Sir George Peters as President, said he took the greatest interest in the Club, and its doings (applause). Mr. HORLOCK seconded. Carried unanimously.

Mr. EDRIDGE proposed the re-election of the Vice-Presidents en bloc. Mr. POTTOW seconded. -Carried. It was also resolved to add the names of Lieut.-Col. J. T. Halligan, Councillor A. Jacobs, and Mr. F. C. Bayley.

Election of Captain

Mr. POWERS proposed the re-election of Mr. L. F. Blane as Captain of the Club. He said he was the most suitable man they could have for the post, and he gave up a great amount of his time for the Club. It was a very difficult post to fill, and they could not do better than elect him for another year (applause). Mr. F. L. P. WEBB seconded.

Mr. ANDREWS proposed Mr. Bert Baker as Captain. He said that a change was good for a club, and although their last captain had done well, he thought someone else ought to have a turn. Mr. HORLOCK seconded.

Mr. BLANE said he would be only too pleased to stand aside, as it was by no means an easy post to fill.

Mr. BAKER said that although he appreciated the views of Mr. Andrews, he did not think he could take the post, as he had not had time to consider the matter.

A lengthy discussion ensued, and eventually both Mr. Blane and Mr. Baker consented to leave the matter to those present. Mr. Dyson’ and Mr. Horlock were also proposed and seconded for the post. In the end a ballot was taken, and Mr. Baker was declared elected by a substantial majority.

Mr. BLANE then vacated the chair, and Mr BAKER having taken it, said he did so with rather mixed feelings. He felt that their captain last year had worked hard for the club, and given a considerable amount of his time to promote its welfare. However, some of the members seemed to require a change, but he trusted that Mr. Blane would still continue to give his valuable help, especially in coaching the crews. He thanked them for electing him to the office, and he would endeavour to carry out the duties of the office to the best of his ability, and he hoped to the credit of the Club (applause).

Mr. EDRIDGE proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Blane for his admirable services during the past four years as captain. As one of the oldest officers of the Club., he (Mr. Edridge) knew what Mr. Blane had done for the Club, and he could not help feeling a certain amount of regret that he had vacated the chair that evening. Still changes must come, and he was sure that Mr. Blane would see that this was so. He had great pleasure in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to him (applause).

Mr. V. J. POTTOW seconded, and the CHAIRMAN supported it. The proposition was heartily carried.

Election of Other Officers

The following other officers were unanimously re-elected and thanked for their services during the past year: Vice-Captain, Mr. V. H. Hobbs; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. R. H. Edridge; Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. W. Tull; Assistant Hon. Secretary, Mr. T. Luff; Auditors, Messrs. A. H. Dyson and M. Lightfoot.

The Committee

There were fourteen nominations for the committee, and on a ballot being taken, the following were declared elected: Messrs. C. D. Dyson, Moss, Pottow, Horlock, Powers, Newton, Croft, and H. Luff.

A Coach

Mr. CROFT raised the question as to the advisability of appointing a coach, and after discussion at the matter was referred to the committee.

The Club Badge

Three designs were submitted for a Club badge, and after Mr. EDRIDGE had given some interesting particulars of the old club badge, it was decided to adopt the design showing crossed oars, and the old badge with the letters E.E.R.C. on it. It was stated that the Excelsior is the oldest river club with the exception of Leander R.C.

Votes of Thanks

Cordial votes of thanks were passed to the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, to the Social Committee, to the Press, and to the two Chairmen of the evening, Mr. Blane and Mr. Baker.

The Opening Day

It was decided that the opening of the season should take place, as usual, on Good Friday.

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