Dear Residents

Storth Village Hall

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thursday 25th September 2025 at 7pm

​

​

​

Present: Derek Holdsworth (Chair), Bob Blessett, (Secretary), Sue Brett, Christine Wray, Grant Ritchie, 

Lorraine Faulkner, Steve Spencer, Brian Barden, Maggie Roberts. Les Elbourne (STMRC) 

Members of the public present: None 

Apologies for absence: Chris Bell (Treasurer), Mel Speight, 

  

Minutes: The minutes of the AGM held on Thursday 26th September 2024 were approved and signed by the 

Chairman.  

 

1.Chairman’s report:2024/2025 

 

A year which has been one of spending money to upgrade the Hall, by recovering the main hall ceiling, 

redecorating and taking on the requirements of a fire safety inspection. These works will be explained in 

more detail in the Secretary’s report.  

 

The usual User groups have continued and I understand that attendance at the sessions have been stable 

and in some cases increased. Entertainers held their pantomime in March which was as popular as ever. 

We held one gig, the Swing Commanders in November. However this wasn’t well supported despite them 

being one of the top swing bands in the country. We do endeavour to book good groups but prices are 

increasing all the time and we need to make at least a profit on these events. Two Pop-up-Pubs were also 

held during the year. 

 

 

I would like to thank Chris for his ongoing work as Treasurer and for his efforts in organising the ceiling 

work and improvements to the lighting, to Bob for all his work as Secretary, especially his co-ordination 

with the fire safety inspector and follow up of the recommendations. Also his work in chasing grants for 

the recent work, a thankless task. Thanks also to Steve for his work in setting up the Village Hall website, 

it looks very professional and I’m sure will prove its worth, also his joinery work on the new front door 

lock and some of the internal doors, and his work on identifying bands. Finally thanks to all the 

Committee members, especially Sue Brett for her work as Booking Sec, Grant for organising the Pop-up-

Pubs, Lorraine for choosing colour schemes and organising the decorating, Maggie for arranging raffles 

and table decorations at the ‘gignights’. It has been a pleasure to work with the Committee during a very 

busy year and I have received a number of comments from users on how good the Hall looks. 

 

Derek Holdsworth 

 

 

 

2. Treasurer's Report: 

​

Secretary Bob reported the summary of accounts to the year ending 31st July 2025. 

 

Total receipts -        £14811.04          last year £24,467.96        

Total expenditure -       £35334.46          last year - £9,655.78           

      Total funds-     £66,287.80         last year- £86,811.22  

 

Proposed by Maggie Roberts Seconded by Steve Spencer 

 

 

3.Secretary’s report: 

​

Another year of updates and improvements. It started with new solar shutters and progressed to the new 

insulated ceiling in the main hall with integral LED lights. Designed to enhance the look of the hall and to save energy.

Chris liaised with TT ceilings to ensure that we got the maximum benefit. 

Lorraine arranged for the main hall and upstairs to be decorated.

Grants were obtained from Storth Community shop & Post office, Westmorland & Furness Council and Beetham Parish council.

Lorraine also arranged for Dan Glover to paint the downstairs areas which made the rooms lighter and more 

likely to attract hirers. 

Helen Ritchie donated three pictures to brighten up the main hall. 

An autumn newsletter was published with 550 copies circulated. 

An appeal for an electric car charging point was declined. 

Chris arranged for LED replacement lighting to comply with the fire inspection and to modernise their operation. 

Steve set up a website for the hall to promote the hall and keep the public up to date. He also arranged for 

promotional posters and a mobile phone for event booking. 

A Fire safety inspection was arranged and improvements made to comply with the latest regulations 

which we subsequently passed inspection. 

Sandra Waite was appointed as a new cleaner to replace Iryni who left the area. 

It has been a pleasure to work with the committee who are a great team who ensure that we make the 

village hall a great place to hire. 

​

Robert Blessett

 

  

4. Election of Committee: 5 Trustees*

 

a)Elected members/trustees* 

Derek Holdsworth, Bob Blessett, Chris Bell, Brian Barden,  

Maggie Roberts  

Proposed Les Knowles  Seconded  Sue Brett 

 

b)Secretary Bob invited nominations from the floor for the position of Chairman. 

 

c)     Derek Holdsworth*  Proposed  Maggie Roberts Seconded  Les Knowles 

 

No further nominations were received. 

 

d)Chairman Derek then invited nominations for a Vice Chairman 

 

Grant Ritchie  Proposed Maggie Roberts Seconded Christine Wray 

 

Bob Blessett *–         Secretary  - Proposed Brian Barden          Seconded  Maggie Roberts 

Chris Bell *                Treasurer  - Proposed Steve Spencer       Seconded Lorraine Faulkner 

 

Village Representatives 

 

Maggie Roberts* - Village Representative- 

Christine Wray - Village Representative 

 Grant Ritchie -Village Representative

Steve Spencer -Village Representative 

Proposed   Maggie Roberts En bloc 

 

 Sue Brett -Bookings Secretary   Proposed Grant Ritchie Seconded Christine Wray  

 

 

e)User group representatives: -  

 

 Proposed by Brian Barden and Seconded by Sue Brett   

  ​

Entertainers -Brian Barden*

Indoor Bowls –Les Knowles 

          Scottish Dancing –Robert Blessett* 

Storth Toy & Model Railway Club – Mel Speight 

Storth Painting group – Denise Heywood 

Our Daily Bread Ministry –Ellen Bargh  

Women’s Institute-Lorraine Faulkner  

All to continue in their current roles. 

 

 

5.0 Any other business:  

 

5.01: Maggie thanked Derek, Bob and Chris for their hard work most of which is unseen. 

5.02: Steve asked whether the minutes could be uploaded to the website. It was agreed to upload AGM 

minutes only as the monthly minutes have sensitive account information.  

5.03: Les asked about the heating controls which are NEST currently but will change to HIVE in 2026 

 

The meeting closed at 7.21pm 

​

​

​

​