Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at
Swan Bank Methodist Church Hall
Saturday 10th October 2009
The meeting opened at 2.00 pm with 36 members present. The Chairman welcomed everyone.
Apologies for absence: Anne Middleton, Alastair Gilchrist, Sarah Akhtar, Mary Beardmore, Stephanie Maksimovic, Barbara Hall-Petite, Keith Pointon, Janet Pointon, Normal Hutchinson, Hazel Hutchinson, Malcolm McMinn, Margaret Byrne, Judith Upright, Fleur Coppock. Kevin Burke, Karen Burgess.
The 2008 AGM Minutes were approved by Fred Hughes and seconded by Morag Jones.
Matters arising: St John’s Square – Morag Jones reported that the building failed to be sold at an auction earlier this year and that the property in general was unsafe, this was confirmed by John Potter and Fred Hughes. The building was to be made safe as far back as April 2009, but this has not been carried out. Morag Jones has been in touch with AB member, Fleur Coppock, who has taken on the project and will report back to the executive committee. The approval of minutes should read 2007 not 2006.
1. Thanks to Martin Laux for organising last year’s successful Wedgwood Memorial College Study Weekend on “The major influences on A B’s The Old Wives’ Tale, October 11th – 12th 2008.
2. On 4th December we presented the Society’s Annual Christmas Show – this time, “Christmas Cheer at the Leopard”. Society thespians Margaret Beard, Carol Gorton, Graham Gorton, Philip Leese, Elizabeth Leslie and Elaine Sutton were joined by the Leopard Spot Clog Dancers and the Inn Ringers.
3. In February this year Mrs Jo Pryke, a Society member and also member of the Gaskell Society, gave a talk entitled “Something to say? Varieties of realism in best selling fiction: Elizabeth Gaskell, Arnold Bennett and Dorothy Whipple.” The Chairman thanked Carol Gorton for making the arrangements.
4. The Annual Dinner in April was preceded by an afternoon tour of the New Victoria Theatre, led by its Artistic Director Theresa Heskins. This was a great success – our Guest Speaker, Peter Preston was so impressed that he returned later n the year to see a production of a D H Lawrence play. The Chairman presented Theresa with a cheque for £100 and a copy of OWT. The Society is now recognised in the theatre’s programme as contributing to the “Building Futures” appeal.
5. The Annual Dinner was again at the Haydon House Hotel, where we again enjoyed excellent service. Denis Eldin was ceremonially inducted as our new President. Our Guest Speaker, Peter Preston, gave an entertaining speech on Bennett’s activities in 1908. The Chairman voiced a particular vote of thanks to Peter, who has been a great friend to both the Society and to himself over the five years of his Chairmanship.
6. In early June Churnet Valley Books published a new edition of The Pretty Lady, with a Critical Introduction by John Shapcott.
7. Also in June the Society published the 2008 Conference papers on The Old Wives’ Tale, edited by John Shapcott. Since then Carol Gorton has arranged for ISBN references to be attached to it and all previous collections of Conference papers.
8. The Annual Conference in June, the second Conference to be held at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery was run jointly with the H G Wells Society. The title “Arnold Bennett & H G Wells: Their Friendship, Fiction & Films” covered all aspects of the two writers’ work. Some 70 delegates attended to listen to an impressive range of speakers making this another highly successful Conference. It was notable for attracting our first academic attendee from Japan, Prof. Chitose Ikawa. The Chairman thanked Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley & the City Council for making the Museum’s facilities available to us at no cost to the Society. He also thanked Mark Egerton, Secretary of the H G Wells Society, for his enthusiastic support.
9. In the evening the Society hosted a full subscribed post-Conference dinner at Denry’s Restaurant, Burslem. Our Vice-President, Margaret Drabble, had joined us for the weekend of her 70th birthday and the Chairman presented her with a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle of the dust jacked of the 1st Edition of A Pretty Lady.
10 In August, the Times Literary Supplement published a two page “commentary” on Arnold Bennett by Margaret Drabble. This reconsidered Bennett’s Modernist connection in the light of John Shapcott’s recent critical work. The Chairman thanked Margaret for giving such a high profile to Bennett’s work (In July, Northern Books published an illustrated edition of J B Priestley’s An English Journey, which included an introductory essay by Margaret Drabble, drawing attention to the Society.
11. In conclusion, another fruitful and successful year for the Society. Sadly we have to say goodbye to two Committee members – Margaret Beard and Martin Laux. We thank them for all their work and look forward to seeing them at future events. The Chairman was confident that the new Committee would carry on the good work.
I have enjoyed my 5 years as Chairman - a suitable time-span.
Thanks to all Committee members and Society members who have helped make it such a worthwhile undertaking. Invidious to single out individuals, but special thanks to Committee members Carol Gorton, Martin Laux and Linda. Outside the Committee, a debt of gratitude to Tim Brearley and Peter Preston.
Especially proud of nurturing the Conference to the point where it is now an internationally recognised gathering of academic repute. The enforced move to the Potteries Museum was a blessing in disguise – better facilities - the Society is in control of organising the event, and greater numbers attending.
Also, during the 5 years I have edited no less than 7 new editions of Bennett novels, published by Churnet Valley Books. The Potteries Museum AB catalogue with special thanks to Katey Goodwin.
Future projects include further new Bennett editions. Most exciting, a volume of uncollected Bennett short stories – I am greatly indebted to Martin for painstakingly undertaking to acquire and provide me with photocopies of all the originals held in the British Library. Forthcoming chapter on Bennett’s Evening Standard columns in a book on Middlebrow Culture to be published by Palgrave MacMillan. And I will edit a collection of this year’s Conference papers. There are other plans to publish studies on Bennett and on contemporary writers.
