(Held on 25th March 1995)

(These notes are not intended to and do not represent an official record of the meeting. They have been taken from a comprehensive transcript taken, as ever, by Janice Uphill. On behalf of the Society, the editor would like to thank Janice for this onerous task cheerfully carried out under trying conditions this year. More space than normal has been devoted to the AGM in this edition because of the nature of the discussions and the length of the meeting). Compiled by Janice Uphill

There were 95 shareholders present at the meeting's opening which was very much a record:
over 100 were present when voting took place. The Executive members present: Andrew Bratton (Chairman), Eric Miller (Vice Chairman), David Potter (Hon. Secretary), John Hatton, David Matthews and David Simcox introduced themselves to the meeting. Michael Hazell's (Hon. Treasurer) apologies were given; he was standing down from the Executive and not seeking re-election. The Chairman explained that the Executive were the trustees who look after the Society as a whole, and the Board of Management does the day to day work.

The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held on 16th April 1994, were adopted after the number 2951 on page two, second column, was altered to 2591; and after a question it was noted that it was at the AGM on 27.3.93 that the proposal to sell locomotive 7200 in 1994 had been lost. All voted in favour by the new procedure of shareholders holding up yellow cards.

In matters arising from the minutes the Chairman stated that the Executive might consider sectionalization of a locomotive for viewing purposes at a later date; a new Storage Agreement had been approved and would be issued shortly; information from Executive meetings would in future go to all members in the Newsletter. The 6989 fund had been sorted out, at the discrepancy occurring because the stock had been overvalued for some years. A Private Owners' Liaison Officer volunteer was still awaited; the Wembley shed doors had been fitted.

In his report the Chairman gave his personal views and spoke of his disappointment at the lack of a point connection, the high cost of overhauling Coventry and the frustration among members. In recognition of Bob Frise's services as Hon. Treasurer for 12 years (he resigned last August), on behalf of the Executive he handed Bob a certificate conferring Honorary Membership on him as an appreciation of his work. He then thanked Mike Hazell for his work as Hon. Treasurer over the past seven months and the paid staff for all their work, inviting volunteer members with skills to come forward; a general manager was still required.

He continued with the proposed working to Aylesbury, also the possibility and importance of Days Out Ltd bringing stock and locos to Quainton to attract more people as it was essential we get more visitors, 40,000 per annum being the target. Health and Safety requirements must be satisfactorily met; the cost of operating steam locos was rising, Coventry restoration costing over £90,000 to date. The loco driving courses had created much goodwill among the general public; pressure would be put on private owners to improve their relics; money was needed to upgrade the Centre. He finished with a thank you to the volunteers who were the mainstay of the organization, and without whom QRS could not succeed.

The Executive Report was adopted unanimously. In the absence of the Hon. Treasurer the Chairman spoke to the Accounts. There was a shortfall of expenditure over income, the major part of this being Coventry expenditure. All voted in favour of the adoption of the accounts, as they did in favour of the reappointment of the Auditors, Walker, Green & Co, who had served the Society well for many years.

Eric Miller (Vice Chairman) then spoke to his motion: "That this meeting authorizes the Executive Committee to lease ex-GWR Locomotive 7200 to the 7200 Trust (Reg. Charity) for the purpose of its restoration to Main Line Standard and for its future operation", it being noted that the Executive were neutral on this as they had only received Eric's outlined proposals that morning. Eric gave a short history of the self funding of 7200 and how trusteeship was being sought in order to obtain money from Aylesbury based trust funds which were not available to QRS, it being outside their specified area. Keith Lobley seconded the motion, seeing it as a way of getting 7200 restored in the foreseeable future, and he reminded the meeting of the 1993 AGM decision not to go forward with any sale of 7200, it being our only main line freight loco.

Roy Miller (Curator and former Hon. Secretary) then addressed the meeting on this motion and proposed sale of a large number of Society relics, voicing his dissatisfaction at these proposals and the associated publicity. He as Curator had not been consulted and almost all the items for disposal were 'Working Relics' under the terms of our Provisional Registration with the Museums and Galleries Commission.

He then read fundamental Society Rule 2 to the meeting, and stated the proposals were in violation of the declared aims of our Society and upon which our Charitable Status was based. The Executive's declared reason for these disposals: "In order to reduce the Society's borrowings and to raise money for further developments," was a serious reflection on the competence of our Executive Committee to manage the affairs of our Society.

Several expressed the same feelings as Roy, Joan Newstead pointing out that there was a fund of £8,000 for restoring the cinema coach. At the same time concern was expressed, mostly from the Executive, that relics were rotting on the site and there did not seem any possibility that they would be restored in the foreseeable future. Phil Marsh was also concerned about the Beattie Locomotive Fund shareholders.

Peter Clark (QRS first Chairman) proposed that in future proper costings for capital projects should be presented to a forum of working members who, by their efforts, provide much of the Society's income. In that way the members would validate the work done in the name of the Society.

The Chairman explained that without disposing of some of the Society's assets it would be necessary to prune the budgets; it was suggested from the floor that if this were the case, it being the first the members had heard of it, that priorities should be reconsidered instead.

Roy Miller then proposed and Reg Uphill seconded: 'That sympathetic consideration be given to the proposals of Eric Miller for a separate fund raising organization for Locomotive 7200 at a later date once the terms of the Charitable Trust have been approved in principle by the Charity Commissioners; one of the requirements of the Trust Deed being that the Locomotive remains based at Quainton". Six members voted against the motion, there were several abstentions but the majority voted in favour; the proposal was therefore carried and 3. Locomotive 7200 was removed from the motions proposed by the Executive for sale below.

