2026 Annual General Meeting

Notice of the 2026 Annual General Meeting of The Sussex Martlets Cricket Club Limited

 Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of The Sussex Martlets will be held on Monday 30^th March 2026 commencing at 7.30pm. The meeting is being held via Zoom hosted by Mike Charman

 AGENDA.

1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting

3. Matters arising from the minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting

4. To receive the Annual Reports for the Year Ending 31^st December 2025 comprising:

Chairman’s Report

Cricket Report

Junior Martlets Report

Martlets Over 40s Report

Golf Society Report

Real Tennis Report

Social Report

5. To approve the Annual Accounts for the Year Ending 31^st December 2025

6. To approve the 2026 Membership Subscriptions and Playing Fees

7. To note the 2026 Forecast of Income and Expenditure

8. To receive a report on the Harrison Vice Presidents Fund

9. To elect officers and other members of the Committee

Election of Matilda Callaghan as Safeguarding Officer

Election of Alice Noakes as a Committee Member

10. To elect Paul Walker as a Vice-President of the Club

11. To consider any other business without formal resolution

Alan Newman

Honorary Secretary

12^th March 2026

Notes

1. All members of the Club shall be entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting
2. The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be seven
3. All members, other than Honorary Members, shall be entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting of The Sussex Martlets Held on Monday 31^st March 2025, at 6.30pm via Zoom

Present: Nigel Russell (President), Paul Walker (Chairman), Mike Charman (Treasurer), Alan Newman (Secretary) plus 22 members.

Introduction to the AGM

Paul Walker thanked everyone for attending and expressed his wish to speed through.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies had been received from 21 members :

Paul Lack, Richard Seager, Robin Carr, Ray Fuller, Neil Billing, Adrian Ford, Andy Meads, Tim Mynott, Ron Pateman, Peter Fielding, Martin Bodenham, Jonathan Watt, Jonny Wills, Ben Green, Jeremy McGahan, Johnny Barclay, Omkar Khot, Terry Moore, Les Newcombe, Will Rydon, Andrew Westgate.

2. Minutes of the 2024 AGM

The minutes of the 2024 AGM had been published ahead of the meeting.  No comments or changes had been notified.  It was proposed by Paul Walker and seconded by John Goodacre, that they be approved.  All agreed.

3. Matters arising from the 2024 Minutes

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the 2024 AGM.

4. Committee Reports

Members were referred to the latest edition of The Martlet magazine for each relevant report.

5. To approve the accounts for the Year Ending 31 December 2024

As has been the norm since the Club became a limited company, we have had prepared 3 separate sets of accounts which all need to be approved. The information in the two sets of accounts prepared for Companies House is exactly the same as in the Club ones but in the required format. Mike referred to the Martlets Club accounts by sharing them on his screen. A small deficit before tax of £750 had accrued and with tax this became £825 for the year. This means the club reserves (excepting the Harrison VP (HVP) fund) are at just over £17000.

As expected, the HVP fund reduced by paying for Women & Girls kit by about £1000. There is a total across the two of £23423 compared to £25128 at 2024 year end.

All three sets of the accounts were proposed by David Whelpton, seconded by Chris Snell and approved by those present.

6. Annual Subs & Match Fees

Again, sharing screen, MC reported he had asked for an increase of £10 for playing members and £5 for non-playing members. The committee decided on a £5 increase for both categories so Playing membership at £75 and NP membership at £40 with a reduction due if paying by Direct Debit to reflect ease of administration. Match fees to remain the same as 2024 including for Arundel matches.

CH – asked how many members we actually have. 371 on the database including approx. 47 officials who are non-members.

The proposed subscriptions and match fee rates for 2024 were proposed by Nigel Russell, seconded by John Goodacre and approved by those present.

7. Forecast

Sharing screen, MC explained that despite being a wet finger exercise, the document has been revised slightly to reflect known costs such as Printing and Stationery for which an invoice has already been received.

We are still in negotiation with Arundel over the method and amount of costs for this coming season so the same basis as last year with some massaging to take account of increases has been used. A forecast deficit on matches of £5000 results which is covered by the members subscriptions. A surplus overall of £450 is forecast.

The major sponsorship for the next three years courtesy of John Goodacre is not included in the forecast.  The committee have decided the management of this will be through the HVP fund and the fund managers and therefore ring-fenced from general funds.

This does not need to be approved and is for information.

Charlie Hartridge – asked about the reduction of £1000 in subscription expenditure. Answer – an anonymous donor is paying the SCF patronage for the next three years on the club’s behalf.

MC also thanked RitchiePhillips LLP for their work on the accounts and also everyone else , especially Match Managers who had collected all due fees from last season. MC also wishes to stand down at the earliest opportunity although he has put himself forward for three years.

PW – expressed thanks to Mike for all his work.

8. Report on the Harrison Vice Presidents Fund

A report was circulated prior to the meeting.

NR – there hasn’t been any significant movement since the beginning of 2024 thanks to the generosity of VPs and others.

9. Election of Officers and other members of the committee
   1. Chairman

Paul Walker is standing down and after due process, David Whelpton is proposed by Paul , on behalf of the committee, to be his successor.

Seconded by Hector Loughton and approved by the meeting.

1. Committee Member

Kirah Ambroziak is taking on role of Women’s Cricket Co-ordinator

Proposer Paul Walker Seconder Michael Murray and approved by the meeting.

10. To elect Mike Griffith as a Vice President of the Club

Proposed by the Committee, seconded by Amanda Jupp and approved by the meeting.

11. To elect Honorary Life Members of the Club

The committee had nominated Trevor Burchell, Ian Farrell and Dave Morris

Proposed by Paul Walker, seconded by Alan Newman and approved by the meeting.

12. To consider any other business without formal resolution

There was no formal other business.

PW took the opportunity to record again his thanks to the Club and,  in addition to a number of people thanked publicly at the Dinner, Paul recorded his thanks to Mike Charman (who was not present at the Dinner) for all his support over Paul’s time as Chairman both on the committee and on a personal level over the last year especially.

NR just wanted to reiterate that the last 4 years have been stunning, for inclusivity and light touch. As a result of PW’s chairmanship, Nigel believes the club has never been in a stronger or happier position. Nigel, on behalf of all members, wished PW and his family good luck in Yorkshire and thanked him again for his contribution to the Club.

JG requested a fixture in Yorkshire and echoed the on behalf of the Over 40s.

The meeting closed at 7.00pm

Signed: ………………………………………..

David Whelpton

Chairman

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