Captain’ report 2024

Membership and Committee actions.

Numerically this has been a relatively good year . At present we have a total of 104 members, consisting of 82 full members, (14 new members), 13 honorary, 8 social and 1 overseas (compared to the 2023 figures of 99 total, 77 full members and the 22 honorary/social and overseas).  

Turning to the new members.

On behalf of the membership I extend a very warm welcome to:

• John Blaymires
• Patrick Watts
• Richard Pierce,
• Ian Howick,
• Geoff Thorburn,
• Ian Robinson,
• Peter  Finnie,
• Peter Hamilton,
• Phil Meadows,
• Andy Hickmott,  
• Keith Dennison,
• Lizzie O’Dell,
• Chris Taylor.

3 of whom are here today.

Yes Gentlemen - After 102 years we now have our first Lady Member, it is a privileged to welcome Ms. O’Dell. There are 3 applications pending and sadly we have noted the passing of two of our friends.

The activity levels have been high, 62 members attended at least one event, 25 played 4 or more events and the most frequent attender played 12 (Congratulations Tom Cox I don’t know where you get your stamina from).

During the year the Committee has either completed or initiated several work streams. We now have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy on the website, an agreed new member application process with flow chart to ensure that everyone is treated in a fair and transparent manner, (although it has not been without it’s moments in coming to fruition) and a review of our compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

Our thanks go to Phil O’Dell and Nick Butler for their unstinting work as the Development Coordinators and the different perspective that they have brought to addressing the challenges that the future has in store for us. Their work on broadening the recruitment base, opening up the potential membership group is already paying dividends.

The Committee is very mindful that there is a fine dividing line between introducing new and innovative ideas and maintaining the best of our culture and traditions, we will endeavour to keep the membership fully informed of new initiatives and our intended direction of travel.

Committee status

Anthony King will be the 2025 Captain, with Tony Killick as Vice Captain. Tom Lyons will continue as Hon. Sec. For 2025, he has turned out to be a real star in his only year, and I am pleased to report that Nigel Dowdall will continue as Web Master and Permanent Member to the Committee for the next year. George McCaffery remains as the Hon. Treasurer, I must thank him for his diligence and help throughout the year, he was a pillar of support.

David Backhouse is standing down from the Committee as Historian to the Society: a look at the “About us” section of the website demonstrates his contribution to the continuing knowledge and background of our Society, he remains the font of all knowledge and the legacy that he has left us is invaluable, fortunately he will still be here to keep us informed and play stunningly good golf. Some of you may not know that he produces the menu for today, the photo of the tour at the back is subtitled “Spot the Captain”.

David – a token from the committee.

Finances.

Our finances continue to be in good health thanks to the stewardship of George McCaffery. Who will say a few words.

I have found in life that if things happen in a timely and efficient manner I tend to take it for granted, this year I have learnt that a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make this Society function and I thank the members of the committee for their input, guidance and support during my year as Captain and George is a great example  of this.

2024 Golfing season

The weather was kind to us this year. We played at 11 events and 3 matches with only 2 being rain affected although some of us got damp at the end of the first day on tour.

As usual the opening meeting at Swinley Forrest was well attended with 32 enjoying lunch and the season progressed from there.

Of the three matches we retained the Keith Davies Cup against the RAF GS at Denham, the match against the RNGS at Hayling Island was lost….. and the Boscombe match against Boscombe Down MOD was a draw but we retained the elusive cup.

For a society that considers itself to be universal across aviation the list of our match opponents makes one wonder!

The tour down in the New Forest was well supported, enjoyable and we played first class courses. Ferndown, Parkstone and Brokenhurst Manor were all in immaculate condition and made us welcome. The contest was keenly fought and the winner emerged in the last furlong. This was an experiment playing 3 courses and staying 2 nights in a drive to reduce costs and wear and tear on geriatric bones. It remains to be seen how popular this was.

The meeting that was badly affected by weather was the Minchinhampton event where lunch was accompanied by a thunderstorm of operatic proportions and the afternoon golf cancelled. The event was won by a new member and second place was taken by a lady. We are getting there.

The other golfing feat worthy of mention was Vince Thomas’s hole in one at North Hants. Rather than throw the bar open to the great unwashed of Justin Rose’s followers, Vince decided that he would provide the port that you see before you, a generous gesture for which we thank him.

I will now ask the President to present the annual trophies for 2024.

Finally, it has been both an honour and a privilege to have served as your captain this year- I thank you all for your support. I therefore hand over the mantle to your 2025 Captain, Anthony King and wish him every success as we move the society forward.

There is one more duty for me to perform before I pick up my Mashie Niblick and wander off down the first fairway and that is to propose the toast to our guest.