Minutes of an Inaugural meeting



Minutes of an Inaugural meeting

Held at Corsham Community Centre

On Monday 24th August 1964

With the purpose of forming

Corsham Rugby Football Club

Present

The initial steering Committee comprising

Mr A Black

Mr H.G.C Fergusson

Mr C Hodgson

Flt Lt H.T.Bowen

And

Major Kavanagh representing Army, S.P.E Corsham

Mr. Forrester ………………………..R.N.Stores Depot Copenacre

Mr. Duff……………………………..R.N.Stores Deport Copenacre

Mr. P. Lawrence……………………..Local Schools

Plus

Some/sixty/seventy enthusiasts of whom over forty were enrolled as players

Absent

Representative of HMS Royal Arthur (Lt Kemp, R.N.)

INTRODUCTION

The meeting opened at 8.15pm. Mr Black introduced himself and the steer committee, he went on to say that he had been asked to take the “Chair” to get the meeting under way. Continuing, Mr Black stated that a great deal of spade work had already been accomplished by the steering committee and gave details to the floor.

It now fell to the meeting to confirm that there was sufficient local interest and playing potential to justify the formation of Corsham Rugby Football Club. The three services in the area had promised their full support and indeed thanks to the exceeding generosity of Lt Col J.H. Green R.A.E.C. officer commanding Army school of preliminary education, Corsham, The United services Rugby ground, together with associated buildings, changing rooms etc. would be available to the Corsham Rugby Club. Additionally a strip would be available for the initial matches.

The R.N. stores depot had also expressed their intention to support the club and Mr. P.Boyle the superintendant had sent his representative to the meeting.

Mr. Black then recorded his thanks to the three services and to Mr. Boyle for their promised, indeed evident support and called for a show of hands to indicate that it was the general wish to form a club, this was enthusiastically and unanimously confirmed.

Agenda

Item 1: Formation of the club

It was proposed by Mr Black and seconded unanimously from the floor that a rugby club be formed, that this club be known as Corsham Rugby football club.

Item 2: General Rules of the club

A draft constitution of the club rules had been prepared by Flt.Lt. H.T.Bowen and copies were circulated to the floor.

It was proposed by Mr Black and seconded by Mr. Fergusson that these be adopted.

Item 3: Election of officers

Enlarging on his introductory speech Mr. Black again referred to the work already accomplished by the steering committee. He stated that he had been asked to accept the post of Chairman and if the floor agreed he would accept this post for the first year. He then suggested the following nominations and the election of officers was agreed as follows:

Chairman

Mr A. Black

Deputy Chairman

Mr. E.J.E Wirrich

(Proposed, seconded and elected from the floor)

Hon. General Secretary

Flt Lt H.T. Bowen

Hon. Press Liaison/and social/Welfare Secretary

Mr H.G.C. Fergusson

Hon Treasurer

Mr. G.W. Russell

Hon. Fixture Secretary

Deputy General Secretary

Mr. Eric Jones

Captain

Mr. George Hodgson

Vice Captain

To be Nominated

All officers were elected without dissent:

Item 4

It was agreed unanimously that the club be affiliated to the Dorset and Wiltshire Rugby football union. It was further agreed that affiliation be affected with the Bath Combination Rugby Football Union.

Item 5: Referees Union

It was agreed and seconded that an application be made to the Dorset and Wiltshire referee’s society for all matches.

Item 6 : Fixtures

After some discussion, not least connected with the availability of the United Services Ground, it was agreed to accept Chippenham “B” XV’s invitation to an away match on the 19th September 1964 (Saturday) . Meantime the General Secretary was tasked with arranging a midweek inaugural fixture in the last week of September with a Bristol/Bath combination against the Corsham club assisted by guest players. Failing this it may be possible to organise a match against a representative RAF XV. Thereafter the General Secretary would arrange as many matches as possible.

Item 7: Training Periods

Major Kavanagh, SPT Representative, agreed that the ground would be available for a training session on Tuesday evening, 1st September 1964 at 6.30pm and also for a trial game on Saturday 5th September at 2.30pm. Mr Hinton the grounds man was present at the meeting and stated that the ground was rather hard and was not really suitable for play. However he would confirm its availability for the trial game with the General Secretary

At this stage the General Secretary considered it expedient to warn the players, that the privilege of using the ground and its facilities should not be abused and that training must be controlled. In this he was verbally supported by the Chairman.

It was further agreed that a fixture list be made available to Mr. Hinton as soon as possible.

Item 8: Finance

The was some dissension regarding the fees proposed by the Chairman for Vice Presidents, non playing, playing members and Colts. After some discussion it was proposed by Mr Parker and seconded by Mr. Barker that the following fees be levied:

Vice Presidents…………2 Guineas

Non Playing Members….1 Guinea

Playing Members…….....£1

Colts (working)….……..10/-

Under 18 (Student)………5/-

Match Tax……………….2/6

The services financial contribution would be decided by a services sub committee.

Item 9: Insurance

The question of players insurance was discussed at length at finally it was proposed by Mr Hodgson and seconded by Mr Fergusson that this matter be investigated by the treasurer who would report his findings to the committee.

The chairman stressed the importance becoming self supporting as soon as possible, especially as we could not depend on the use of the United Services Ground in perpetuity, A sound financial structure was essential.

Item 10: Club Headquarters

The Chairman advised the meeting that Mr. H.G.C. Fergusson had kindly offered the use of a room, free of charge at the Rudloe Park Hotel until the club could find accommodation of its own. He invited counter suggestions or objections, none were forthcoming and the meeting decided to accept Mr. Ferguson’s kind offer.

Item 11: Colts XV

The importance of providing younger people with playing facilities and equally developing them into material for the first XV was stressed by the Chairman and by Mr.Parker.

The General Secretary went on to say this too was uppermost in his mind, but in our inaugural year and starting as late as we did, it would not be easy it would not be easy to provide a fixture list for the Colts and 1st XV, but when the club had settled in this would be given priority treatment.

Mr. Hodgson suggested that the General Secretary approach “School Managers” for Colts fixtures and the possible use of Corsham School pitch for use by the Coltsand this was agreed unanimously.

Item 12: Press Notices

The Chairman stressed the invaluability of good press relationships and it was agreed that the Press Liaison Secretary ensure that we obtain maximum publicity through this medium.

Item 13:

The Chairman concluded the meeting at 9.45pm and thanked those present for their valued support. It was the general wish of the floor that a letter of thanks be forwarded to Lt Col. Green without who’s support the venture would have been nullified. He went on to say that Mr Russel was available for payment of subscriptions and he appealed to the “Elder Statesmen” present to benefit the club generally by their experience as past players and potential advisers. There being no further business the meeting was closed as indicated.

H T Brown

General Secretary

August 1964

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