The Chairman, Ambrose Barber, observed that the Association’s meetings, speakers and the social gatherings had met the enjoyable standards now routinely expected of them and expressed appreciation of all those whose efforts had made these things possible, and also of Chris Farara and Richard Cannon who had enabled our wider membership to keep in touch via our Newsletter and our website.
An unprecedented impetus had been given to the Association’s aim to
record and publicise ‘Hawker’s’ historic aeronautical achievements.
Heritage Lottery Funding, granted to the consortium led by the Hawker
Association, had enabled a programme of education, celebration and
recording, starting with the 2012 Kingston Aviation Festival. This had
succeeded in dispelling the apparent indifference to Kingston’s
aeronautical history.
David Hassard and his team were to be congratulated for their
efforts. ‘Hawker’ exhibitions and lectures had been held in and around
Kingston and there was a continuing demand for more. Oral histories
were recorded and there is now evidence of interest in the Hawker
Association itself which would be addressed by considering widening our
membership a little, proposals for which would be presented at an
Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Secretary, Barry Pegram, reported that membership was at its
highest ever at 389. This was fifteen higher than at the time of the
last AGM despite the sad death of nine members. Therefore twenty four
new members had been recruited during the year, thanks largely to David
Hassard’s efforts with the Kingston Aviation Centenary Project and the
publicity the Association had obtained during the numerous activities
that had taken place.
Attendance at the meetings where we had a formal speaker was
generally between thirty five and forty, with attendance at social
meetings being closer to twenty. These numbers have fallen over the
past couple of years, perhaps due to the ageing membership.
The highly enjoyable Christmas lunch was attended by fifty seven
members and friends. During this lunch the Kingston Aviation Heritage
Trust presented to the Hawker Centre a bronze plaque depicting ‘Hawker’
typers and the ‘founding fathers’ : Sopwith, Hawker Sigrist and Camm.
It is now mounted in the entrance hall of the Hawker Centre.
The Treasurer, Martin Pennell, drew Members’ attention to the fact
that the balance at the end of the year exceeded that at the beginning.
Income followed the expected pattern of subscriptions, raffle
takings and events proceeds (summer barbecue, Christmas lunch, annual
excursion ticket payments etc.)
Principal items of expenditure were: liability insurance, running
expenses (hire of the hall, stationery, printing, postage, raffle
prizes, speakers’ expenses), payments to the YMCA for annual events,
and travel costs and entry charges for our annual excursion.
Overall, the accounts, which had been independently inspected and
verified, showed that the finances of the Association were in a healthy
state with no need foreseen for any increase in members’ annual
subscription.