Committee Meeting 16th February 2026
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Monday 16th February 2026 at 7.30pm at OLHC in a Changing Room
Present:
Bill Bennett, Paul Hough, Malcolm Trowbridge, Roland Brown, Humphrey Wheeler, Gary Bridger, Chris Plant, Chris Tomkins Stefan Sheriden, Keith Pye, Michael Lane, and Tony Mullins via Facetime
The President
Bill Bennett formally opened the meeting and welcomed those members present and wished them a belated Happy New Year
Silent Tribute
The Secretary informed members that regrettably the following members had passed away
Namely Peter Cousens (1944) who lived in South Africa but had been exchanging email with Tony Mullins, who reported as follows, Peter was a keen sportsman, played hockey & cricket at School & was selected to play cricket for Essex. He had recently sent Tony an article for the magazine which Tony has turned into his obituary
Apologies for Absence: –
Andrew Kaye, Andy Gemmill, David McAdams & Steve Crosby.
Correspondence Received:-
The Secretary reported that he had had the usual email from David Welford, suggesting that with the cost of silver increasing we should sell the silver cups. For the record we have a total of 44 cups & 2 shields. 26 cups are solid silver & 18 are EPNS. The silver cups have a weight of 3,240 gms with a scrap value of approximately £4,000. A long discussion then took place with certain member saying that they would be interested in buying a cup. It was the suggested that if we could contact those who’s name was last engraved on the cups could be contacted to see if they would like to buy them! No decisions were made.
The Old School Room now had more equipment in it than before & it would have been impossible to have cleared sufficient space to hold our meeting in OUR room. The Len Bone room was already being used that night by OLHC so The Secretary set up a pro-tam meeting in one of the changing rooms. From this latest development the committee came to the conclusion that the OLA were no longer welcome at the hockey club & that we should look for alternative accommodation.
Roland Brown said that we would be welcome to use the ante-rooms at Forest Hall Loughton for our committee meeting! The Secretary said that he would approach Andy Gemmill about moving our memorabilia to The Barn at Wood Farm, Moreton, Essex.
Minutes of the Last Committee Meeting:
The minutes of the last meeting held on 15th September 2025 had already been circularised.
The minutes were proposed by Roland Brown & seconded by Gary Bridger and signed by the President
Matters Arising: –
There was some confusion about dates for the future which the Secretary would confirm at a later date.
Social Events:
Andrew Gemmill had suggested that we have a Spring event at his BARN at Wood Farm Moreton with a buffet lunch and incorporate this with displaying vintage & classic vehicles. The date was agreed for Sunday10th May 2026.
Another possibility was to visit Nazeing Glassworks as well a The Bank of England Museum, but not the same venue for afternoon tea!
Clay Pigeon Shoot
The clay pigeon shoot will again take place at Essex Shooting Ground, Fyfield on Thursday 18th June 2026 & again afterwards at the Barn Wood Farm Moreton. Full details to follow.
Reunion Dinner :-
After a long discussion with regard to various matters discussed under correspondence it was decided that the reunion dinner & AGM would again be a Chigwell Golf Club on Friday 6th November 2026
Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer reported that subs & donations were up on last year, unfortunately the Mansion House trip followed by tea had made a loss, due to a miscalculation of the service charge & vat being added to the bill. The Association was in a healthy position and the Treasurers report was proposed by Michael Lane & seconded by Chris Tomkins
Membership Report
The Secretary stated that the best plan would be, for The Secretary & The Treasurer to take care of membership. It was confirmed that Chris Cummings (Keith Pye’s friend) had become a member.
Magazine:
Tony Mullins confirmed that they already had articles left over from the last issue & Malcolm Trowbridge was compiling an article on “Formation of the OLA. So, all in all should be another interesting magazine.
Golf Society Events: –
A society meeting had been arranged at Chigwell Golf Club on Monday 18th May 2026.
Report on the Website: –
Stefan Sheriden reported that since the last meeting, the following had been added to the website: –
Essex Barn Lunch
2025 Annual Dinner & AGM report & Photos
Sept 2025 minutes
1950’s student photo supplied by Justin Keen son of John Arthur Keen 1948 photo Forest Rd Café
Fallen in battle: – Horace Ward Baker: Harald H, Hills: Geoffrey Plateras Lawson Jacques: Cecil Percy Plum: Ernest Harold Marden Gumprecht : John North Davis : Ralph Edward Godin
Obituaries: –
Graham Gowing (1951) Peter Cousens (1944)
Krystal hosting renewed for 2 years at a cost of £237.60 covering 25/01/2026 to 24/01/2028 at the same price as we paid in 2023 and offering the similar discount to annual payment
The President thanked Stefan for his continued hard work.
Hon. Archivist Report:
The Hon. Archivist Chris Plant reported that two school hats had vanished. He presented 2 war novels to Keith Pye & informed the meeting that the poster he made up for Bill Bennett at the AGM & dinner had 2 odd arms.
Any Other Business:
Roland Brown reported that he had visited Mrs Houston’s daughter, Fiona, who had passed him a comptometer machine used to calculate fees, she also passed rubber stamps from the school library as well a heavy “Vanguard” stapler. All of which would go into storage.
There being no further business the President reminded members of the date of the next committee meeting 18th May 2026 and closed the meeting at 9:00 pm; with a vote of thanks to the chair.
………………………………………………Signed by The President Date: ………………………..
Committee Meetings for 2026
Monday 18th May 2026 and 21st September 2006 at 7:30pm at TBC
This year AGM & Reunion Dinner will be held on Friday 6th November 2026
At Chigwell Golf Club
Website Address oldloughtonians.com
