Bedford School Foundation Meetings
MINUTES OF THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT BEDFORD SCHOOL ON SATURDAY 8th JUNE 2013
Present: Mr A J Ormerod Chairman/Trustee
Mr J S Moule Head Master/Trustee
Mr M Rhodes Trustee
Mrs P Ayres
Mr B M F O'Brien
Mr D S M Pinkney
Mr J R B Godber
Mr G E R Blakely
In attendance: Mrs C M Godfrey Finance Officer
Mr R P Garrett Clerk and Company Secretary
1. Welcome
The Chairman welcomed members and their spouses to the Foundation’s eleventh AGM.
2. Apologies
A list of Apologies was circulated at the meeting and is below.
3. Minutes of the Tenth AGM held on 17th March 2012
These were passed as a true record of the meeting, being proposed by Mr Blakely and seconded by the Head Master.
4. Matters Arising
The Chairman explained that the update of the handbook had been delayed due to the proposed changes to the Articles of Association. This would be addressed in the year ahead.
5. Chairman’s Report
In his report the Chairman highlighted his long association, over 65 years, with the School as boy, parent, Governor and now Chairman of the Foundation. He talked about the Bedford School Association (BSA) which brought together parents, past parents, OBs and the Foundation under its Director Richard Garrett and how well it worked in coordinating these sectors of the School Community.
He thanked all those who had supported the Foundation with gifts of all sizes over the last year, and since its establishment of the Foundations in 2003.The Autumn will see the appeal launched for the New Theatre in St Luke's, along with the refurbishment of the Science Block and the continuing support of Scholarships across the curriculum.
He stressed the importance for the long term benefit of the School of the legacy programme and along with the appeal this would be drawn to everybody's attention. He went on to highlight that everybody who had passed through the School had benefited from its former benefactors generosity and enjoyed the facilities which they have helped to provide. It is his hope that all will recognise the necessity to continue this giving for the long term benefit of the School. The Chairman closed his report by commending the work of the Foundation and by saying that he looked forward to its continued support from present and new members.
6. Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for Year Ended 31st December 2012
The Finance Officer introduced the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2012, which had been audited and subsequently approved by the Board of Trustees. It was highlighted that the reduction in income had been anticipated due to the closure of the Campaign for Sport and the completion of a number of pledges over several years.
The Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts were passed by the AGM.
7. Changes to the Articles of Association relating to the numbers of elected Trustees
The Chairman proposed the following changes to the Articles of Association. They were seconded by Mr Rhodes and unanimously passed.
a) To replace Article 1.2 with:
“1.2 The Board of Trustees when complete shall consist of at least 4 and not more than 8 individuals, being not more than 2 appointed under 1.5 (The Bedford School Governors shall be entitled to nominate up to 2 of their number to be Trustees) and not more than 5 appointed under 1.6 below and the Head Master for the time being of Bedford School.”
b) To replace Article 1.6 with:
“1.6 The Members may at any time elect not more than 5 of their number as Trustees”.
8. Matters of Governance
The Chairman thanked Mr Johnson for everything that he had done as a Foundation
Trustee and in particular during his time as Chairman. This was followed by the following
Elections;
Mr Jeremy Rowe – re-election as a Member elected Trustee
Mr James Godber – election as Member elected Trustee
Mr David Pinkney – election as a Member elected Trustee
All appointments were approved with the candidates being nominated at the meeting by the Head Master and seconded by Mr Rhodes.
9. Auditors
It was proposed by Mr Rhodes and seconded by Mr Blakely that Collett Hulance be reappointed as the Foundation’s auditors. This was passed.
10. Update on current Development Projects
The Head Master highlighted that in the Autumn Term that they hoped to launch a new campaign "A Vision for the Future." It would have three areas of focus;
- The New Theatre Project – The plan is to convert the old Moravian Church on the south side of the School estate into a new theatre. This new space will benefit both the School and town, and without doubt make a positive impact on the local arts scene. The Foundation is currently engaging with lots of people within the School and local communities in order to ensure that the necessary funding is in place by the 30th September in order for the project to receive the green light. With this momentum work could commence as soon as possible, and aim for our first production in the new theatre in 2015.
- Science – The laboratories were last refurbished in 1980. The School is planning a three phase project to develop new science classrooms in all core sciences over five years. This will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the School. It is worth highlighting that the Sciences remain part of the compulsory curriculum.
- Scholarships and Access Awards – The School remains committed to helping boys with potential from a mixture of backgrounds to have the opportunity to benefit from a Bedford School education. This is an important part of the School's heritage and it embraces the very reason why Sir William Harpur established a school in Bedford.
11. Any Other Business
The Chairman highlighted the following;
- The annual Foundation Golf Day took place on the 18th May and had been well supported. In 2014 it is due to take place on the 17th May again at the Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden.
- The Founders and Benefactors Chapel Service and Lunch will take place on Sunday 6th October. At this event the ten year anniversary of the Foundation will also be marked.
- A tour of St Luke's would be on offer after the meeting so all attendees could get a good feel for this exciting project and the provisional plans. A final decision from the Governors is due to take place in the Autumn Term 2013.
12. Date of Next AGM
The Trustees will review the options at their next meeting, but it is likely to be in the Summer Term 2014.
Mr A J Ormerod
Chairman
Apologies
Chris Johnson Richard Gordon
Jeremy Rowe George Ridnell
David Dixon Gilbert Lloyd
Penny Aylmer Richard Banks
Antonia Barlen Anne Barnes
George Bayley Howard Brooks
Derek Capon John Castle
Patrick Chavasse John Edwards
Richard Evan-Jones Oswald Radford
Jack Stenhouse Anthony Swannell
Jonathan Tate Vernon Tyerman
Diana Williams David Wilson
William Windham John Langham
Michael Davison Gareth Quarry
Brian Saville Victor Ayres
Robert Barkshire Ian Christie
Bruce Claridge Thomas Cooper
Mackenzie Deacon Richard Gallie
Sandy Gray Clifton Ibbett
Trevor Kent-Jones Mark Llloyd-Williams
Lord Naseby George Peck
Stuart Rees Thomas Simpson
Roger Smith John Taylor
Heather Turnham John Turnham