Dry Stone Walling Association

Otley and Yorkshire Dales Branch

Minutes of the Tenth AGM: 2nd October 2012

1 Present: Wendy Oldham (Chairman), Richard Kitchen (Secretary), Derek Henderson (Vice-Chairman), John Bradshaw (Treasurer), Don Bradley, Terry Bollen, Tracey Blackwell, Patrick Wallace, Keith Willis, Mick Pearson, Bill Davis, John McLeod, John Heslegrave, John Oldfield, John Butler, Keith Sturdy, David Barrass, John Downie, Nic Alderson, Tanya Gregson, Joanne Haines, Martyn Smith, John Hulbert, David Griffiths, Colin Pack, Alan Smith, Roger Parker, John King, Colin Alexander, Crawford Smith, Dawn Simpson, David Simpson, Steve Charlesworth, Nick Ferguson.

Apologies: Neil Beasley, Stephanie Wallace, David Hicks, Simon Lumb, Chris Lumb, Bill Horner, Stephanie Burton, Ann Stewart, Mike Wilson.

Guests: David Buckby.

2 Minutes of 9th AGM on the 4.10.2011 were accepted as a true record, following a proposal by Joanne Haines, seconded by Alan Smith.

3 Chairman’s Report for 2011/2012: Wendy started (almost) by welcoming David Buckby, one of the attendees on last weekend’s training course. There follows a précis of Wendy’s report (a copy of the full version is available from the Secretary):

3.1 Membership: Currently stands at 150,compared with 138 last year, with 22 new members. National membership stands at 1265. 3.2 Monthly Meetings: Average attendance was 37 & attracted 9 speakers covering professional projects from near & far, up-market with the RHS (with an intro to corbelling), walling in the Antipodes, Life skills & Contemplation. Thanks to all of them for making our evenings so interesting, & thanks to David Griffiths for organising/cajoling.

3.3 Your committee met 4 times & discussed, among others: purchase of trailer & tent, sponsorship of National, John Butler’s prints, First Aid provision, expenses.

3.4 Training: Five courses held, 2 at Bellerby & 3 on the Chevin, 58 students attended, some of whom have since joined the DSWA. 9 people attended a module-based skills course on the Chevin. Activities included: rod & line setting, stone cutting, getting round obstacles & retaining walls. A certification exam was held on the Chevin, 1 of our members gaining the Initial certificate, 3 passed Intermediate & 2 achieved Part 2 of the Advanced. Congratulations to all.

3.5 Shows: Once again we were represented at Leyburn Food & Drink, Otley, Countryside Careers Day, Yorkshire Young Farmers, Harrogate Education Days, Great Yorkshire & Harewood Autumn Glory. New for us this year were Wensleydale & Nidderdale Shows. Bad weather caused the loss of Weeton.

3.6 Special Events: included Brimham Rocks “wild Walling Weekend”, a curved bench at Brooklands School, Skipton, a short course for 4 special needs students, a retaining & freestanding wall in Parkinson’s Park, Guiseley (this received thanks from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire) & a retaining wall in Baildon. Also of note are the rebuilding of a church wall at Easby & the dismantling of BallowfieldBridge. We had an excellent Christmas Ceilidh, the Leyburn Group organised another visit to the stone mine at Scaur Head Farm & to Aysgarth Rock Garden as well as a trip to Shibden & the YorkshireSculpturePark. 5 members braved the rigours of North Wales & Sean Adcock & we had another successful Branch competition & BBQ.

3.7 Practice Days:The extremely active calendar continues with regular meets at: Brimham Rocks, Bellerby, Hampsthwaite, Lineham Farm, Otley Chevin, Shibden &, occasionally, Grass Woods. Some other venues feature less frequently.

3.8 Projects: Shibden, Phase 2 is completed! Phase 3, a corbelled roofed shepherd’s hut is on-going. Over 100 attendances on this so far.Upper Wharfedale N.T. have had two weekend visits, plus some preparation days with some 91 attendances over 8 days.

