Wensum Committee Meeting 10/06/2026 Minutes

19th Committee meeting minutes

10th of June 6:10pm

Attendees: Mark Winter, Iain Fisher, Tony Giles, Geoff Timms, Peter Ewart, Phil Ginn

Apologies: Graham Andrews

AGENDA

1. Treasurer’s introduction to the committee 

Documentation both relevant to our present bank balance and historical information was offered to Peter for reference. Finance opportunities relating to the TR Registers yearly allowances were discussed, looking at ways for the Wensum club to utilise.

Group leaders documentation sent by the TR Register was resent to committee members which includes guidance for treasurer’s and committee’s. A TR area group has an allowance of £200 annually, although £70 is charged to the Wensum group to keep the email account and the remaining is restricted on its use by the guidance which does not include food and drink.

Opportunities to save the £70 on the TR Register email account will be investigated.

Peter will look into Name changes on the Wensum group Bank account ensuring Banking dual signatory still applies.

2. Fix dates for agreed events 

Jon Tompkins has kindly offered to host a BBQ for the Wensum group. MW speak to Jon to set a date. Grahams Technical meeting event. TG to ask Graham for a date best suited to host this.

The Railway Arms suggested a Hog roast event, with the opportunity for members to drive out to the pub and show their cars. They are likely to be photographed outside the pub for publicity.

Conformation of a date will be followed up by MW

3. Promotional leaflets for the Wensum group

This would be introduced to encourage TR owners to join the TR Register and specifically the Wensum group. It was discussed and a simple option would be to use the TR Register flyer and add details of the Wensum group to the information.

MW contact the office 

4. Supported Events 

This was to try to make it clearer to members which events are most likely to be well attended. At the moment group members are posting what they are attending and getting responses of who may join them. It was previously discussed and it was decided to put all events on the calendar so members could choose which events to attend. 

We discussed the amount of events currently in the calendar, and how many members are actually using it. So we will send a poll via WhatsApp, to get an idea of its use and how we move forward.

5. Regular post to all members

We will be identifying special events that the Wensum group will be attending in a 6 weekly report. This will also contain the last 6 week’s activities and any important information relevant to the membership.

6. The Christmas meal 

This was discussed and using feedback from the members who attended, which was positive on the whole re The Railway Arms, but some also provided possible alternative venues. We will use this information to identify if there is a more suitable venue to host the Christmas meal. Each venue could be “checked out” by members by having a Friday or Sunday night run out, an evening or weekend meal so we can get their feedback, look out on WhatsApp for announcements like the drive out to Dukes head at Somerleyton .

This year we look to secure a Christmas meal at the Railway Arms again. Time is moving quickly and the committee feels that any change should be looked at for 2027. We will try and secure a date for this year, hopefully Friday the 11th of December. Two sittings at 1:00 and 4:00. This may change if the pub doesn’t have the date or options available.

7. The Female perspective has not really been addressed fully.

The Committee members will ensure that female members and members partners are asked for their thoughts. We will try to ensure inclusive events as well as the obvious.

Travelling a little further for an evening away which could mean an overnight stay or two was discussed. There are endless venues to visit which would incorporate some beautiful scenery just outside the flats of east anglia. The committee will look into annual events from other TR Register Groups and see if there is the support to join them or alternatively pick a venue to visit to incorporate a hotel stay for the group in 2027. 

8. AOB

During the last week members have been asked, via WhatsApp and at the BIH meeting, if they had anything they would like raised at the next committee meeting. No responses were received from any group members, other than it would be great to see more TR’s at the BIH meetings. Let’s try and attend in your TRs if you can, but if not please attend anyway. 

BIH may becoming a busier pub on a Monday evening. For the last two Monday meetings we have been in the bar area only. The main room has been taken for the Pub quiz and this last Monday also had the small room booked out, is available to hire on our meeting evenings. 

Next month should show us what is happening in the future but if we understand how many members are likely to attend we may have a better opportunity to secure a space to socialise. Please let Richard know numbers if you can.

Using the meal out runs we can look at alternatives for a regular meeting place or a different venue each month or simply remain in the same venue.

The introduction of new members is carried out by Tony, who informs us all via WhatsApp.

He then welcomes the new member to the group and informs them they have been added to the WhatsApp, giving them the option to decline the invite. He introduces himself and others to the new member and invites them to attend the group meetings. 

The committee decided to allocate Wensum pin badges and window screen decals to new members as a token gift while stocks last.

TR grill badges are on sale for £15.

Look out for a Run to Gressenhall Farm and work house formally Rural life museum on the WhatsApp.

We currently have a Wensum Google account which gives us an email and calendar, we discussed what would happen if committee members retire from their posts and how this can be transferred, it was agreed that with help from the leaving member we could update details so other committee members could take over.

Mail chimp, (the emailing system to members) needs to be used by more committee members than Tony, Mark has agreed to learn this and it was highlighted that events coordinators could use this to organise events too.

Membership: In 2022 there were 140 members. At present in 2026 we have 117 members. In that 4 year period we have 11 members who did not renew and 5 new members.

Members who’s membership has expired have one month to renew. In that time Tony will try and make contact with them to remind them of their membership renewal before the TR Register removes them from their system. Tony will then inform the membership by WhatsApp and remove that person from the Wensum WhatsApp group. 

We are considering a social media output and wondered if there is a member who would be willing to initiate the profile of the club.

Meeting closed 21:00

Mark Winter as club Secretary, Graham Andrews as the Technical support, Iain fisher as Events Co-ordinator, Phil Ginn as Events Co-ordinator, Tony Giles as Membership secretary, Geoff Timms as IT support and Calendar, Peter Ewart Treasurer