MINUTES OF THE BLYTHE SAPPERS

54th MANAGEMENT MEETING

held on Wednesday 3rd June 2009

at The Army & Navy Club, London

Present

            Sapper Brian Pearce                            Chairman

            Sapper John Fitzmaurice                     Vice Chairman

            Sapper Stuart Sinclair

            Sapper Roy Wilsher                             Honorary Treasurer

            Sapper John McLennan                       Honorary Secretary

            Sapper Charles Holman                       Membership Secretary

           

 

1.             Introduction. The Chairman Sapper Pearce welcomed the Management Committee to the meeting.

 

2.         Apologies       Sapper John Wilks, Sapper David Caulfield & Sapper John Moore-Bick

           

3.         Minutes of the 53rd Meeting BS Management Mtg on 3rd March 2009.

 

The Minutes were noted.

 

The Minutes were duly signed.

 

4.         Matters Arising.

 

      There were no matters arising. The Secretary informed the meeting that we had received “thank you” letters from Combat Stress (£750) and Veterans Aid (£250).

      It should be noted that Sapper Tom MacMillan (a TA Sapper) is not a “casualty” and is still a Blythe Sappers Member.

 

5.         Finance. The Honorary Treasurer introduced the Financial Report by referring to the following documents   --  these are attached. 

     

  • Annex A is the SOFA & Audited account for the year 2008  --  the accounts were signed.
  • Annex B   --  Budget proposal for the Year 2009
  • Annex C is the Adventure Training & Challenging Pursuits Fund 2008. One application had been received for Ex Market Star (£400) and the post exercise report received.

 

            The Honorary Treasurer informed the meeting on Membership and 301 totally paid up Members. There are a number of those who have not completed their Bank Standing Orders. Sapper Sinclair asked if there was concern about the lack of Members.

           

6.         Corps Report.                        The Regimental Colonel went through the Corps Report as at 27 May 09  --  this is attached at Annex D. The Chairman informed the meeting that he presented the Blythe Sappers Association Football Cup to 23 Engr Regt who won against 36 Engr Regt  --  score 1-0.

 

7.         Casualties since Last Meeting.

                        Deceased       Nil

                        Resigned        Nil                  

 

8.         Nominations for new members.

 

Nomination

Sponsor

Seconder

Nil

 

 

 

  The numbers of new members was discussed and it was agreed that the Membership Secretary would send out a letter to Lt Cols and above (both regular and TA) informing them of the Blythe Sappers. The Hon Secretary said that there is likely to be an increase in the costs of the lunch for next year and we will be losing members through longevity and as the prices increase and if the average age is not reduced we will be possibly looking at a decrease in numbers and therefore less attending the lunches.

 

9.         Attendance and arrangements for today’s Luncheon.

            Principal Guest                        Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL

            Total Number attending          65

            Number of Guests                   7

            Those to Rise                          Sapper Barry Le Grys

Sapper Geoffrey Dodds

                                                            Sapper Laurie McLeman

 

 

10.       Any Other Business

                        1.          Dates for 2009

                        Sat 1st August             The Blythe Sappers

                                                            Guest Night                 Chatham

                        Wed 30th September    Lunch & AGM            Lt Col Jim Weedan RE, CO 24 Cdo Engr Regt

Tues 1st December      Christmas Lunch         Lt Gen Sir Peter Wall KCB CBE (still to be confirmed).

                                                                                                Chief Royal Engineer

                                    Dates for 2010

                        Tues 2nd March 2010   Gen Sir David Ramsbottom GCB, HM Inspector of Prisons  &  Youth Justice

                        Tues 1st June 2010       Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG, HM Diplomatic Services & Ambassador to Afghanistan.

                        Tues 28 Sept 2010      The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling, Northern Ireland Reconciliation Service

                        1st or 9th Dec 2010       Robert James Rogers, The Senior Clerk to The House of Commons          

                        2.         Chairman 2011.

                        Sapper Stuart Sinclair asked that the minutes reflect a suggestion the Sapper McLennan should find a successor as secretary to enable him to take the Chair. It was agreed that Sapper I Pearce be invited to take the Chair in 2011.                               

                       

 

11.       Date of Next Meeting          The next BS Management meeting will be at 1100hrs on Wednesday 30th September 2009 and will be followed by the Blythe Sappers Annual General Meeting 2009 after Lunch.

