Annual General Meetings

Every spring we hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM) to report on the previous financial year, forthcoming activities, vote in our Committee and raise any changes to our Constitution.

After what is normally a short formal session, we have a talk by a guest speaker on local or national topics of interest to Reading and our membership.

Our AGM for the year to December 2023 was held in the Garden Hall of Watlington House on Saturday 16 March 2024. Here are the Minutes, Chair’s Report and Financial Statement.

After the formal business, Alastair Dick-Cleland, Project Development Manager of the Landmark Trust and a Reading resident, spoke about the work of the Landmark Trust which he calls ‘Rescuing Ruins: The Work of the Landmark Trust’.

The AGM for the year to December 2022 was held in the Garden Hall of Watlington House on Saturday 15 April 2023. Here are the Minutes, Chair’s Report and Financial Statement. After formal business was concluded, a presentation was given by local historian Mike Cooper who reflected on the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the People’s Pantry. The People’s Pantry used to be situated at 175 Friar Street, behind Queen Victoria, where the long-closed Bristol and West Arcade is now sited. Mike reflected on the events of 10th February 1943 when a German Bomb was dropped on the People’s Pantry killing 41 people. There were two bombs dropped that day. The town was bombed 10 times during the war but this was Reading’s only fatal air raid.

The AGM for the year to December 2021 was held in the Abbey Baptist Church on Saturday 6 April. Here are the Minutes, Chair’s Report and Financial Statement. [find and LINKS]

The Guest Speaker this year was Willie Hartley Russell the High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire. He gave his reflections on his Shrieval Year and his work with Almshouse Charities.