RREC Boardmeeting referat – 5 juni 2017

The International Club for Rolls-Royce and Bentley Enthusiasts

MINUTES OF A RREC BOARD MEETING HELD AT THE HUNT HOUSE, PAULERSPURY ON 05.06.2017

Attendees

1/ Apologies

Antony Channing

2/ Declaration of Interest for agenda items (payment and gifts) No declaration of interest raised.

3/ Minutes of the last Board meeting held on 10 April 2017

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 April were approved and signed by the Chairman – they will now be published to the membership.

4/ Matters Arising from the Board meeting held on 10 April 2017 not otherwise referred to elsewhere on the Agenda

4a/ Continental Rally budget status (AC) JVB will request an email update from AC.

4b/ Warners contract (LR/DM)
DM has signed the contract with Warners which takes effect from 1st July 20017. Tasked with producing a paper on the events leading up to the changeover of publishers, LR announced to the Board that it is nearing completion.

RF noted this is the third meeting for which a report has been expected.

Responding to a question from IH about the status of a person believed to be working for the previous publisher, DM confirmed that a legal difficulty arose with the contract which will reduce the Club’s income; however the person concerned has been taken on by Warners to manage the Advertiser .

4c/ SJH payment schedule update (AC) No update due to absence of AC.

4d/ Statement of procedure for Directors expenses (AC) No update due to absence of AC.

4e/ Technical advice email (MS) See 9k/

The Board agreed to re-direct technical queries to the Message Board and to remove the technical and spares email addresses from the Bulletin immediately; this way members will have the benefit of receiving many more responses to a problem or question. A disclaimer must be put in place alerting users that members take full responsibility when acting on others’ advice/information.

A further suggestion was made to ask Philip Sage (Message Board Moderator) to alert MS via email if a posted query remains unanswered.

4f/ Seminar promotion proposal (MS) See 9K

MS suggested having more lecturers join the Hunt House Seminar team to support Steve Lovatt and to offer contingency should he be unavailable. Believing the current programme is perhaps a little too high level for some, MS has willing volunteers prepared to offer basic level courses. Many seminar attendees are repeat participants and AF remarked that a large number of the new generation are looking for goods of ostentation and would rather pay someone else to do the work. MS suggested giving participants material from the weekend to refer to and commented that it is good practice to find out what participants require on the first day and to tailor the lecture accordingly on the second day. IH agreed the need to broaden what is currently being offered; listen to our members and adapt accordingly.

The Board voted all in favour of removing the free seminar offer for new members and instead offering 50% off a Seminar for first time attendees to any member.

JVB suggested creating a separate basic level seminar course to run alongside the current masterclass seminar programme.

ACTION: MS will discuss with Steve Lovatt at the Annual Rally.

5/ General Manager’s Report (MAIN AGENDA ITEM)

DM referred to his lengthy and expertly detailed report and requested clear direction from today so that he can prepare a cohesive plan and prioritise for 2018. The Annual Rally has not been commented on, however this will be analysed once he has attended the event.

A number of directives were laid down for DM to work with, pending a more detailed plan for the next Board Meeting that will also be shared with the members thereafter.

6/ Identified discussion topics

6a/ IT project (DM)
DM outlined various problems with the current IT provider including the inability to pair phones with emails, servers which are 10 years old and the recent difficulties with Ailsa’s computer and its missing files.

DM put forward quotes from two different businesses that received the same brief. These companies visited the Hunt House and he asked for approval to accept the lower of the two quotes which will give the Hunt House the platform to build everything else around. The Board voted in favour for DM to accept the quote from Optimum IT.

6b/ THH Archives – Mosely Collection (DM)
Believing this collection is valuable, Amii Errington requested approval through DM for £5000 to pay for scanning of these items which are currently on loan from the BDC. Michael Bailey already spends his time scanning for the RREC and is happy to provide a quote for someone else to come in and do the work. It was asked if the need to scan was because of the fragile state of the items or the demand from members. RF wondered if the BDC hadn’t already scanned the material. ACTION: IH to check with Clive Green. Deferred pending email communication.

6c/ The Hunt House Archives – Polstore storage racking (DM)
Amii Errington gathered three separate quotes for improved racking with option ‘a’ being the preferred choice. 170 square meters at £15,100 + VAT was being asked for and the Board voted in favour of funding this purchase.

