Club evening April, AGM and Auction.
The Christchurch Centre was open early for us, I got there as the chairs and tables were put out and then the unloading of the auction items. On the basis that someone somewhere wants what you are throwing away it all started to pile up, although there were several decent donations. There was much activity until the bell went and we found our seats and our Chairman called the meeting to order.
AGM.
The Chairman went through the last 12 months club activities and these can be read on the web site. Our Secretary asked if all had read the financial accounts, Treasurer Mike asked if there were any questions, there was just one which was checking if the s/w charges for the website were correct, this will be looked into.
Election of Trustees to the committee, the current retiring members were willing to stand again, Secretary Guy and committee members Roger S, Roy & Michael W were voted in to stand for a further 2 years. Also Roger E and Kevin were approved to stand as new full committee / Trustee members.
A new method of paying the hall fees was accepted so that the fee became a donation thus qualifying for Gift Aid tax relief.
End of AGM.
The Auction.
Mike G and Irene were noting the successful bids and running the accounts for the evening and Mike explained the general rules.
Guy was acting as Auctioneer and he started things off As is usual the audience were slow to respond and had to be 'encouraged' but eventually the various 'Lots' started to find new owners. The banter started and continued in a light hearted vein and the bids started to escalate though there were not a lot of expensive items and many went for one or two pounds, 50p bids were ignored! Also, if a fair price was not reached the Lot was retained for the club shop in the Autumn.
A group of items was left for viewing during the break, tea and coffee and biscuits served up by Jack and Neil and very welcome it was too. You can see from the photos many of the lots going to auction and that the members were enjoying evening even though they were parting with money.
I had bought a 27Mhtz RC set complete. Later checking on the Internet I found the set was older than I realised having been imported in Summer 1981 and is on eBay at £40 or so under Vintage Radio. But surprised if anyone would pay that much. The Tx. has just 6 batteries in the back receptacle most unusual as the norm is 8 and the Rx. had an early special servo connection I had forgotten about. Assuming it works I will have it all active again in one of my boats very soon!
The other RC set labelled Futaba 6 EX failed to reach a satisfactory bid, and will be available for sale at the club exhibition later in September.
After the break more bids were made and 85% of the items went home with their new owners, all my items went, much to my relief. Special thanks go to our auctioneer Guy who again made the evening amusing and to Irene and Mike G who kept the log of the bids.
Thanks also go out to all the members who made the evening work and we cleared the decks just after 10 and then home.
Roy 11/4/2025