2013 AGM - Wimborne in Bloom Appoints New Chairman

A new Chairman was appointed...Mr. Richard Nunn and the Picture attached shows Anthony Oliver (left) handing over to Richard Nunn.

On a rather wet and miserable evening Wimborne in Bloom held it's Annual Meeting on Monday (28th January). Anthony Oliver, Chairman welcomed 34 people to the Town Hall and thanked all for their efforts last year. Results have already been well documented with the highlight of the year being the Gold Medal Award and the winning of the National Small Town Title in the Britain in Bloom Competition for the first time in our 20 year history. In the Regional Competition the Town was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal.

Richard Nunn, Treasurer reported on a successful fundraising year with a gross income of a little over £18,000. However with expenses in excess of £19,000 we had to draw on our Reserves. Many of our fundraising events are weather dependent and this particularly was the situation with the Open Gardens Day which raised just over £2,000 half the amount of the previous year. In addition if it was not for the support of Barclays Bank through their Matched Fundraising Scheme we would have had an even greater deficit.

Mr. Oliver reminded the meeting that his report was the last as Chairman of the Committee having announced last July that after twenty years he felt it was time to take more of a back seat. He thanked everyone for all the help and support which he had been given since Wimborne in Bloom's inception in November 1992.

Richard Nunn, Treasurer was elected as the new Chairman. One new committee member was also appointed, Sue Bullen and Anthony Oliver was also persuaded to remain as a member of the committee. The remaining members were re-elected with the exception of Michael Stevens and Pauline Collins who had resigned in October on moving away from the area.

Richard Nunn speaking after his election said, "Firstly I must convey the very sincere thanks of the current committee members, and their predecessors, to Anthony for his unwavering leadership and both Anthony and Christine for their sheer hard work over the last twenty years. Taking Wimborne in Bloom from it's inception, through an illustrious two decades, to the ultimate achievement of a national RHS Britain in Bloom title is quite remarkable. What an example - and an almost impossibly hard act for anyone to follow!"

On that score I'd like to 'thank' the Committee for their support in proposing me as Chairman, especially when I was quite happy as Treasurer! I find the task quite daunting but would like to assure you that I will do my best to ensure the aims of Wimborne in Bloom continue to be met. I'm also sure that Anthony's knowledge, experience and contacts will be regularly called upon!

Changes in the roles of Committee members and the Officers are obviously necessary and these will be agreed at the next Committee Meeting which will be held in two weeks time.

Going forward it will be business as usual for Wimborne in Bloom and we will all be working hard to maintain the standard achieved in 2012 and in this respect we are very dependent on our members and supporters for whose efforts a final thank you. Please continue to support our events and money-raising efforts in 2013 and future years".

Mr. Nunn outlined the years programme and particularly appealed for those who might be willing to open their gardens on our Open Gardens Day, Sunday 23rd June to get in touch.

Offers of help and any enquires to:
Richard Nunn (01202 888793)