Sedgemoor Gardens Club
Minutes of the AGM held in All Saints Village Hall
Tuesday 9th September 2025 at 7.30 pm
Apologies: Joan & Neil Burrows, Kath Thornton.
Present: Club Officials: Peter Goodenough, Sylvia Goodenough, Jean White, John Tipping, Joan Tipping, David Geach, Anne Geach, Janette Gay, Andy Gay, Mary Bromby
Club Members: 14 other club members, which includes 4 new members.
Minutes of the last AGM: These were read and agreed by all present.
Matters Arising: None
Chairman & Secretary Joint Report:
In Brief – David welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the meeting tonight. For the benefit of the new members, David gave a brief summary of who we are and what we do throughout the year. He explained, what being a member of the Gold Club involved and what we are entitled to and how we receive discount vouchers and are also eligible for a discount evening. The Gold Club is run by The Gardens Group through Brimsmore Garden Centre, Castle Gardens and Poundbury Gardens Centres. He gave a brief account of some of the interesting and varied talks given to us throughout the year. For example - a talk we had on Dahlias, Garden Design and Borders and the Commonwealth War Graves and how they are looked after, to name just a few. He also mentioned our coach trip to the American Museum and Gardens and our local garden evening visit. All of these being very good. David went on to Thank all of the Committee Members for their dedication and hard work through the year. On behalf of us all he gave a very special thanks to Sylvia who is retiring from the committee after 15 years of service. During that time she held many roles - catering arrangements, especially for the Christmas Buffet and Daffodil Festival, obtaining speakers, taking on the role of secretary, and setting up our website. Sylvia was also our Daffodil Festival Organiser for many years, doing a splendid job and keeping us all in order. She has now passed this task over to Andy and Janette Gay. Sylvia was very appreciative of the bouquet of flowers presented to her. David also mentioned he and Anne, along with John & Joan, will be stepping down from the committee and the end of our year. Therefore, this is an opportunity for some of you to come forward and join the committee. David clarified the reason why we had not distributed the daffodil bulbs this evening. NB. This is to be read in conjunction with the full chairman's and secretary’s report.
Treasurer’s Report
In Brief- Mary explained there are 2 pages of the report. The first page list the income sources and expenditures for the year and either a surplus or deficit. Happily, it shows a surplus of £670. The second page shows a summary of the sources of of the clubs reserves or cash on hand to date. It also shows the year end bank reconciliation for both current and deposit accounts and balance of petty cash. It also shows transfers from one account to the other whereby interest was earned, amounting to £30.11 for the year. Mary had included a comprehensive schedule of the accounts detailing the fixed expenditures and the income for all the events held in 2024 / 2025. Both the Daffodil Festival and Christmas Buffet are and important factor for the clubs sources of income. Which means without the amounts raised by these events, there would be a shortfall to cover our fixed expenses. However, based on our current reserves I recommend the membership subscriptions will remain unchanged at £15.00 single £25.00 for a couple. No Issues were put forward. NB: to be read in conjunction with the full schedule of accounts.
Programme Secretary’s Report
John gave a comprehensive run down of the speakers arranged for the year, giving a brief description about each one. The speakers for 2025 / 2026 are listed in the Membership Card. The club coach outing for 2026 is to Tyntesfield House and Gardens (National Trust) and will be on 9th June. Our discount evening will be at Brimsmore on 12th May. The evening visit on 14th July will be to a local NGS Garden and has yet to be arranged. John asked members for any suggestions for speakers or for club visits.
Show Secretary Report:
Our daffodil show was very successful and a big boost to our finances. Sylvia agreed it was a great job, and Andy and Janette will do there very best to make this coming years festival as good a success. What we need is for you all to bring along exhibits, including all you new members. It’s fun to enter – and you could win a cup. You now have 6 months to plan your entries. Our Judges come from outside of the club, so we need you to put out a tremendous display giving them plenty to look at and mull over for the best entry in each class. The cake recipe is provided by our Produce Judge, Naomi.There are many classes as you will see when the show schedules are available in December, at the Christmas Buffet evening. It’s not just daffodils, there are tulips too. We hope you make the effort to enter in 2026 even if you haven’t done so before. It’s a good fun and a great afternoon.
Website: Joan gave out the website address:- sedgemoorgardensclub.co.uk which continues to provide members and the public with information about our club and also highlights the Gold Club and other local gardening events. We use it for publicity and hope that it may attract new members from time to time. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for improvements
Election of New Committee Members and those who are willing to stand again. It was unanimously agreed to re-elect those committee members at the end of their term of office. These being John and Joan Tipping. No new members came forward for election.
A.O.B A question was asked if we can bring our surplus plants, cuttings or seeds, to the monthly meetings – this has always been there but not very often done. Yes! Anyone can do so whenever they wish.
Presentation of Prizes for Monthly Competitions: Janette thanked members for taking part in the monthly competitions for last year. She then read out the winners and prizes were presented. Single Bloom – Jean White Flower - Joan Burrows Houseplant - Kath Thornton Vegetable - John Tipping Fruit - Andy Gay Plug Plant - Janet Hale
Meeting closed 8.20 pm approx. Refreshments were served on arrival.
Financial report 2025
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