With almost fifty senior members in attendance the AGM proceeded with outgoing Captain Phil Thompson’s chosen charity for his year of office, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, receiving a cheque for £4,242.78.

Situated at Henstridge Airfield on the Somerset and Dorset border, their newly commissioned Augusta Westland 169 helicopter can be at any point in the two counties in less than twenty minutes. D&S Air Ambulance is a registered charity and receive no direct funding from government or the National Lottery. With almost 900 missions flown from April 2016 to March 2017 and operational costs of more than £2.5 million a year, the generosity of the public is critical to the sustainability of this life saving service.

With the previous three Wednesdays washed out by horrendous weather conditions, new Seniors’ Captain Ray Guthrie’s first mission is to pray for better weather!

The new Seniors’ section Committee is as follows: Seniors’ Captain, Ray Guthrie (chosen charity Children’s Hospice South West). Vice Captain, Rick Clark. Treasurer, Ian Clement. Secretary, Mike Hedges. Senior Events, Ray Vickers. Competitions, Phil Thompson. Fixtures, David Elliott. Handicaps, Roger Stone. Press and Media, Rob Thain. I.T. and Website, Alan Skivington.

Jon Cowgill