6d/ THH Archives – West Wittering and X files digitizing proposal (RF) See also 9g/

The Board voted unanimously in favour of funding this project for two years but that a proposal from the Archivist on how best to proceed will need to be drawn up

6e/ Video of HH/Club (RF) See 9g/

DM confirmed that video material will be an important part of the new web platform.

6f/ Model specific videos (RF) See 9g/

DM confirmed that video material will be an important part of the new web platform.

6g/ Tool hire service (MS)
The Board voted unanimously in favour of offering a free tool hire service for tools loaned out for 3 weeks to members; with a fee only being chargeable if returned damaged or late.

6h) Valuation officer – professional indemnity quote
DM to investigate with insurers, as a matter of urgency, what would be the best way forward in respect of very expensive vehicles.

6i/ Annual list of expenses/benefits received by Club members (RF/AC)
RF believed this will be useful as a matter of transparency to list these items for all to see. IH suggested the Finance Administrator should control this.

ACTION: AC to detail how he would see this working. 6j/ Annual Rally update (AR)

See 9c & 9e

7/ Chairman’s Report [WRITTEN REPORT] i. Board Planning Document

An update was provided of the board Planning Document.

ii. RREC/RRMC License agreement
A revised timeframe was proposed by RRMC/BMW following its revised draft of 30.05.2017

iii. Lloyds Motor Forum

• –  Approx. 20 à 25 underwriters/brokers in attendance, including one multiple classic car owner and

  a recent RREC member (modern Bentley).

• –  Presentation covered:

  1. AnewhomeforRolls-Royce
  2. ThebirthofanewcarinanewfactoryundernewCustodianship–TheRolls-Royce

  Phantom
  3. TheRREC–TheInternationalClubforRolls-Royce&BentleyEnthusiasts–Custodiansof

  the heritage
  Parts 1 and 2 courtesy of Fred Fruth and RRMC property.

  8/ Deputy Chairman’s Report [WRITTEN REPORT]
  Another trip to Scotland to join the Section’s weekend in Peebles. This was a popular event with quite a few members coming from a number of other Sections south of the border giving an opportunity to listen to their views on a variety of subjects. The Silver Ghost Rally, free entry to the Annual Rally, new General Manager, and the general enjoyment of membership were covered in numerous conversations – a pleasing contrast to some of the unpleasant views expressed on the Club website.

  David Maykels has hit the ground running and is well on the way up his steep learning curve.

  Similarly, Tracey is getting her head round the complicated financial systems/records and preparing to get to grips with the necessary improvements which appear to be necessary.

  Arrangements for covering the Club Shop are now in the process of being finalised and will include a comprehensive review of its operation. What do members expect the shop to provide – just memorabilia or technical information and a range of “interesting” books as well? How does it compare with, for instance, the range of items offered by the Swiss Section, RRMC or Bentley Motors? Should it make a “profit” for the Club or just provide a “service”, at a reasonable cost? What are your views, and those of members you have contact with?

  Have you looked, in detail, at what actually goes on in The Hunt House, talked to individual members of staff about their work, walked around the place and looked in every nook and cranny? If you haven’t then you need to so that you can see what is being provided for members and whether there are other facilities/benefits that could/should be. How does the RREC compare with other car clubs – what do they do that we do not, but maybe should do?

  In his short time here David has formed some impressions of the RREC and will be providing you with some ideas for the future. Remember that any business (i.e. something that has income and expenditure) can never stand still, it either moves forward or backwards and in my honest opinion there is a need for the RREC, and the SHRMF, to continue to move forwards together. It has much to offer people of all ages who have an interest in Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, whether they own one or not.

9/ Status report per Team

9a/ Finance inc 3y budget (AC) No report received.

9b/ General & Administration (LR) [WRITTEN REPORT]
We now have eight cars entered for the Annual Rally Auction. The wife of Grahame Holmes has agreed to include his 20/25 and Silver Spur in the sale. Ted Meachem has agreed an excellent deal on behalf of the Auctioneers with the marquee company. Allan Fogg will value the cars to determine an approx. auction price to guide the auctioneers as some vendors have a very unrealistic expectation of what their car is worth. I have sent over 200 auction posters to RR garages, restorers and classic car centres inviting cars and memorabilia. I have put a number of adverts into other car club mags, including the Bentley Drivers Club magazine. These have been very successful and half of the cars have come to us due to these adverts, including an Austin Healey. I have contacted the secretary of the Daimler Club and he has agreed to hand out flyers advertising the Auction at their Annual Rally, next weekend.

