HAYLING ISLAND BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB – May Report

Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club invite you to “Get Stuffed” ………..in the nicest possible way of course

Although no one has told the weather, it will soon be Barbeque time again and Club members are busy preparing for the Club’s main fund raising event of the year, the ANNUAL BARBEQUE At Northney Farm, St Peter’s Road, North Hayling on Saturday 14^th July starting at 8.00pm. Although not held last summer, the HIBC Barbeque has been a firm favourite on the Island for many years and demand for tickets is expected to be high. In addition to excellent food, entertainment will be provided by Status Quo tribute band, Bogus Quo supported by a lively disco, stalls and games. There will also be a beer and soft drinks for sale as well as a wine bar. The price of tickets has been held at £16 for yet another year representing excellent value for a memorable night out.

PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO TOWARDS THE RUNNING COSTS OF THE HAYLING ISLAND COMMUNITY BUS AND OTHER LOCAL BENEFICIARIES.

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLEfrom all Club members and the following outlets:

The Lions Community Shop in Mengham

Haydens Garage in West Town on 02392 462660

Hayling Community Centre in West Town on 02392 467 562

Belmont Hairdressers in West Town  on 02392 468721

Morris Dibben in Mengham on 02392 465942

Geoff Foot Estate Agents in Mengham on 02392 461666

NEW MEMBERS – Recruitment Officer Andy Lenaghan reports that his ongoing friendly campaign to increase the membership is going well with three prospective new members attending forthcoming meetings. The Club will always welcome enquiries for membership, please contact Andy at recruitment@hibc.org.uk

AWARDS – At the Club meeting on 9^th May members were pleased to agree monetary awards to the following:

3 Platoon, Hayling Army Cadets, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force towards the purchase of  tables.

Jacob Knight a donation to help with the second and final year of sponsorship at London Irish AASE

125 CLUB

March draw winning numbers : 39 – £50 113 – £50

April draw winning numbers : 22 – £50 94 – £50

SNIPPET FROM THE PAST – 47 YEARS AGO

Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club Report – January 1965

Club member, Les Hedger reported a family in need (he was already supplying vegetables of his own for free). The father had recently had his leg amputated and although determined to return to work soon to support his family this seemed medically doubtful. The Club agreed to take over the hire charges of the family’s television set and authorised Les Hedger to buy whatever was needed. This included a birthday party dress for the family’s young daughter. Les reported that the “gratitude of the father was unbelievable”

HAYLING ISLAND BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB – April Report

By John Cushion

Members attending the Club’s luncheon meeting on the 15^th March were delighted to receive confirmation of an ongoing arrangement with the Hayling Lions Community Shop which will substantially increase Club funds. Proceeds from the shop amounting to £3500 will be donated to Businessmen’s Club towards the running and upkeep of the Hayling Island Community Minibus and enable other worthwhile causes on the Island to be supported. The intention of an increased donation was reported in last month’s “Islander” but negotiations have now been completed and the agreement was affirmed outside the Community Shop on the 20^th March when Lions President Alan Herbage presented HIBC Chairman Ed Spencer with the cheque. In return for this generous gesture, several wives and partners of the Businessmen’s Club have offered help in running the shop which will give a much needed boost to staffing levels. Other future Lions events will also be supported by HIBC members as and when they arise.

Use of the Community Bus continues to be in high demand particularly on week days but there is normally some availability at week ends and local organizations are welcome to contact Trevor Slydell via e-mail at minibus@hibc.org.uk for more details. Please remember that use of the bus is offered completely free of any charges and even includes fuel.

Arrangements for the Annual Barbeque are now well under way and the Club is anticipating a large demand for tickets, the cost of which has been maintained at £16 a head. Although not held in 2011, the HIBC Barbeque has been a firm favourite on the Island for many years and will once again take place at Northney Farm courtesy of Stan and Mary Pike. The date for your diary is Saturday 14^th July and tickets will shortly be available from Club members, The Lions Community Shop and Hayling Community Centre. Other outlets will be advised nearer the time.

