Our Annual General Meeting was held on the afternoon of Saturday 14 February 2026 in the Garden Hall of Watlington House. 43 members and guests attended.
- Minutes of 2025 AGM Signed
- Agenda for the meeting 14 February 2026
- Annual Accounts 2025 The Society’s financial history as shown on the Charity Commission Accounts may be seen HERE
- Chairman’s Report, Membership, Finance & Terrys Walkabouts
- Minutes of the 2026 AGM not signed
Reporting on the Year Full details in the reports (link above) but in summary
The Chairman gave a review of the events of the year, including; the events taken part in and those run for members, planning consultations we had taken part in and commented on formally, participation in community activities and publicity for the society. Progress on the Heritage Plaque project was explained and images were shown of the unveiling of the new Jane Austen plaque in June 2025. Delivery of the Look Draw Build@ Reading & Bristol Stations was explained including the reason for delivering to Bristol schools for the first time and images of the Awards Night in Bristol were shown. The delivery plan for 2026, led by Jelly Arts for the first time, was explained.
Terry Dixon explained about his Walkabouts highlighting his new walks for 2026 (Linked to the University Centenary Celebrations) and that since starting in 2016 he had raised £32,400 (£5,600 this year so far) and that his charities for the year are; Dingleys Promise, Green Health Thames Valley, SAAFA and the society’s Heritage Plaque project. and For details see the Chairman’s Report presentation.
The Hon Sec explained membership numbers in 2025 were 150 plus 2 groups. To date memberships renewed were 96 + 2 groups.
Penny Kemp (Hon Treasurer) explained the accounts highlighting that receipt of a £4,000 LDB grant in 2024 for the project to be delivered in 2025 had led to a £3000 loss in being shown in Restricted funds for the year. The LDB Grant for 2026 will not fall into our accounts but to Jelly Arts who are leading the 2026 project.
Formal part of the meeting
At the meeting there were no proposals from the floor for new committee members. Richard Bennett DL was re-elected as Chair. T. The existing committee were all willing to stand again and were voted in en-bloc. The problem of limited resources to enable us to comment on Planning Applications was raised by the Chair, however no volunteers willing to take part put themselves forward.
The formal element of the afternoon ended at 2:30. This was followed at 2:40pm by the Key Note Speaker Thomas Macey who told the story of Jacksons Department store.
We were delighted that Thomas Macey agreed to come to talk to us about the history of the store and his time there with such enthusiasm & individual stories. In addition to his “slide show” he brought a selection of original archives for the audience to view during and after the talk.
Thomas Macey was employed by Jacksons of Reading when he was 16 years old back in 2004 and remained with the company until it closed in 2013. He became a PA to one of the directors and key holder. Thomas was also fascinated by the history of Jacksons and published a book on its history in 2009. When the company closed the Jackson family presented Thomas with the archives of the firm, many of which are now on loan to the Royal Berkshire Archives. In 2020, Thomas commissioned and worked alongside model maker Richard Ellis of Monks Gate Models to create three miniature models of Jacksons as it was in 1904, currently on display at the Reading Museum which runs until 28 March 2026 (see below).