9c/ Sales & Marketing (PB)
No activities to report in view of Annual Rally preparations in my capacity as Trade Coordinator.

9d/ Membership (LR) [WRITTEN REPORT]
Lisa Alderson and I will again be in attendance at the Annual Rally, offering a special deal of £30.00 to new members with no joining fee. Jim Myson has sent details of membership incentives to all traders, advertising in the Bulletin. The junior members section remains active with younger members sending in articles and photographs of their activities. Jim Myson and I are preparing a breakdown of current membership categories such as single members, joint membership, areas of most new members and where we lose the most members and to find out why.

9e/ PR & Events (AR) [WRITTEN REPORT]

Annual Rally

Everything is on track for the Annual. A few key points:

• ·  940 cars pre-booked (2016 figure was 691)

• ·  Evening Reception at Burghley House is SOLD OUT (300 tickets sold)

• ·  Sunday Lunch – 232 tickets sold

• ·  Gala Dinner – 203 tickets sold

  Final passes posted 2 June 2017.
  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – this is now in doubt as the Lancaster is not ready.

  A company has been hired to film the event on Saturday and Sunday both on the ground and with a drone.

  PB commented that she has an auction proposal for 2018. PB is also working with Gerard Le Clerc on his proposed Earls Court 1948 car display. After the annual PB will be contacting UK car clubs to locate cars of this era.

  Round Britain Tour

  Final preparations are being made. Amii and Ailsa will be preparing the rally bags ready for our departure to Oatlands Park on Tuesday morning.

As the Hubbards have pulled out, THH team has stepped in to provide event support to Andy Courtney. Ailsa will follow the tour from Surrey to North Wales, Lisa will then pick up the tour in the Lake District and carry on to Edinburgh, where she will be met by Barry who will take over from there. This plan was hatched in a matter of hours and Ailsa really can’t thank the HH team enough for all of their support with everything.

Obviously this means that Ailsa now only has 4 days in the office between now and leaving for Burghley House on 16 June, but Ailsa would like to reiterate to the Board that the Annual Rally main administration is now complete, and that she is able to keep up to speed with everything whilst away as she will have her laptop with her. With careful planning and support from THH team Ailsa`s deployment to the RBT at such short notice should not have an effect on the Annual Rally.

Garden Party

Responses are coming in daily.

60 Miles for 60 Years

Forms are steadily arriving at The Hunt House. Unfortunately the accompanying article explaining the event/initiative was omitted from the Bulletin in which the form appeared, so Ailsa is concerned that some may not know what it is about and simply discard the form. Ailsa would like to ask that a re-run of the form be sent with the next Bulletin and that the article definitely appears.

NEC Classic Motor Show 2017

We have just had confirmation that we have been given a stand at this year’s show. Planning will start in August.

[COMMENTS]

RF said that despite the hard work of the auction team, market changes have dramatically reduced the auction from 75 cars four years ago. In view of the changes in the classic car auction market, we should redirect our efforts and space to car-related skills, demonstrations, workshops, and non- car-related activities for guests.

9f/ Publications (LR) [WRITTEN REPORT] See 4b/

9g/ Sections (RF) [WRITTEN REPORT]

Sections

Following discussions with Section representatives at the Club conference, RF is working on notes for new Section committee members, to help them understand their role.

Finance

RF proposed an annual list of all expenses/benefits received by Club members.

Archives

Digitising and making searchable the West Wittering and Experimental files Proposed by RF, supported by AF for the financial years 2017/18 and 2018/19 Cost: approximately £22k for each of two years, including upgrading the storage material. These files contain important yet unorganised development information from the early days of Rolls-Royce, with many letters between Royce and staff, including hand-written notes by Royce. The amount of material makes it difficult to use in its current form. The files are stored in acidic (non-archival) boxes. To scan and tag the files will take from one to two years. Fitting this into the current scanning would extend by many years. Until the entire archive is scanned, each part is of minimal use. Following advice from the Archivist, it is proposed to take on a temporary scanning assistant, and to replace the acidic and metal storage boxes with archival material.

Proposal: Video each major model of Club car. RF proposes the GM investigate the pricing and practicalities of creating a series of professionally-produced Club videos. One car model per video, with a detailed introduction to the model, looking at the basic features of the car and known issues, basic mechanical advice, and including driving instruction and footage. The video to be put on the Club website, and available by DVD, with a short preview for prospective members on the public side of the website.