 

Sapper Brian Pearce

Chairman

The Blythe Sappers

Sapper John R McLennan

Honorary Secretary

The Blythe Sappers

 

                September 2009

      

30 June 2009


Annex A to

Blythe Sappers Management Mtg

 3 March 2009

 

THE BLYTHE SAPPERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

AUDITED COPY

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME & EXPENDITURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOMING RESOURCES

Notes

2008

2007

 

 

 

 

Lunches plus transfers

 

            14,861.25

         12,940.50

Dinner Costs

 

              4,683.36

           3,757.34

Subscriptions

 

              3,040.00

           3,055.00

Overpaid Subscriptions

 

                   70.00

               50.00

Joining Fees

 

                 120.00

              110.00

Sweepstake Ticket Sales

 

                 614.95

              729.00

Donations to AT & CP Fund

 

  -   

               25.00

Bank Interest

 

                 147.14

              254.61

Donations & Honorariums

 

                 102.65

              155.00

Creditors

 

              4,101.49

  -   

TOTAL

 

            27,740.84

         21,076.45

 

 

 

 

RESOURCES EXPENDED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunches 

 

            14,738.15

         12,636.40

Lunch Refunds

 

                 234.90

               45.00

Guest Night Dinner Costs

 

              4,381.06

           3,468.05

Guests Lunches/Dinner

 

                 508.50

              297.50

Dinner Refunds

 

                 136.24

  -   

Refund Subscriptions

 

  -   

  -   

Sweepstake Prizes

 

                 300.00

              300.00

Grant  to Adventurous & Challenging Fund

1

              2,000.00

           2,800.00

Sundries

 

                 100.47

               22.80

R & C

 

                   12.00

                    -  

Donations/ Honorarium

2

              1,200.00

              500.00

Committee Exp/Room Hire/Domain renewal

 

                 467.19

              378.25

Treasurer Expenditure

3

                 165.15

              164.30

Secretary Expenditure

3

                 383.14

              266.68

Creditors

 

              4,101.49

 

TOTAL

 

            28,728.29

         20,878.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Incoming/ (Outgoing)  Resources for the Year

-                987.45

              197.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net movement in funds

 

-                987.45

              197.47

Balance as at 01 January

 

              3,585.04

           3,387.57

Balance as at 31 December

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

 

 

 

 

All income and expenditure arises from the continuing activities of The Blythe Sappers. There

 are no recognised gains or losses in the current or preceding year other than shown above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BLYTHE SAPPERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

2008

2007

 

 

 

 

DEBTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at Clydesdale Bank

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

 

 

 

 

Total

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

 

 

 

 

NET CURRENT ASSETS

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

NET ASSETS

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank Reconciliation

 

 

 

Statement as at 31 December 2008

 

              2,597.59

           7,580.29

Cheques not presented  NIL

 

  -   

           3,995.25

As shown in account

 

              2,597.59

           3,585.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved by The Blythe Sappers Management Committee

 

at the Management Committee Meeting on 3 March 2009

 

and signed on the behalf of the Committee by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAPPER BRIAN PEARCE

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

 

SAPPER ROY WILSHER

 

 

 

Honorary Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

  DATED        3 March 2009 

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

 

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

 

Accounting Convention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention.  Income and

 

 expenditure has been accounted for on an accruals basis.

 

 

 

 

 

Fund accounting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  Blythe Sappers Association’s funds comprise general unrestricted funds that are dispensable

at the discretion of the Council in furtherance of the objectives of The Blythe Sappers.

Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investments.

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

No Council or Committee Members, nor connected person or party, received any remuneration

from The Blythe Sappers during the current or preceding year. 

 

 

 

 

 

NUMBERED NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

    a.     The 2008 allocation of £2,000 to the Blythe Sapper's Adventurous and

   Challenging Pursuits Fund was paid on 27 November 2008

 

 

 

 

 

    b.      The total donated to the Fund to date is £30,950 (2007 £28,950). 

 

    There were five grants made in 2007 totaling £2,350. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    c.  Six A & CP applications were approved in 2008 and grants totaling £2000 were made.

 

 

 

 

    d.  The uncommitted balance of the Fund held by RECCT as at 31 Dec 08 stood at £5939.40.

 

 

 

 

2.   Three donations of £50 were made in memory of past Chairmen.  An Honorarium of £350

was paid to the Assistant Secretary in 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.   Secretary's and Treasurer's expenditure was on postage, copying, and travel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have examined the accounts for the year 2008 together with supporting papers.

