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The Thirteenth Annual General Meeting
...was held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 May 1917, at the Great Western
Hotel, Reading.
Present: Major E.R. Portal, in the Chair.
Dr. Hopkins Walters, Mr R.H.C. Harrison, Mr L. Sutton
Mr. C.S. Harrison, Mr E.S. Shrapnell-Smith (Hon.Treasurer)
and Mr S. à Court (Hon. Secretary)
1. The Mintues of the last Annual General Meeting were read, confirmed
and signed.
2. The Thirteenth Annual Report of the committee with the audited
statement of accounts and balance sheet, already circulated to Members,
was proposed for adoption by the Chairman, seconded by R.H. Walters,
put to the Meeting and carried.
3. Mr L. Sutton and Mr A.D. Selkirk were elected to fill the vacancies
on the Committee, due to absence on Service of Capt. Secretan &
Capt. Ouvry.
4. The Hon. Treasurer submitted a Budget for 1917 showing an estimated
surplus of £40.6.6, the income being estimated at £119.6.6
and the expenditure of £79, included in the latter being a grant
of £20 to the Berkshire Motor Vol. Corp. The Chairman proposed
the adoption of the Budget which was seconded by Mr. Harrison and
carried.
5. The Chairman reviewed the work of the Club during the past year,
consisting mainly in carrying on the Berkshire V.A.Transport for the
Reading War Hospitals by a Sub-Committee consisting of the Rev.J.D.
Ouvry, Mr C.P. Dodd & the Hon. Secretary. This Service included
calls on the members for duty by any and might besides a large amount
of office work. In June Mr. Ouvry left to take up a post as Military
Chaplain when Mr Wiggett toook over his duties with Mr P.M. le P.French
as assistant. The total number of cases conveyed from Reading Station
and the main auxiliary Hospitals, from the commencement up to
31.Dec.1916 amount to over 30,000, and the work was performed without
failure or accident. In the Autumn of 1916 an application was made to
the War Office for a grant in aid, but as an adequate sum or assistance
was declined and as the [armitable] funds were nearly exhausted, the
Committee of the V.A.Transport Service was reluctantly compelled to
give notice that the work would cease at the year end. The complete
organisation was handed over to the War Office on 1st June 1917 to
prevent any interruption of the service, as, though a full months
notice was given, no arrangements had been made to provide cars,
drivers or garages, and the service has since been carried on by Mr.
Wiggett acting under the O i/e Transport, Reading War Hospitals.
The G.O.C, S.C., had written thanking the Club for all the work that
had been done, and expressing regret at its termination. The Club
register of cars available for Red Cross & Police duties had been
kept up though few were available owing to petrol shortages. In Feb
1917 the War Office invited the offer of service of a Motor Vol. Corps.
and the Lord Lieutenant nominated the Hon. Secretary to raise a Corps
and to command it. As the result of a public meeting, attended by many
members of the Club, a start had been made and one or more Light
Squadrons were being formed. Besides some resignations the Club had
lost by death the Rt. Hon. Lord Haversham, Dr. Jessop, Mr Potter &
Dr. Hawes. They would be pleased to hear that they had secured Lt. Col.
Leslie Wilson as President, in succession to the last F.M. Earl
Roberts. In conclusion the Chairman suggested that in view of the
surplus from last year, a donation should be made to the Funds of the
Berkshire M.V. Corps.
6. Dr. Hopkins Walters moved that £20 be given to the Berks
M.V.C. This was seconded by Mr C.S.Harrison & carried.
7. The Hon.Sec. on behalf of the B.M.V.C. thanked the Club for the
donation and stated that the War Office had accepted this offer of No
1. Light Squadron, & that offers of No.2. Light & No.1. Heavy
had also been submitted & were under consideration.
8. The re-election of the Hon.Auditors was proposed by Mr
R.H.C.Harrison, seconded by Dr.H.Walters and carried.
9. Mr R.H.C. Harrison proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and
said he hoped Mr Portal would continue to take as much interest in the
Club as he had in the past. Dr. H. Wlaters seconded the vote of thanks,
which was carried unanimously. The Chairman replied thanking the
Meeting for their kind appreciation of his services and said they could
always rely on his assistance in furthering the interests of the Club.
[E.M.Portal, Chairman]
[April 26, 1919]
[May 30, 1917]
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