Proposal: New Club video. RF proposes the GM look into the costings and practicalities of a new Club DVD, incorporating the Annual Rally video footage already arranged; the RBT; a brief look at a seminar; a detailed tour of Hunt House; and discussion with a Foundation representative. The video should be on the Club website, and available by DVD, with a short preview available to prospective members on the public side of the website.

9h/International Liaison (AR) [WRITTEN REPORT]

Danish Section AGM

There were 3 Board Members standing for re-election and 4 candidates so a ballot in writing was quickly organised. A Board Member who had been on the Board for 9 years was not re-elected and Mr. Hans Bukkehave was elected as new Member of the Board.

Spring Rally Danish Section (West Jutland)

A very well organized rally was held 25 – 27 May at the Manor of Nørre Vosborg in western Jutland. 41 cars attended with participation from Norway, Sweden and Germany. There were visits to a Military base and an aviation museum and airbase with an impressive airshow to finalize the visit. The entertainment during the Gala Dinner was made with contributions in all languages of the participants which was very well received. Next year the Spring Rally will take place in the southern part of Funen and on the island Ærø close by.

9i/ Registers (AC) No report received.

9j/ SHRMF & Archives (AF) [WRITTEN REPORT]
The Foundation Board last met on Wednesday May 17 and RREC was represented by Deputy Chairman, Ian Hick, and Director Allan Fogg.

Financially, matters seem to be satisfactory, and a professional valuation of the Hunt House property has been undertaken. The relevant finance people in the Club and the Foundation are in contact with each other.

Various property maintenance aspects are under consideration including possible options to improve surface water drainage to the car park, and some window replacement. Arrangements are in hand to service the Argon Gas (fire protection) cylinders.

The individual charged with the theft of various items from the premises has now pleaded guilty and will appear in court for sentencing in early June.

The initiative to achieve accreditation as a museum continues to be progressed.

It is also proposed that an engine on exhibit is exchanged with a Club member – facilitating the display of an appropriately prepared engine and the recommissioning of an early Royce.

A number of lectures/addresses are being programmed including an address on the BRM V16 – October 17.
I have recently received a very interesting communication from Fellow Director – Richard Fenner – proposing the digitising and making searchable the West Wittering and X Files – which I thoroughly support.

As an overview, it seems that the working relationship between the RREC and its charitable creation, the SHRMF, is greatly improved in recent years.

9k/ Technical Support & Tool Hire – incl.Technical advice helpline (MS) [WRITTEN REPORT] I have been in touch with Steve Lovatt, Martin Carnell and Eric Healey to find out the current position of seminars and tools. See addendum of Eric Healey.

Eric has kindly produced an update on tools which is available as an addendum to these minutes. Tool

Steve is in favour of offering a 50% discount promotion for the first seminar for new members rather than a free day (which is more likely to result in ‘no shows’). I agree with Steve, it still represents a free day if a weekend seminar is chosen.

I have spent some time on the Message Board, including the technical discussions. These seem to work OK but could be sorted and presented a lot better on Section lines rather than just prewar, postwar and general in the new website and promoted as a technical help service between all members. Staffing a technical advice help line would not be practical.

Once we have the new dynamic Bulletin running along the lines of the new vision document, we could have a regular technical column. I have been doing this for the Northern section Bulletin for a couple of years and has proved popular.

10/ List of intermediate Board decisions

10a/ Email 15.05.2017.
Approval of a jointly funded Hunt House Archive budget of £5k RREC and £5k SHRMF for the period of Jan-Dec by 10.05.2017. This comes on top of the dedicated £50k scanning budget of which presently £45k has been used. This budget will be managed by the Archivist under the GM’s authority.

10b/ Email 15.05.2017.
Approval of the assumption that all items for which ownership has NOT been established via the Hunt House Property Book are deemed to be SHRMF property.

11/ Miscellaneous

IH noted that the Hunt House open day is being advertised at £10 despite it being agreed it should be a free event last year. Those that have already paid will receive re-imbursement.

Hire should be free to members subject to a hotel style card deposit and document clearly

stating borrower is responsible for timely return and for any damage or loss. Starting this service

ASAP should be a priority.

Sir Henry Royce’s Cooke Street office chair, which is currently on loan to the SHRMF, is now being offered for sale due to the loanee’s passing. If it isn’t donated would the RREC be prepared to give a donation to the SHRMF so they can buy it? The Board voted yes in principle depending on the value.

The Chairman is now unavailable for the Board meeting 30 August. Diaries will be consulted and a new date confirmed via email.

