Hon Sec Report 2005 AGM

CENTURIONS 1911 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 19th. FEBRUARY 2005
Hon. Secretary’s Report

It is my privilege as the Honorary Secretary of the Centurions 1911 to present my report at the 2005 Annual General Meeting. Your Committee has met on two occasions, 21 May and 14 October, since lasts year’s AGM on 21 February 2004. The Long Distance Championship was held at Colchester on 21-22 August 2004 where quite a number of Centurions either participated, officiated or assisted during the race. It was a good occasion, and was notable for the number of new Centurions. This is very encouraging but there is an underlying problem which will be discussed during this meeting, and this involves the future of long distance walking in the UK. It is increasingly difficult to find traffic free venues, and there is a corresponding reluctance on the part of Clubs to offer to organise such events. It has been a traditional role of the Centurions to promote and encourage Clubs to host the 100 miles (or more) in 24 hours races but not to organise them. It takes considerable time, effort, co-ordination and stamina to organise a race and the time has arguably come when the Centurions should seriously consider whether they should not just promote but organise such races. This will be the subject for later discussion under Item 13 on today’s Agenda.

The Centurions new President, Carl Lawton, (dubbed the UK’s most prolific walker in last years rankings) has been active and supportive throughout the year, and our new Captain, Charlie Weston, despite living in Ireland, gives unstintingly support to Centurions. We look forward to their ideas and vision how the Centurions should develop over the next few years, and certainly their thoughts how we should celebrate the 100th. Anniversary of the Centurions in 2011. This is also an Agenda item, as we must now start to make preparations for this notable landmark.

Although Sandra and Richard Brown are unable to be with us today, they have worked hard to increase the sales of Centurions merchandise. I included a merchandise advertisement to the bundle of papers circulated before Christmas with the Captain’s and President’s respective letters and this seems to have borne fruit, as sales have been increasing at a good rate. We have merchandise on sale here, and please place orders with Kathy Crilley who will forward them to Sandra. We have received a number of very generous donations from Centurions and these are gratefully received, and each donor receives a letter expressing our collective thanks.

I would like to express my thanks to Piet Jansens C.389 and the Committee of the Dutch Centurions for their great interest and support in our activities; equally, the work done by Tim Erickson C.13 in Australia. Their respective newsletters are informative and very good reference documents. The time has arguably come when Centurions should begin to use their experience and strength of numbers to persuade people towards active participation of long distance events; there has been talk within Committee of forming a National Advisory Board, and re-introducing the 100 kms championships. This requires dialogue with the RWA.
I thank the Committee and all Centurions for their support. C. Flint C.849 Hon. Sect.