All of these plans owe much to my time as Chairman and I will always be grateful to the Society for providing me with the incentive and friendship so necessary if one is to scribble away lonely in archive or at desk.
Fred Hughes asked for a vote of thanks to John and the committee and said it was good to see Bennett back in print, and congratulated John in bringing the society to a more international level. Joan Walley also gave credit to John not only for his academic route but also for the future of Burslem’s culture, art and literary future. She will send a letter to the new chief executive with a view to promote AB during federation 2010. John advised the members and in particular Joan, that the society had been in touch with Dan Barton at the City Council re Federation and the possibility of linking up with his publication of uncollected AB short stories due out next year to ask if the council would consider a small grant towards the cost of a venue, but so far has had no reply. Joan Walley said she would add it to the list that she was bringing to the City Council. David Pugsley asked John if it was possible to link up with Buxton Festival and again Joan Walley said she would talk to the relevant MP.
In the absence of Kevin Burke, Carol Gorton presented his report. Copies of the audited accounts were distributed. The accounts were approved by Richard Grieve and seconded by Don Henshall.
Martin Laux reported that the current position on membership was, single members – 167; Joint members – 55; Total number of members – 277. Total number of single Newsletters mailed – 222. Since last year we have lost 38 members, so overall numbers are down from last year when we topped over 300 for the first time. Since January 2009, 12 new members have joined, including our first from Japan. The drop in membership is due to a number of reasons, such as the economic downturn, some people join for one year only. He also reported the death of member Dorothy Leigh. Carol Gorton has taken over as temporary membership secretary until the committee find a new replacement for Martin. She said we continue to get new members on a regular basis.
Martin is standing down as Membership Secretary purely because he has embarked on a new career in another part of the country and at present cannot dedicate the time and effort required as Membership Secretary.
Martin was thanked for taking on, with no hesitation, the role of membership secretary and considering he is not local to The Potteries, he has done an excellent job.
Alan Pedley thanked all contributors, and please keep them coming. He pointed out that the inclusion of a flyer with the newsletter does affect the cost of postage quite considerably. Normal postage is 30p but by adding a flyer it could go up to 76p. He thanked the committee for their support and in particular Mary Beardmore for her work as the proof reader. He also made a special thank you to Multiprint, the printers of the newsletter. Nick Redman said how much we all enjoyed the newsletter and on behalf of the Society that we owe a debt of gratitude to Alan. That it was an important part of the society, Graham Gorton also reiterated his remarks. Alan was asked if it was possibly to have further coloured covers as it added something to special issues. He confirmed that, yes it was possible at a small cost to the society. Next year’s newsletters will be themed and linked to Federation and he invited contributors to do a piece on Federation for next year.
Linda said it had once again been a busy year for the hire of DVD’s and that Clayhanger is much in demand, so much so that she has a waiting list. Anyone interested should email her and she will send a list. She also has the DVD of the visit to Les Nefliers Fontainebleau last year if anyone wishes to borrow it. Mark Egerton asked if there were back up copies should any get lost in the post and Linda assured him that there were.
With the resignation of John Shapcott as Chairman, Martin Laux as Membership Secretary and Margaret Beard from the committee, the following Executive Committee will be: Chairman – Morag Jones; Vice-Chair – Elizabeth Leslie; Treasurer – Kevin Burke; Secretary/Membership – Carol Gorton; Editor – Alan Pedley; Social Secretary – Barbara Hall-Petite; Archivist – Linda Shapcott; other members Elaine Sutton, Jean McMinn, Karen Burgess, Pat Marshall, Mark Egerton. They were all proposed en block by Malcolm Henson and seconded by Graham Gorton.
The new Chairman – Morag Jones – advised the following programme for 2009/2010.
Tuesday 8th December 2009 – A Christmas event at The Leopard is being organised with five talented young players from the City Youth Orchestra. The cost is set at £10, the same as last year.
Saturday 27th February – Fred Hughes will give a talk based on his new book on Federation at Friend’s Meeting House, Newcastle, Staffs.
Saturday 27th March – Annual Dinner – Gay Blake-Roberts from Wedgwood Museum will be the guest speaker.
Saturday 12th June – Annual Conference - This will take place again at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery with the title of “Clayhanger”. Morag already has some speakers lined up.
Any Other Business
Carol Gorton reported that Julie Henshall had taken over from Graham Gorton as Trustee at Ceramica representing the society. She thanked Graham for his hard work over the last 7 years at Ceramica and assured Julie that the committee were always available should she need any help. Carol read a written report from Julie advising that Karen Burgess, is organising an Open Day at Ceramica to which various people could be invited. Don Henshall commented on that fact that Ceramica has not been asked to participate in the British Ceramic Biennial taking place in Burslem. Also that there is no mention of Ceramica on the City website. Joan Walley said she would seriously try and take this matter up. A number of members asked if AB was taught in any schools. Morag Jones answered that as far as we know no school has AB as part of the curriculum, but that she is teaching Riceyman Steps as part of her adult education course. Carol Gorton pointed out that the Bursley Way Infants School in Bradwell was heavily involved with AB; they even use character and place names from the novels within the school. Janet Kennerley, an AB society member and a member of the Gaskell Society, invited everyone to come along to the next ALS AGM, which is being hosted by the Gaskell Society in Knutsford next year between 15th and 16th May. Derek Tatton advised that the Wedgwood Memorial College was under great strain and that funds are available from the Raymond Williams Foundation.
There being no A.O.B. Morag thanked everyone for attending and called the meeting to a close at 3.26 pm.