Keith Mott
London & South East Classic Club AGM Report 2012
The London & South East Classic Club held its Annual General Meeting at the North Leatherhead Community Centre on 23rd January and the turnout of members was excellent, in fact one the best I’ve witnessed in many years. Brian Doick was unable to attend the meeting as he was away in Australia attending his daughter's wedding, so the Classic President, Keith Mott, chaired the proceedings on the night. There weren’t many changes in the officers this year; Ken Wise has taken more on this time and he is the new Vice Chairman and Steve Appleby is the new assistant Press Officer. The Auditor is the Accountant, Mrs Clare Ruff. Peter Taylor of Guilford and Alan Still of Felpham have joint the Committee this time and welcome to them! ‘Gold Rings’ are available from Terri Hoskin again this season, and that prize money will be flown for from the second Vire race in September.
The officers for 2012 are: President – Keith Mott: Chairman – Brian Doick: Secretary – Terri Hoskin: Vice Chairman – Ken Wise: Life Vice Presidents – Allan Cecil / Derik Packer / Clive Turner: Vice President – Peter Coles: Auditor – Clare Ruff: Convoyer – Rube Johnson / Ian Mead: Race Advisor – Steve Appleby: Press Officers – Keith Mott / Steve Appleby: Webmaster – Keith Mott.
The Classic secretary, Terri Hoskin, said the voting ballot papers came in thick and fast this year and Item 1 won the two way vote, with the 2012 race programme being: 12th May: Alencon (code 5001): 26th May: Tours (code 5044): 22nd June: Tarbes (code 5055): 13th July: Bergerac (code 5005): 18th August: Vire Young Bird / Old Hens (code 5087): 8th September : Vire Young Bird / Old Hens (code 5087). The voting results of the other propositions are: Item 3 – Carried 68/21: Item 4 – Carried 63/20: Item 5 – Out of Order: Item 6 – Carried 65/19: Item 7 – With Drawn: Item 8 – Out of Order: Item 9 – Defeated 27/55: Item 10 – Out of Order: Item 11 – Carried 46/28: Item 12 – Carried 58/25: Item 13 – Out of Order: Item 14 – Out of Order.
The Steyning marking station is now closed and its replacement for the 2012 season is at Horsham and the address is: YMCA Football Ground, Gorings Mead, Horsham, Sussex, RN13 5BP. Brian Doick is the I/C and can be contacted on: 01903 816247.The Essex marking station at South Ockendon is also now closed and has now been moved to Tilbury, with the address being: ‘Chadfields’, Tilbury Football Ground, St. Chads Road, Tilbury, Essex, RM18 8NL. The I/C for the Tilbury marking and clock stations is Alan Jackson and his phone number is: 07743 389647. Full details including marking times will appear in the new rule book.
A few words from the President
I would like start this section of the article by saying how proud I am that I’m serving my third term as Classic President with the club celebrating its 25th anniversary. Through those 25 years since its formation by a small dedicated band of fanciers in 1987, the club has been steered to the quality organization it is today by some outstanding Presidents and Committee workers. The 2012 L&SECC prize presentation held at the Reigate Manor in January was one of the best I’ve attended and it was very appropriate that my good friend, John Tyerman, was the guest of honour, as he is a founder member and past President of the Classic.
All good pigeon clubs are built on dedicated hard workers and at our AGM held in January we honoured three of those most recent fanciers who have put in years of outstanding service by making them Life Vice Presidents. Derik Packer of Grays travelled from Essex in all sorts of adverse winter weather conditions to attend our monthly committee meetings for many years and ran the South Ockendon marking and clock station with military precision. Allan Cecil has been our I/C at the Maidstone marking and clock stations since it started all those years ago and has run many squeaker sales for our Classic at the ‘Bull Inn’ in East Farleigh. Our third new Life Vice President is our 2011 Alencon Classic winner, Clive Turner of Capel. Clive is one of the sport’s gentlemen and has maintained and garaged our transporters with perfection for many years. Thanks to these three gentlemen for all their good work over many years! While at the BHW Blackpool Show in January I visited the Bamford’s ‘Top Flight’ stand to thank them for their continuing sponsorship which has spanned, more or less, the L&SECC 25 years. What fantastic sponsors they have been? They have sponsored all our race site corn for all those years and I can’t remember our Classic ever having to purchase a bean!
The L&SECC has enjoyed an excellent 2011 season, with higher birdage than the previous season and outstanding racing provided by our convoyers, Rube Johnson and Ian Mead, and race adviser, Steve Appleby. We have had a good year finically, with good bird and a successful ‘Phone-In’ squeaker sale in November. Once again I must thanks to the fanciers who donated to our sale and to those who purchased the birds and made it the outstanding success it turned out to be. This winter has seen the works our transport completed, with the cab and back sections being repaired and sprayed in. The transporter is now some thing the members can be proud of, with the new bigger water tank and new ventilated curtains creating the perfect environment for our pigeons when being convoyed to the race points. I have personally had several meetings with the Central Southern Classic Flying Club in recent months to secure our transport amalgamation for the two longest old bird races in 2012, which is a major financial factor for both Classic Clubs. I personally think this arrangement is paramount in our financial agenda, as with out this annual amalgamation both the Classics would loose thousands of pounds.
A special thanks to our secretary, Terri Hoskin, for all her good work last season. I can’t praise Terri enough, she has been just brilliant! We at the L&SECC have one of the best work forces in the sport and I would like to thank them all personally for their good work in the 2011 season and hope for their continuing support this year. We are very lucky to have the continuing services of our chairman, Brian Doick. I have said it many times before and make no apologies for saying it again, he is one of the best and is totally dedicated to our Classic. I would like to finish by wishing all our membership the very best of luck for the new racing season.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT (L&SECC Press Officer).