RF queried the delayed quarterly accounts and asked if the new Financial Administrator could be involved in that procedure. DM replied stating monthly management accounts would be issued after July.

RF stressed that Board Directors have an obligation to vote on matters the Chairman requests. Recently only 4 out of 9 voted on an issue. Queries from Board, staff, and volunteers need to be answered promptly, so everyone understands their responsibilities and is supported in their activities. .

12/ Next Board Meeting Dates

•   Wednesday 30 August (Q3 (July) accounts) – revision requested

•   Monday 4 December (Q4 (Dec) accounts)

  Lisa ALDERSON Minuting Secretary

  Note: These Minutes remain draft only until approved by the Board at their next meeting. When approved, these Minutes will be authenticated by the Chairman’s signature below.

  Authenticated as true record of proceedings:

  Johan VANDEN BERGH Chairman

  Distribution:

  Board of Directors
  General Manager
  Section and Register Secretaries The Hunt House Staff

  9k\ Tool Hire by Eric Healey– ADDENDUM

In June 2016 I was asked by Chris Ball if I would see if I could put the Club’s Tools Store into a useable condition. At this point the tools were stored in the Engine Classroom; they were rather haphazardly contained in original RR wooden stores boxes on some racks and in cupboards which had seen better days.

It was decided that the store would be better located in the basement being a more secure area and freeing up Classroom space. An area in the basement adjacent to the lift was cleared to accept the tools.

With the indispensable help of Mick Martin, I first moved all the boxes containing the tools followed by the cupboards and racks which were set up in the recess by the lift. I added to these a run of my racks for which I had no further use. It was envisaged that once the tools had been identified and listed, the area would be made secure in order that only authorised persons could have access. It was felt that this was necessary because a number of tools were known to have gone missing and it was suspected that others had also disappeared. This storage has proved to be insufficient to house the tools so they can be readily accessed.

I have talked this over with Chris Ball and we think that we have an ideal solution.

There are rolling racks in the Baines wing which will be surplus to requirements in that area when new racking is installed. Chris has said that he will get the suppliers of the new racking to quote for the dismantling of the racking and its reinstallation in the basement. This has three benefits. The first is it should provide enough space to house that which we already have with perhaps a little in reserve for future additions. It will make better use of the limited floor space available. The second is that, when rolled closed and locked, it will provide a very secure environment for the tools. Last, but perhaps not least, it will have a much more professional appearance in line with the Club’s image, particularly if the rest of the basement is to be used as an archive and display area with the possibility of outside visitors. The existing racks do the job but are not very good visually.

I must be careful what I say and I do not want to disparage the efforts already made by volunteer members to bring some kind of order to the Store, but it has to be said that their efforts have turned out to be virtually useless and there was no semblance of the tools being put into a useable system. I was asked by one member how the tool hire scheme could have made a loss last year. I am by no means sure, but I strongly suspect that the travel and accommodation expenses paid for earlier attempts to bring the store to order were the reason.

When I first took on the task of re-organisation, after an initial inspection of the tools which were stored in the Engine Classroom, I thought that it would not be too onerous a task. It appeared that most tools had been identified and marked with tie on labels. I was wrong, at least about the magnitude of the task, but although lengthy, it has proved to be an interesting and informative process.

However; when the work properly commenced, the first thing found was that many of the labels had become detached from the piece they were supposed to identify. This is not too surprising given that the tools had just been thrown haphazardly into the boxes and the labels were very flimsy.

The next thing was that many of the labels did nothing to precisely identify the tool and/or its application. For example an extractor/puller might just be labelled ‘two jaw puller ‘which was stating the blindingly obvious but did nothing to identify its application and the model.

In addition, because it would appear that there had been a lack of knowledge about the RR numbering system, many of the tools carrying a label with a number were in fact incorrectly identified. This is to some extent understandable since, where the tool number had been stamped onto it, the lettering was, in many instances, obscured and difficult to read. For example a ‘K’ might be read as an ‘R’ and vice versa. Some knowledge of the system would give an indication of both the correct number and in some cases the model.

At present I have made 21 journeys to the Hunt House and have averaged around 6 hours per visit. I was able initially to identify, box, mark and shelve around 40 items each session but, as identifying has become more difficult, I now think that if I manage to shelve between ten and fifteen tools I have done well. The cost to date has been in the region of £700 for my travel expenses plus the cost of the boxes supplied by Chris Ball, which price I do not have although I do know that some at least were provided F.O.C.

