A NEW CHAIRMAN for 2018 Report by Bruce Mowatt Publicity
At the Annual General Meeting of Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club on Tuesday 9th January 2018. Peter Blake was elected as Chairman for the ensuing year. Peter keen on all types of sport, played Rugby in his younger years. After working 20 years as a Publican in the Sussex and Somerset areas, he and his wife decided to retire to Hayling in 2009. They were married in 1961 and have been happily married for 56 years. They enjoy eating out in country pubs in the Hampshire / West Sussex locality. Peter joined the club in 2012, and for the last 3 years has been the Club services officer, which he has thoroughly enjoyed. During 2017 Peter also held the position as the Vice Chairman which has prepared him for his next challenge as Chairman.
In his review of the last 12 months the then Chairman Trevor Slydell reported another successful year for the Club. Fund raising had met with some fine efforts: – Annual Barbeque, Pig Race Night, Street collections, and several other events. The Club raised its profile and earned much praise for arranging the senior citizens party at Sinah Warren for the twelfth consecutive year, and again paid for 80 tickets to allow senior citizens to attend shows presented by the Hayling Island Dramatic productions, held at the Station theatre. There was more in the way of donations and the generosity of the public during street collections this year which allow the club to carry out its many support functions. In addition to the Achiever of the Year and Sports Person of the year at the Hayling College. The Club ensured that other worthwhile organizations were helped, and all this in addition to running the Community Bus.
Membership of the club although viable would benefit with new members during 2018.
In concluding, Trevor thanked every member of the Club for the support he had received and for making his year in office so enjoyable.
The new Chairman peter stated that he is looking forward to his responsibility during 2018, to build on the success of the club during 2017 and ensure the club maintains its profile during 2018. He also understands that this will be with the support of his team of elected councilors, without which the club could not function.
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 2017 with many monetary awards being made to numerous local organizations, including Hayling Island Dramatic Society, and Hayling College. The Christmas party at Sinah Warren was again a great success and was enjoyed by over 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.
Before closing the AGM, members elected the (new chairman) Peter Blake as their Highest Achiever of the Year for 2017 and he was presented with the Doug Broughton Cup for his outstanding services to the Club.
The “fun” award of the Wooden Spoon, was awarded to Pat Keane for the thirteenth time!
Club members now look forward to the challenges which 2018 will bring. Several fund-raising events are already planned to include the ever-popular Annual Barbeque on 14th July.
New events are also planned for this year such as the fund-raising event being held at the HIADS theatre on the 2nd June with entertainment provided by a popular band, also a Sinah Warren Cabaret evening at Christmas time with a headline act to be announced.
Tickets for the above events will be advertised when available during the year. I am sure that all our events planned this year would ensure all who attend a very enjoyable evening.
A great deal of hard work is envisaged for the coming year, 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 e-mail or recruitment officer at recruitment@hibc.org.uk or speak to a member at any of our forthcoming events.