During the month, the Club was pleased to agree an award of £250 to Langstone Sailability. Based at Langstone Sailing Club, this voluntary organization offers boating and sailing opportunities for nearly 50 disabled people from the Langstone and Hayling Island areas who last year enjoyed over 700 hours of activity on the water. A representative from “Sailability” will be invited to a future Luncheon meeting as guest speaker to give members an insight of the running of their organization. Also during the month the Club arranged and paid for nearly 100 senior citizens from local organizations to attend the latest HIADS production Laburnam Grove at the Station Theatre. This is an ongoing arrangement and availability details for future productions can be obtained from Community Services Chairman John Finch at communityservices@hibc.org.uk 

At a previous meeting, the Club welcomed Diane Lloyd and Petra Lyn from the Directory Group who were introduced to members and given an overview of the Club’s aims and ambitions. In response, Diane recounted to members a brief history of her life on Hayling where she had previously lived for many years and also gave an interesting account of the formation and running of her very successful business.

Although membership of the Businessmen’s Club is currently at a reasonably high level, new members will always be made welcome. In addition to assisting with numerous fund raising activities to run the Community Bus and help with other worthwhile local causes members enjoy several social events throughout the year as well as twice monthly luncheon meetings at Seacourt.

SNIPPET FROM THE PAST – 48 YEARS AGO

Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club Report  – September 1964

First Old Folks Holiday Took Place –  15 elderly folk for a weeks holiday in Swanage. Volunteer drivers and stewards were appointed and Alec Brennen as doctor in charge.

Eight TV sets now installed for needy people and arrangements made for licences and maintenance.

The welfare committee chairman reported the Club’s first outright gift, £20 from Mrs Hill of Grotto House, Sea Front for the holiday scheme pocket money. Mrs Hill also offered to provide a coach and tickets for up to 30 people to visit the pantomime in Portsmouth. A generous gesture greatly appreciated.

HAYLING ISLAND BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB – February Report

The Club has enjoyed an excellent start to the new year with news of much needed funds at a time when the Community Mini Bus is in urgent need of refurbishment.

During the meeting held at Seacourt on Thursday 19^th January, it was reported that a donation had been received from Ian Smith and Caroline MacDowell who had raised funds with a collection from Islanders viewing their magnificent light display in South Road over the Christmas period. Ian and Caroline, who are hoping to make this an annual event, chose to donate the money to HIBC in the knowledge that the funds would be used for the benefit of local residents.

The good news continued when newly elected Chairman, Ed Spencer announced the magnificent donation of £1000 from Sinah Warren Leisure Hotel  being the proceeds from the resident’s Christmas Day collection. Sinah’s managing director Martin Plummer duly was accordingly welcomed to the Luncheon Meeting on Thursday 16^th February to meet the members and present the cheque.

At a Previous Meeting, members elected Dave Stanway as their Highest Achiever of the Year for 2011 and was presented with the Doug Broughton Cup by Chairman Ed Spencer for his outstanding services to the Club. Dave, an IT support technician, was born in Stoke on Trent but has lived on the Island for the past twelve years and joined the Club in 2008.

Very popular with members, Dave involves himself in most Club activities throughout the year as well as administering the Club web site and assisting with other publicity matters. A well deserved award for the second year running.

During the month, the Club was pleased to award an amount of £150 to Louise Brindle of Hayling College who, as a Girl Guide, will be representing the UK at an international jamboree in the USA.

The Club also agreed support for Buddies Social Club for adults with learning difficulties. Use of the Community Bus will be offered and subject to availability, tickets to HIADS productions and the Christmas Party at Sinah Warren

125 CLUB

January draw winning numbers : 6 – £50 29 – £50

February draw winning numbers : 88 – £50 101 – £50 2 – £200

FUTURE EVENTS

Dates were agreed and set for the following Club events:

Chairman’s Cocktail Party at Langstone Hotel – Wednesday 14^th March

Annual Barbeque at Northney Farm – Saturday 14^th July

Family Fun Day at Northney Farm – Saturday 8^th September

Ladies Night at Hayling Golf Club – Saturday 29^th September

Other fund raising events are being planned and details will be published in future reports

SNIPPET FROM THE PAST – 48 YEARS AGO

Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club Report April 23^rd 1964

The first Luncheon Meeting of the Club was held at the West Town Hotel with an attendance of 21. Many members came forward with ideas, Cecil Walker offered to provide a television set for mentally handicapped children at Orchid Close. Phil Clarke offered free tickets on his Merry go Round for these same children  on one or two days a week. Seven members offered themselves as drivers for the old folks bus, others agreed to use their own cars for hospital visiting. It was agreed that 10 elderly people in need of a holiday should be sponsored on a one week trip to Swanage. Among those attending the meeting were founder members Bob Green, Alec Brenan, Eddie Gay, John Harries, Phil Venton as well as the aforementioned Cecil Walker and Phil Clarke

