2009 AGM Report

Beautiful evening sunshine formed the backcloth to the Annual General Meeting of Friends of Queen's Pier in Ramsey Town Hall last Thursday evening. Around 50 members attended to hear the committee give a progress report on the past years campaign to have their National Icon re-opened.

Secretary Mary Simpkiss gave a resume of her years work and thanked all those who sent in suggestions for the operation of the Queen's Pier when re-opened. Several very practical suggestions had been received and forwarded to the Steering Group currently appointed by Tynwald to progress the restoration.

In his own report Chairman Fred Hodgson explained how the Friend's persistent pressure over the years had eventually got the Pier's Restoration back onto the Political Agenda leading to the Council of Ministers approving their Working Groups report and placing their own recommendations before Tynwald. The Debate took place on 20th January and, after an interesting positive discussion, the Council of Minister's recommendations were passed unanimously. A steering group was charged with progressing the matter and reporting back to Tynwald no later than November 2009. The Friend's Committee are maintaining a watching brief in order to ensure that the timescale is complied with.

For purely Administrative purposes to benefit from changes to the law four Amendments to the Friend's Constitution were carried without dissent.
Treasurer Jamie Stokoe gave a breakdown of the last three years financial accounts which were duly adopted.

The existing Committee were re-appointed to serve for a further term with Gail Corrin and Paul Kinnin as being elected as new members.

In summing up the evening's formal business the Chairman personally thanked his hard working committee for their continued efforts and extended his thanks to the Town's two hardworking MHKs and the Island's Media for their unstinting support of the Campaign.