At home I have spent many hours searching all my literature and other information to identify as many RR&B tools as I can and my list at present runs to about 1200 individual numbers. I know there are more to discover. These include both the specialist workshop tools as well as those issued with the chassis. These I have entered onto an Excel spread sheet using the column formats: Part number: Alternative part numbers: Tool description and application: Quantity: Location: Value and additional information. The value I have determined either by finding tools for sale, both new and used, on the web or by making an intelligent estimate.

At this time I have been successful in identifying a good many descriptions and/or applications but there is still some way to go. Although I have a fairly wide based knowledge of specialist tools I have had to rely in some cases on descriptions applied by others. Whilst I have tried to ensure that the information is accurate I cannot guarantee this in all instances.

The Club tools I have managed to shelve so far have been entered onto the spread sheet. Many have all the information but some have only limited data. Where I have found a tool stamped with an application but have not hitherto been able to establish the RR number I have allocated it a temporary RREC number in order that it might possibly be found from its description.

The present position regarding locating a specific tool is that ideally a tool number should be given. If that is not known then an application may suffice together with a model name. If any of this is put into a search on the spread sheet it should throw up the required item, assuming, of course, that it has been shelved.

There have been issues with some of the part numbers with conflicting information being given in different sources including some of the Company stuff. For example RE213 has differing identities. RE213 1617/T1007 is listed in one source as a castellated spanner whilst RE213 1617/F1005 is listed as a mandrel. Thus RE213 as a sole identification is insufficient.

Just a few members have been helpful with identification and I am particularly grateful to my colleagues in the RRBSA who spent some time with me in the store when they last attended a Council meeting at the Hunt House. They were able to identify several tools.

It is my intention to put a small article into the Bulletin to let members know that we can now help some of them and also to put out an appeal for any information they can provide.

Some members have been put in touch with me about tools and I have had some limited success with helping them.

According to the spread sheet I have shelved around 700 tools. This is not 700 different tool numbers as some have had more than one unit. (Up to 8 in some instances).

There are perhaps a further four to five hundred tools yet to be shelved. Of these there are around 150 perhaps to which I have pinned some form of identity to but these need more work.

I am convinced that a significant number of the remaining tools are not RR or B. There are for instance some marked ‘Sunbeam’ which in itself may be a clue.

I have been asked when I expect to finish the work. The short answer is I don’t know.

I am presently enlisting the aid of Sharron Bland in ‘records’ who is looking to see if we have drawings for some part numbers I have given her. This will help me identify some of the tools by providing dimensions. I have found ‘pretty pictures’ with an application, but these are little help without dimensions. One castellated or serrated spanner tends to look much like the next! My aim is to just keep chipping away at what remains until I feel I can do no more.

I have used most of the original RR boxes to house the tools and in addition Chris has supplied a variety of sturdy cardboard boxes to house other tools. With hindsight I think it is better to use the cardboard boxes as they are strong enough for the job, are more manageable and have reduced weight for carriage purposes. When the identification process is complete, I would like to put the tools in the wooden boxes into cardboard ones with appropriate approval of course.

I hope that I will be able to have a useable list by the end of the summer but will be quite happy to continue to look into members requests meantime.

I have been asked about receiving help with the task. I would prefer to be left alone to get on with the job. More than one person could mean duplicated effort and may even set back some progress made by another. The main thing is that we get the ‘new’ racking in place as soon as possible and I know Chris will do his best to facilitate this. When this is done we will have a place for everything and everything in its place with the identified tools.

I would comment that a significant number of the tools are damaged and have been abused. This may have some bearing on their suitability for the task in hand. Some are also ‘homemade’ and whilst they may do the job are not best suited and with the damaged ones may have health and safety implications.

I have been told that it has been mooted that, because the Club is in a relatively strong financial position, the ‘tool hire’ may be replaced by a ‘tool loan’ system, with members paying only for the carriage costs. I may be speaking out of turn here but I do not think this is wise. If a member has to pay a modest fee for the use of the tool then that places a value on it and the income could be used to extend the range of tools or replace those that have been abused or are just worn out. In any event a sensible, returnable deposit should be taken to ensure the return of the tools. If this is all done by credit/debit card then administration costs will be minimal. The tool scheme benefits a comparatively small number of members and they are mainly of the pre-war fraternity. Schemes which benefit a larger proportion of members are a better proposition. I hope that what has been achieved so far meets your approval and that we can progress the renewal of the storage racking as previously described.