May 2022 Meeting Report – AGM Part 2

The second part of our AGM was held on Thursday 26/05/22 at Geo’s Scarborough. The event was well attended, with the most notable attendee being incoming Chairman Pete Calow who had been forced to to miss the AGM Part 1. 

Geo’s was an innovative choice of venue, with good food and service. However, there was quite a lot of background noise generated from the restaurant below, making discussion somewhat challenging. Incoming Chairman Peter therefore opted to deliver most of his prepared speech via this report – please see below:

‘Those of you that know me will be hugely relieved that there’s to be no long rambling speech at this point, but just one or two bullet points to set out. 

Apologies for my non-attendance at the AGM, owing as many of you know to Covid within the household, and a surfeit of caution regarding this. 

Firstly, many thanks to David and all on his committee for their fine efforts last year. 

After the vote at the National AGM to open-up the new membership requirements, our own club rules will need reconsideration to account for this. The committee will have a look at this. Along with other 41 Clubs, we are moving with the times in that Charles Hindle is our new Vice Chairman. He will be the first non ex Round Table member to join the Scarborough 41 Club committee, and I’m sure you will all join me in congratulating Charles on this. 

I am conscious of the fact that the Aalten visits have ceased during the pandemic, and that we need to try to organise fresh contacts with Aalten, despite the difficulties that the small membership of Round Table now presents. Aalten are due to visit us again, and are reportedly keen to do so, and so we will try to set things in motion during the next year.’

Peter Calow 

(Peter then added a PS at the end of his email ‘At least no bad jokes feature above’. Not sure if he was having a go at yours truly, but then again, if the cap fits…).

All in all, it was a watershed moment for outgoing Chairman Dave. Not only was he handing over the 41 Club reins to Peter, but the following day was his last day at work before retiring. This came as a surprise to many members, as Dave has never seemed to age like the rest of us. Painting in the attic maybe? (Like in the story of Dorian Gray – come on gentlemen – keep up).

Peter therefore made one of his first duties proposing a toast to Dave, to wish him a happy retirement, before ending the meeting with RTBI.

THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH by ALTERNATIVE REPORTER

In place of the planned visit to SeaGrown on the Southern Star moored in the harbour to learn all about the cultivation and harvesting of seaweed which was cancelled at the last minute (will we ever succeed with this visit?) those members with a thirst to quench met in the Leeds Arms for a pre-meeting drink before been chivvied by John White into leaving at 7.30pm to walk to the restaurant in time for the second part of the AGM and the induction of our new Chairman.

Although we had the sole use of the upper floor of the restaurant the noise from the ground floor and the sound system made life difficult for the outgoing Chairman Dave, the Secretary Mike and the incoming Chairman Peter to be heard. The silver lining in the cloud was that Peter was unable to entertain us with his pre-prepared half hour address and limited his remarks to thanking David and his team for their efforts over a difficult period.

The Chairman’s regalia was duly handed over and the past Chairman’s jewel presented with David H (standing in for Stuart who was absent sailing around the Baltic Sea looking for Russian submarines in the absence of any whales) doing the honours with the camara.

The absence of table settings having become apparent the growing concerns of members about when and where they were going to eat was assuaged when plates albeit somewhat small and cutlery was placed on the tables by the restaurant staff. A series of tapas style dishes soon followed and the reason for the small plates became apparent.

Your reporter, David H and Nigel waited patiently as other tables were served a variety of dishes but nothing arrived until one table showed some sympathy by sharing their roasted green peppers. The noise of furniture being eaten finally drew the attention of the restaurant staff who initially explained that the correct number of meals had been served but were persuaded that additional food should be served to the starving trio. Further enquiry revealed that the restaurant had served 2 tables of 10 and 1 of 5. A quick count revealed that there were in fact 2 tables of 8 and 9 who had scoffed the trio’s share!

Several small plates later a satisfying meal ended with a miniature burger, fries and a salad. 

With the noise levels from the ground floor having reduced Chairman Peter was able to make himself heard to propose a toast to Former Chairman Dave on the eve of his last working day before taking a well-earned retirement. 

There was no other business and the meeting ended with the usual toast to RTBI.