3.9 Fundraising: We have continued to benefit from Keith Willis’s involvement with Natural England. The other major source of funds is Training courses. We have also received donations from Harewood House, Weeton Show & the Baildon project. Stone donations have come from Hanson’s & Johnson’s quarries & Keighley Heritage. We donated money to the Social Cub in lieu of room rental & have provided funds to set up the web site for John Butler’s prints, the profits of the sale of these being donated to the Association.

3.10 Spending: the acquisition of a trailer has been our major spend. This will transport equipment as well as acting as a display & publicity board. Mick has done a superb job for us on this whilst Derek has carried out modifications to ease the carrying of equipment. We have had to purchase a new tent & Mick, again, has done a complete refurbishing job on our large displays. Many thanks. How can we fail to attract new members?

3.11 David Griffiths & Wendy Oldham taught their third course for DSWA trainers. It proved so popular that none of our own prospective trainers got onto it. This situation should be rectified next year.

3.12 Publicity: We featured “ITV In The Dales” once again, this time with David Tate & team teaching Adrian Edmondson the rudiments of walling. The other big thing was the launch of our occasional News Letter “Otley Rocks”, with Don Bradley, our idiosyncratic editor, ensuring his standards are adhered to by all the reporters.

3.13 Competitions: There has been increased representation in competitions across the North. All have had successes, Gordon Simpson, Neil Beasley & John Downie in professional classes, Joanne Haines at Amateur level & Shirley Addy in Novice class. Well done to all of them.

3.14 Member of the Year: For his contribution to the Branch over many years &, particularly, the formation & nurturing of the Leyburn Group, our involvement with the Wensleydale Food & Drink Festival, ROSA & to a distinguished career in bridge building, the well deserving recipient was John Heslegrave.

In summary, another busy year, with several new projects & events. As ever, a big thanks to the committee & to all those involved in organising practice days, shows, training, special events or contributed in other ways to the running of the Branch. As with many organisations, finding the helpers needed for the different events isn’t easy. It does seem to be the same faces each time & it would be good to see a few more of you becoming involved in the next year. However, we have had successes, we’ve had fun, and there is no reason why 2013 shouldn’t be at least as good.

This report’s acceptance was proposed by John McLeod, seconded by Martyn Smith & passed unanimously.

4Treasurer’s Report: John Bradshaw presented detailed figures, a copy of which was available to all attendees. Income has dropped by some £4,000, primarily a combination of reduced training course numbers & donations. Outgoings have increased, the main items being the new trailer, increased “advertising” in the form of renewed display boards, panels for the trailer, sandwich boards & web site. However, as we started the year with a healthy balance we still have over £6,000 cash fund to carry forward. In discussion it was noted that having next year’s financial forecast would be useful. The report was accepted by the meeting on the proposal of John Hulbert, seconded by Roger Parker.

This was John’s last presentation as our Treasurer. Many thanks must go to him for the diligent way he has carried out the many tasks the role demands (even if your scribe was not always as accurate with the figures as John has been). I am sure his successor will find the books in a much healthier state than those handed over at the last change of government. Thanks once again, John.

5 Independent Assessor: Reappointment of WYCAS as assessor of accounts was proposed by John Bradshaw & seconded by John Oldfield & passed unanimously.

6 Election of Officers & Committee

  • Election of Chairman: Wendy Oldham
  • Election of Vice-Chairman: Derek Henderson, (temporary, if/when prospective Chairman identified)
  • Election of Treasurer: John Hulbert
  • Election of Secretary: Richard Kitchen
  • Election of Committee:

Bill Davis, Joanne Haines, Gordon Simpson, John McLeod,Roger Parker, Martyn Smith, John Bradshaw.

All the above had submitted their names prior to the meeting & their election was proposed, en masse, by Tracey Blackwell, seconded by Terry Bollen & accepted unanimously.

An additional committee member, John Downie, was proposed at the meeting by John Hulbert, seconded by Roger Parker &, again, accepted unanimously.

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The Chairman thanked Terry Bollen, who stood down from the committee, for his many years hard work on behalf of the Branch, both as Chairman &, lately as a member of the committee. She was very pleased to hear that he will keep up his diligent attention to the membership list. Thanks also given to the Committee members for their support during the year & to Dave Griffiths for the continuing emergence of Shibden & for his ability to keep pulling speakers out of the hat.