Motioned proposed by the Executive Committee in order to reduce the Society's borrowings and to raise money for further developments.

The following items were proposed for sale:

1. Locomotive Arthur Hunslet No. 3782
2. Locomotive No. 3 Hawthorn Leslie No. 3717
3. -
4. Locomotive GF3 Barclay fireless No. 1477
5. Diesel locomotive Osram Fowler No. 20067
6. Diesel locomotive Hibberd No. 2102
7. Diesel locomotive Walrus Hibberd No. 3271
8. LNWR sleeping car / cinema coach No. 112
9. Gresley BTK No. 41384
10. Gresley TK No. 3188
11. GWR box van
12. Second bogie bolster wagon (no. 64 with G.W.R. bogies had already been sold)
13. Self propelled diesel crane, 7ft gauge, No. 2357
14. AEC generator
15. Marshall petrol road roller No. 9037
16. Smokebox (which fits Arthur
17. Firebox (which fits no. 3)

The Chairman stated that in the case of donated items the donors had not been approached until permission had been obtained to allow items to be sold. Rule 48 stating that this must be done provided it was reasonably possible to contact such persons. He apologized that the items had appeared in the press before members were informed, and said that efforts had been made to tell the members in advance, which was greeted with some scepticism.

Allan Baker, Sales and Marketing Manager, then explained that his job was to generate income, that QRS was not a commercially viable organization and that if the Rule Book was precisely followed it would go downhill and disappear. Several members spoke about the Rules being cast in stone precisely because we had a Charitable Status, while at the same time they could be changed, but only through a proper legal procedure which was approved by the Charity Commissioners. Under the present Rules items could be and had been disposed of, but it was the proposed wholesale disposal to which members objected.

The Chairman then proceeded to go through the proposed sales one by one for the shareholders to vote on each one separately. Phil Marsh explained that 7200 was not suitable to haul trains to Aylesbury as main line rules had changed. In the case of Gresley coaches 41384 and 3188, the LNER Coach Association had offered £5,500 to purchase both. Great dissatisfaction was expressed by several members that GWR bogie bolster wagon No. 64 had already been sold. Roy Miller gave a short history of how we acquired the five wagons after the filming of Jewel in the Crown by default, and they had all five been registered as part of our collection.

With the exception of the GWR box van, the second bogie bolster (which was subject to Charity Commissioners' approval for sale) the 7ft gauge diesel crane, AEC generator, in which North British Locomotive Society were interested, and Marshall petrol roller, which were approved for sale, the majority voted against disposal of the rest of the items, some members abstaining from voting.

Election of Members of the Executive Committee:
The eleven candidates for the six places stood up, introduced themselves in tum to the meeting and gave a short account of what they stood for were they be elected or re-elected, the main theme being communication and membership: Michael Bannister, Andrew Bratton, Christopher Hanscomb, John Hatton, Ian Knight, Keith Lobby, Tony Lyster, Philip Marsh, Bruce Murray, David Simcox and Michael Tayler. Bev Potter and Anthea Hanscomb were the Scrutineers, with the overseeing help of the Hon. Secretary and Vice Chairman. As the Chairman was up for re-election the Vice Chairman declared the secret ballot results which were: Keith Lobley, Tony Lyster and Michael Tayler, no further candidates receiving any mandatory at least 51 % of the votes cast. A further vote for three people not already elected / re-elected took place, which was again indecisive, and the Executive therefore consisted of only six persons. There were murmurings from members as to whether another vote could be taken; Tony Lyster, newly elected, pointing out that the Executive was now without a Chairman and a Treasurer, and feeling it would be fair to have one more go. The following candidates then withdrew their nominations: Andrew Bratton, John Hatton, Philip Marsh and David Simcox. Allan Baker then asked Andrew Bratton to reconsider his withdrawal, which on reflection he did with some reluctance.

The candidates therefore consisted as follows: Michael Bannister, Andrew Bratton, Christopher Hanscomb, Ian Knight and Bruce Murray. There were 63 shareholders present by this time. After a further secret ballot the voting was as follows: Michael Bannister 15, Andrew Bratton 54, Christopher Hanscomb 29, Ian Knight 23, Bruce Murray 27. As Andrew Bratton was the only person to receive over 50% of the votes cast he was therefore re-elected and the Executive now consisted of Eric Miller (Vice Chairman), David Potter (Hon. Secretary), David Matthews, and the following who were elected or re-elected: Andrew Bratton, Keith Lobley, Tony Lyster and Michael Tayler.

Point Connection
While the votes were being counted Keith Lobley spoke about this. There was no problem technically and this side was progressing, with work being done kindly free of charge. The problem was with price as Railtrack would not give firm maintenance costs. Buckinghamshire County Council had raised their grant to us and Aylesbury Vale District Council said they would consider offering us more. It would go ahead but only with proper costing and a reasonable price.

Raffle
£65 was raised from the raffle, which was drawn during the interval.

Any Other Business
Members who had sent in written questions then addressed the meeting, to which the Chairman replied. The Quainton News Editors were Allan Baker, Alan Sturrock and Phil Marsh; Janice Uphill stated she had also offered her services. There were no plans to acquire more track at present but the position would change when Mr. Evans the Coal Merchant, moved out shortly. In future the Executive would look more closely at gifts of relics before accepting them. The Class 08 Shunter: the fund had never been approved and the donor(s) would be paid back when their names were known.

Allan Baker proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Executive, which was greeted with clapping. There was also a vote of thanks to the scrutineers and the refreshment ladies.

As there was no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8 pm.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1995 and so does not reflect events in the 20+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
The 26th Annual General Meeting - Quainton News No. 76 - June 1995