HAYLING ISLAND BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB Report 2011

The Annual General Meeting of Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club was held at Seacourt on Tuesday 10^th January attended by 24 members. In the review of his year in office, outgoing Chairman, Malcolm Newness reported mixed fortunes. A few long established events were not held for one reason or another but supported by Club members and a strong team of officers determined not to let a few problems get in the way, alternative events were arranged allowing the Club to meet its major commitments. On the plus side, the Club welcomed six new members during the year some of whom have now taken on committee roles.

The first running of the Pig Race Night proved to be very successful in bolstering Club funds whilst providing a great deal of amusement and entertainment for the many members and guests who attended. This was quickly followed by the Family Fun Day at Northney Farm which, although hastily arranged, proved to be very popular with the hundreds of local people who enjoyed a lovely day in the sunshine. The fund raising year culminated with the annual Christmas street collection which, thanks to the generosity of local residents, broke all previous records. A truly remarkable effort in these austere times.

The social scene was also very active, starting with the Chairman’s Cocktail party held at the Langstone Hotel for the first time. Amongst other events, the member’s barbeque held at Northney Hall proved to be very popular and was enjoyed on a beautifully sunny summer afternoon. The annual Ladies Night was held at the Newtown House Hotel for the second year. This popular event gives members the chance to don their evening wear and entertain their long suffering wives and other halves whose support is essential to the functioning of the Club

Although the main aim of the Club is to purchase, maintain and run the Hayling Island Community Bus, many other worthwhile causes were supported during 2011 with a large  number of monetary awards being made to numerous local organizations. In addition, the Club made its normal donations to the Hayling Island Dramatic Society in the form of purchasing tickets to enable many senior Islanders to enjoy HIAD’s productions. The Christmas party at Sinah Warren was again a great success and was enjoyed by nearly 300 local senior citizens. Club members were in attendance to meet and greet the guests and generally ensure the success of the afternoon. However, many thanks must go to the management, staff and entertainment team at Sinah Warren for their wonderful generosity without which the event would be difficult to stage.

Use of the community bus was again at a very high level in 2011 with Bus Chairman, Meyrick Marston reporting that all the many organizations who use the facility which include Age Concern, The Lions Club and St Peter’s Church are really appreciative of the Club’s efforts in providing this valuable asset. However, with the ever increasing cost of servicing and fuel it is essential that fund raising efforts are strongly maintained

Following the committee reports, Malcolm Newness handed over his chain of office to the incoming Chairman Ed Spencer.  Ed, a former engineer in the RAF, was born in Kent but has lived on the Island with his wife Anne for the last 40 years. During his time in the RAF Ed travelled the world working on many types of aircraft. On leaving the service Ed joined IBM in Havant where he worked as a system engineer for many years. As well as having been an active Club committee member, he regularly plays golf and  enjoys road running although by his own admission he puts in only a limited mileage these days Joining the Businessmens Club in 2007, Ed served as Community Services Officer for 4 years and now takes on the important role as chairman where he will bring a wealth of experience and business acumen.

In his opening address to members, Ed stressed the importance of raising the Club profile during the year to ensure that it continues to hold its rightful place in the Island community. Ed reminded members of the Club’s origins and ideals dating back to its foundation in 1964 when a group of businessmen from a wide range of professions living on the Island recognized that there was a need to help residents in less fortunate circumstances than themselves. The simple but humble beginnings set the Club aside from organizations having national or international connections and was thus able to direct all its energies to solely serving Island residents. From that inaugural meeting nearly 50 years ago a standard was set and a determined drive instigated to raise funds for the charitable needs of others which proudly continues to this day.

Club members now look forward to the challenges which 2012 will bring. Several new events are planned together with the continuation and resurrection of the old favorites including the Annual Barbeque. A great deal of hard work is envisaged but with the help and generosity of the Island community and businesses a very successful year is in prospect.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Club or with an interest in joining is welcome to contact recruitment officer Andy Lenaghan via e-mail at recruitment@hibc.org.uk

Organizations wishing to use the Community Bus facility should contact Trevor Slydell at minibus@hibc.org.uk

JOHN CUSHION Publicity Officer