IWA Guildford and Reading 2026 AGM will take place at Dapdune Wharf tea room, Wharf Rd, Guildford GU1 4RR, the National Trust’s base on the Wey & Godalming Navigations.
Meeting agenda:
- Apologies for Absence
- Approval (following amendments if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year (see below)
- Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)
- Branch Chair’s Report
- Branch Treasurer’s Report and Accounts – available here.
- Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary). Simply contact the Chair to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM
- Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chair has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM
Please contact Chris Jones if you would like to attend by electronic link (via Zoom)
[The photo shows Dapdune Wharf, taken in 2005 by John Pomfret]
IWA
IWA Guildford and Reading Branch 2026 AGM
IWA Guildford and Reading 2026 AGM will take place at Dapdune Wharf tea room, Wharf Rd, Guildford GU1 4RR, the National Trust’s base on the Wey & Godalming Navigations.
Meeting agenda:
- Apologies for Absence
- Approval (following amendments if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year (see below)
- Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)
- Branch Chair’s Report
- Branch Treasurer’s Report and Accounts – available here.
- Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary). Simply contact the Chair to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM
- Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chair has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM
Please contact Chris Jones if you would like to attend by electronic link (via Zoom)
[The photo shows Dapdune Wharf, taken in 2005 by John Pomfret]
Details
Time
7.00pm
6.30pm for a 7.00pm start. Refreshments available.
Parking
Parking available on site
Contact
Contact: Chris Jones
E-Mail: [email protected]
Minutes of AGM held on 10th March 2025 at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford
Verna Smith opened the meeting by introducing herself as the Chair and welcoming the rest of the committee and all attendees.
- Apologies were received from Sue O’Hare, Kevin East, John Gunner and Rowan Brockhurst.
2. Present: Verna Smith (Acting Chair), Mike Lewis (Treasurer), Chris Jones (Secretary), John Jones (co-opted committee member), 4 members and 2 visitors.
3. Minutes of the AGM of 11th March 2024 were approved. Proposed by Chris Jones, Seconded by Mike Lewis.
4. Acting Branch Chair’s Report
This has been a difficult year for the branch with bereavements, membership haemorrhaging and subs going up.
Fund Britain’s Waterways and Protect Britain’s Waterways are now under the umbrella of IWA with Mike Wills as its chair. There are ambitious events in the pipeline with a major event coinciding with IWA’s Anniversary celebrations.
The Oxfordshire Branch has hung on for another year with one extra committee member. Although they ran a very successful social event no one came forward to help on the committee. It is hoped the forthcoming AGM will elicit more help.
Many thanks to Mike, Chris and John for all their help with running G&R branch.
Please consider helping at the two events we are attending this year – Reading Water Fest and Wey River Festival. We also hope to help at Banbury which is a two day event. We managed to attend the Reading Water Fest and Wey River Festival last year, and support Oxford Branch at the Banbury Canal Festival weekend. WRG joined us at Guildford.
We have many excellent and successful river and canal societies in our area. Basingstoke Canal, Wey & Arun Canal, Wey & Godalming Navigations, Chichester Canal and Kennet & Avon Canal are all run by very experienced and successful members. IWA acts as another layer of help when required through Sue O’Hare.
The River Thames is deteriorating year on year. EA asked for funds to cover their Red list issues but the grant was reduced by 50%. There is a better dialogue between IWA and EA now. Towpath management is difficult as it is owned by various organisations including riparian owners and Thames Path Organisation. Red Boards at Reading for 6 months made life very difficult.
5. Branch Treasurer’s Report:
The interest this year was £191.91.
The Lock Game raised £43.60, and sales of donated goods raised £55.30 between the two events we attended.
The donation of £375 which was ring fenced for the K&A has been forwarded to them.
We still have a commitment to donate £300 towards the Perseverance IV appeal if the situation changes.
Verna thanked Mike for his report. Proposed by Ben Scott. Seconded by Gareth Jones.
6. Cargoes:
As previously advised Cargoes has been reduced to 3 times a year due to cost. Spring, Summer and Autumn (every 4 months). Many thanks to all our contributors Without them there would be no Cargoes! It is well respected throughout IWA.
7. Sales Report:
The branch attended 2 events this year: Reading Water Fest and the Wey River Festival. WRG joined us at Guildford. Both events were well attended and sales were good. We also supported Oxford Branch at the Banbury Canal Weekend.
This year we are looking for volunteers to support us at Reading Water Fest (Saturday 28th June) and Wey River Festival (Saturday 20th September). We are also looking to help at the Banbury Canal Weekend.
Volunteers will be welcome at all these events. Please contact Verna or Chris Jones if you can help.
8. Election of Committee
The existing committee is continuing. Members are always welcome to join.
10. AOB.
Public Right of Navigation – Kevin East a volunteer with Paddle UK advised us of the continuing conflict with the Thames over Public Rights of Navigation especially on the Abbey river. Amy Tillson is aware.
The AGM finished at 7.40pm and was followed by a very informative presentation by Tristan Brown, National Trust’s Wey Navigations General Manager at Dapdune Wharf, which was well received.
Tristan gave us a very interesting and informative presentation on his background, what has been happening on and around the Navigation and plans for the future.
Verna Smith finished by thanking everyone for attending, especially our Speaker, Tristan Brown. Thank you also, to Tristan, for allowing us to hold the AGM in the Tea room at Dapdune Wharf.
