NEWS PAGE

 

ANNUAL REPORT - 2004

 

I am pleased to present this report on the activities of the Society during the last 12 months.

2004 has been another satisfactory year for the Society. Our membership currently stands at 143 and monthly meetings continue to be very well attended.

 

106 members and guests attended the Presidents Lunch this year. 49 people participated on the trip to Port Sunlight and Chester. Unfortunately the morning walking tour of Port Sunlight had to be done under umbrellas. However we all enjoyed a good lunch at the Lady Lever Art Gallery before moving on to Chester for the afternoon.

 

 

 

Our Open day in June was also at the mercy of poor weather and attendance was not as great as in 2003. This was disappointing as the theme was ' Famous and Notable people of Aldridge' and some effort had been made to research and produce new material for display. Our committee is exploring a different format and venue for an 'Open Day' next year with a view to reaching a much larger audience.

 

The Society was pleased to support the 'Rosie Ross Walk' this year, when the weather was much kinder to us and we were able to enjoy the War Time 40's theme for the day.

 

Our varied program of monthly meetings was as follows:-

Dec : AGM + Skittles June : Mrs Ellerslie - Warwickshire

Jan: Davis Voden -

60th Anniversary of D-Day July : P Johnson - Kenya

Feb: Peter Makinson - Transport Aug: no Meeting

Mar James Roberts - Sela Sweet Co Sept: Andrew Lound - Avery Scales

April: John Shaw - Lichfield Pubs Oct: Presidents Sunday Lunch

May: Ken Hughes - Cadburys & Bournville Nov: Ron Darby Cannock Chase to Music

The Society has been pleased to assist in answering enquiries received , with information drawn from the resource of our members. We continue to receive emails from all corners the globe from people who have an interest in Aldridge and who find our website.

 

The Society is always willing to support other organisations within the community with Stan & John attending as guest speakers when requested.. The Society supports the Royal British Legion and again participated in the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

 

Our success is due entirely to the continued support of our membership, which enables the Society to maintain its position as a significant group within the local community. To produce a varied program of events so as to maintain interest, is a significant task and I thank our committee members who continue to give their time to assist in the administration of the Society .

 

Stan Brookhouse has been keen that the 60th Anniversary of the end of WW2 next year should be

commemorated. He has personally arranged for the publication of a book, 'Aldridge at War' and these should be available from him in December. Members are also reminded that Ron Smith has recorded Society events over the years on video and has produced some compilation videos which are available for purchase. Full details are available on his website mysite.freeserve.com/www.aldridgevideos

 

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