7 Otley Social Club: We were delighted that Caroline Rhodes, Vice Chair of Otley Social Club was able to be with us to receive our heartfelt thanks for their continuing hospitality, as proposed by the Chairman & accepted unanimously.

8 AOB:

Roger asked about the relevance of the National AGM being moved to February. Following discussion we decided to leave our AGM in October but Tracey is to raise the issue with National.

9 Next AGM: 1st October, 2013.

11. Motion to Adjourn AGM: Proposed by John Butler, seconded by Patrick Wallace. Accepted unanimously.

Formal meeting declared closed.

12. Short term programme

Tue 9 October Countryside Careers Day, Harrogate Showground. John McL requires volunteers to meet at the Yorkshire Event Centre at 8.30 – 9.00am please.

Fri 12 OctNational Trust – Kettlewell – Preparation - Meet Kettlewell Car Park, 9.15am

Sat/Sun 13/14 OctNational Trust – Kettlewell. Meet Kettlewell Car Park, 9.15am

Fri 12/26 Oct/9 NovPractice days – Brimham Rocks NT.

Tue 16 OctLeyburn Group quarterly meeting & speaker – Adam Edmund of Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve – this is a possible site for a new project. Their website is well worth a visit.

19/20, 26/27 Oct, 2/3 NovShibden Hall – approx 9.00am.

Sat 3 NovPractice day, Bellerby – probably! But could be Foxglove Covert

Most ThursdaysVarious sites around Otley – contact Bill Davis.

Most TuesdaysJoin Bill & Steve at Hampsthwaite.

13. AOB

13.1 Cancelled events

Certifications Day – Otley Chevin – 28 October – Insufficient candidates.

Autumn Glory Days, Harewood House – 22 – 28 Oct – new events team missed us off their list!!

Bellerby – Skills Workshop – insufficient numbers.

13.2 Grasswoods – nothing happening ‘til Jan/Feb/March (unless an emergency). John Oldfield, who had volunteered to take over from long-time organiser, Patrick Wallace, has now found he is unable to take on this role. Patrick will continue to oversee our Grasswoods’ requirements. However, if there is anyone out there who would like to take over this task, feel free to let Patrick know – 01535 601 636,

13.3 “Romancing the Stone” - Nick Ferguson has been involved with this project being run alongside the Ilkley Literature Festival. He persuaded them that drystone features are essential & the Branch is now in line for £300 to run an Introductory walling course. Nick is looking for volunteers for Sat 20th Oct –

13.4 Fred Baker – this good supporter of ours at the Great Yorkshire, & other Harrogate based events, passed away last year. The Branch is to build a drystone memorial to him. This will be in the form of a semi-circular seat. The project is coming to fruition. Bill D will head up the team. Please let him know if you are interested in giving a hand.

13.5 Xmas Party – 14th Dec is the favoured date, with the likelihood of another Ceilidh, to help off-set the considerable calorific intake from one of Steph’s superb buffets. Jo to check on room availability.

13.6 Shibden – as well as giving us the dates of future work parties (see above) David notes that the four recent build sessions has brought the hut up to “bed height” (the height the shepherds bed will be – obvious, really). The door-frame is well underway. There is a further 20 tonne of Johnson’s stone on site (so no slacking). David sang the praises of new member, Richard, for the effort he put in to moving stone. He also took the opportunity to note the considerable advance in the walling skills of the regular attendees.

13.7 Leyburn – Ballowfields Bridge – the YDNPA don’t like the wider design but are keen on another footpath bridge – site still to be identified. Leeds Pals Memorial – Leeds City Council appear to have lost interest. DFFD 2013 - experts in derrick cranes, Lewis holes & power lifters are sought by John H.

13.8 Treasurer’s September report – as of 20th September our funds stood at £6407.18, having deducted £305.32 for anticipated expenses.

14. Speaker

The formalities completed, we were expecting a presentation from Alan Devonport, Chairman of the DSWA. Unfortunately, he has recently had his knee refurbished, rendering him immobile. Just meant we had to go in for a bit more social chit-chat than usual.

15. Date of next Meeting: Tuesday, 6th November, 7.30pm