2013 Installation dinner and AGM

The 2013 AGM went well and was followed by an excellent dinner, with 68 members and guests enjoying the food and fellowship - a record number for both the Club and the Baltic Exchange catering staff who were complimented on how well they looked after us during the evening.

The AGM saw the election of the new team for the year ahead: Mike Rudd stepped up to Senior Vice President and Dr David Wright took over as Junior Vice President.

Past President Richard Sutton stood down as Honorary Treasurer after many years of service and Conrinna Edge took over. Past President Derek Prentis was re-elected as Honorary Secretary and Valerie Boakes as his Assistant, with Past President, the Reverend Patrick O'Ferrall, being re-elected as the Honorary Chaplain.

Three changes to the Rules were approved and, as a result, Dr Trevor Brignall was elected as the Club's first Honorary Membership Secretary in a welcome move to streamline the membership function and make the election of new members more efficient.

Pádraig ("Paddy") Belton took over from Viv Stapleton as Honorary Social Secretary after a year of successful and popular events.

Outgoing President, Stephen Plumb, presented his report, highlighting some of the year's many successes. Incoming President, Dr Roger Prentis, proposed a vote of congratulations and thanks to Stephen and his team for an excellent year. "This coming year we have an exciting programme of interesting events," commented Roger. "We have an enthusiastic, active and experienced team and I look forward to serving the members as the 105th President, 12 years after Derek Prentis - the third father and son succession in the Club's history. The Club has a history of over 100 years, so serving as President is a very ephemeral role, but we have an excellent team and we look forward to an enjoyable and interesting year together. We asked members what they wanted from the Club in a survey last year and have planned the programme with that in mind. We will be actively encouraging anyone interested to take an active part in the Ward and doing our small bit to raise its profile, along with the City itself."

For the first time in many years, there was a contested election for places on the Committee. "This just shows the strentgh of the Club and the effectiveness of communicating with the members," said Roger..

The Installation dinner was a huge success. Murray Craig, Clerk to the Chamberlain's Court, regaled the 68 members and guests (an all-time record) with amusing and fascinating stories and anecdotes from City life. He told of the time during the past year when he presented JK Rowling with the Freedom of the City at Mansion House. He arrived at the front door, clutching the book for signature, his robes flowing and passed the collection of 'groupies' dressed as witches and wizards and, at the shout of 'expelliarmus', the door opened (staff having seen him arrive on CCTV) and he sailed in to the amazement of the collected masses. He continued with some more of his encyclopaedic collection of City stories and was a huge success with everyone there.