I am satisfied that the accounts have been properly maintained and that the foregoing

statement of income and expenditure gives a true and fair view of the transactions during 

the year and of the financial state of affairs of The Blythe Sappers as at 31 December 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY SAPPER J B WILKS

 

 

 

 

   SAPPER J B WILKS  

 

 

   Hon Independent Examiner  

 

 

 

 

 


 

Annex B to

Blythe Sappers Management Mtg

3 March 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2009 PROPOSED BUDGET 

WORKING COPY

THE BLYTHE SAPPERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

2006

2006

2007

2007

     2,008.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget

Budget

Budget

Budget

Budget

 Budget

Budget

Budget

 

 

 

 

 

Actual

Proposal

Actual

Proposal

Actual

 Proposal

Actual

Proposal

 

 

 

 

 

2005

2006

2006

2007

2007

2008

2008

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPENING BALANCE

 

Notes

    2,533.79

 2,865.00

    2,865.28

    3,472.57

    3,472.57

     3,670.04

     3,670.04

   2,640.33

Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions

 

 

1

    3,000.00

 3,000.00

    2,985.00

    3,000.00

    3,055.00

     3,100.00

     3,040.00

   3,200.00

Joining Fees

 

 

2

       300.00

    300.00

       190.00

       200.00

       110.00

        150.00

       120.00

      160.00

Bank Interest

 

 

3

       136.12

    120.00

       173.12

       170.00

       254.61

        200.00

       147.14

       50.00

Sweepstake Profit

 

 

4

       477.00

    500.00

       187.00

       250.00

       429.00

        400.00

       314.95

      320.00

Donations

 

 

 

 

       109.00

      50.00

       115.00

         50.00

       180.00

          50.00

       102.65

       50.00

Misc'l surplus  functions incl overpaid subs

5

         95.00

   -    

       462.68

  -   

       598.39

        100.00

         70.00

      100.00

Totals

 

 

 

 

    6,650.91

 6,835.00

    6,978.08

    7,142.57

    8,099.57

     7,670.04

     7,464.78

   6,520.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secretarial  postage etc

 

6

       286.88

    300.00

       245.47

       250.00

       318.97

        350.00

       383.14

      400.00

Treasurer postage, travel etc

 

6

 

 

 

 

       112.01

        150.00

       165.15

      175.00

Honorarium

 

 

 

       250.00

    250.00

       350.00

       350.00

       350.00

        250.00

              -  

            -  

Club staff gratuity

 

 

 

       100.00

    100.00

       100.00

       100.00

  -   

        200.00

       200.00

      100.00

Lunch Guests

 

 

 

       156.00

    246.00

       205.00

       213.00

       297.50

        261.00

       508.50

      693.00

Donations, misc

 

 

 

   -    

      50.00

         50.00

         50.00

       150.00

          50.00

              -  

            -  

Committee Room Hire/Domain renewal

 

       389.20

    360.00

       479.80

       480.00

       378.25

        550.00

       467.19

      500.00

Blythe Sappers Adv & CP Fund

 

 

    2,500.00

 2,500.00

    2,000.00

    2,800.00

    2,800.00

     2,000.00

     2,000.00

   1,000.00

Donation to other charity (Combat Stress)

7

              -  

           -  

              -  

              -  

              -  

     1,000.00

     1,000.00

      750.00

Donation to other charity (Veterans' Aid)

7

              -  

           -  

              -  

              -  

              -  

               -  

              -  

      250.00

Miscellaneous, Historical Note,

 

 

              -  

           -  

         58.75

         59.00

         22.80

          60.00

              -  

       50.00

Invitation cards, Salvers, menu cards etc

 

         11.00

    500.00

         16.49

         15.00

              -  

          30.00

       100.47

      100.00

Totals

 

 

 

 

    3,693.08

 4,306.00

    3,505.51

    4,317.00

    4,429.53

     4,901.00

     4,824.45

   4,018.00

Closing Balance

 

 

8

    2,957.83

 2,529.00

    3,472.57

    2,825.57

    3,670.04

     2,769.04

     2,640.33

   2,502.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES ON PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Increase is based upon a increase of members of approx four per meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Similar increase due to new members

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Reduced income due to smaller balance in the fund and reduction in bank interest rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Continued rigorous selling of tickets prior to June Luncheon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Tighter control on event fees to bring down the surplus but care taken not to make a loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Increase in postage and administration costs plus travel costs for treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

£750 allocated to Combat Stress and £250 to Veterans' Aid at Mangt Meeting 3 March 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Final total could be adjusted at the end of the year to keep closing balance close to £2500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rfw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex C

BS Minutes Jun 09

Adventure Trg Report

 

 

INCOME

ITEM

 AMOUNT

EXPENDITURE

 EXPEDITION/EXERCISE

LOCATION

 

  BALANCE 

2008

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at  01 January 2008

 

 

 

 

           5,939.40

 

 

 

10-Apr-08

 Ex Market Star 2008   

USA

             500.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total Expenditure to Apr 08

 

             500.00

 

 

 

 

 

 Balance as at 31 May 2008

 

 

           5,439.40