Minutes of the Annual General Meeting Held in Sarratt Village Hall
15th October 2025
Present: 30 members and the officers/committee (13).
Chair: Jennifer Haynes, who welcomed everyone
Apologies: Sandra Turner, David Turner, John Gill, Joan Horwood, Tessa Bayliss
1. Minutes of AGM 2024: Taken as read, approved and signed. Proposed: Kate Soothill and Seconded: Steven Booth
Matters Arising: None
2. Society Secretary’s Report (Sandra Turner): Once again a very good year for Sarratt Horti, when we see so many other societies either closing or not being able to fulfil all their Shows. It is down to the people of Sarratt that make it worthwhile sending out all the emails and calls to action, when you get the support in membership, uptake for outings, attendance and entries for the Shows and also the trading stalls where we share plants. The committee all have their roles which help us work together to provide the members with some great experiences. Thanks to all of them.
3. Treasurer’s Report (John B Gill): Financial Report by the Treasurer for the year ending September 30th 2025. The society showed a surplus in the year of £392 compared with the prior year deficit of £127.
Subscriptions and donations income for the year amounted to £553 which together with a small surplus from the Hampton Court trip and income from the two shows brought total Income for the Society to £1,086 compared to the prior year £1,048.
Total expenditure for the year, which included subscriptions, memberships and administration costs, amounted to £694, down on the prior year expenditure of £1,174. These costs include the costs of the 2024 AGM which fall into the current year. The prior year included the costs for the purchase of a stock of cards for the shows which will cover a number of years and so were unusually high.
With the more usual level of expenses for the year the Society showed a surplus for the year of £391.
The overall financial position remains sufficient with closing funds at September 30th 2025 amounting to £4,412, the bulk of which is retained by the HSBC bank with the remainder held in cash.
Attached is the Statement of Account for the Society for the financial year. Further information on income and expenditure is available on request.
Finally, as we have now moved from Sarratt and I have stepped down as Treasurer I would like to thank all the committee members who made my role over the last 18 or so years straightforward and I wish the society a successful and prosperous future!
Accounts proposed by Margaret Stratford and seconded by Graham Peiser
4. Show Secretary’s Report (Steven Booth) – This year we held our Spring and Autumn Shows as usual. They were both very successful Shows with many visitors from the village and a great buzz in the hall.
As a backdrop to the Shows, the weather played its part, again. The Spring Show followed a cold winter so some flowers (notably tulips) were not yet ready. But we had a good number of entries (297) from 38 entrants. This compares favourably with recent years. The Autumn Show followed a very hot and dry summer where many flowers had finished much earlier than usual. However, 34 entrants put in 223 exhibits. This is similar to the previous two years but lower than the historical average.
What is notable, is the small number of children that enter. We, as a committee, need to have a fresh look at how to engage them and all suggestions would be appreciated.
What is most encouraging is the willingness of people to help with the Shows. A Show needs judges and many people to organise the competition plus the raffle, tea/cakes, prizes etc. There are too many to thank individually but collectively, they continue to create two great events for the village. Thank you to everyone who competes and helps.
5. Membership Secretary’s Report (Audrey Hammett) –Membership remains steady at 217 members and including a few new members. Please do mention Horti to anyone you meet who is new to the village, I am always happy to drop off a membership form.
Many thanks to all the Committee members who collected subscriptions door to door in January. There will again be a box for subscriptions in the shop in January and it helps Committee greatly if members can drop their subscriptions in there (envelopes are with the box so you can provide your contact details) - we will then deliver your Schedule as soon as they are printed. Note that you only need to complete a membership form if your details have changed or you are a new member.
6. Chairman’s Report (Jennifer Haynes) – Good evening everyone. We are pleased to welcome James Parsons from Shantock Nurseries, our speaker for this evening.
We have had another busy year; we made a visit to Jazzy Rose Flowers in April courtesy of Lisa Comfort. Twelve of us left Sarratt Village Hall in the Jenks vintage bus for our short journey to Penmans Green. We did at times wonder if the poor old bus would make it but thanks to driver John Griffiths it did. Some people met us at the site, the bus takes a limited number of people. We had an enjoyable and informative afternoon with Lisa, ending with tea and cake.
In July we took 52 members by coach to Hampton Court Garden Festival. I think everyone enjoyed the outing although it was very hot day. The traffic to the venue was heavy and coming back even worse. This was the last Garden Festival to be held at Hampton Court for a while. Next year’s show will be held at Badminton House. We may arrange a garden visit next year, but we would need to fill a 50-seater coach in order to keep costs down. We do sometimes have to put it out to other local groups in order to fill the coach. It would be nice to think that 50 of our members would like to join a trip.
We also held another successful Pop-Up Plant Stall in Jane Fielder’s Garden next to the footpath near the shop. We gave the money raised to Sarratt Care.
Our Treasurer, John Gill, has relocated to Devon and we will miss him. He has been our Treasurer for 18 years. We have never had to worry about the finances as they were always in good hands. However, I am pleased to announce that David Turner has agreed to take on the role of Treasurer. Thank you David.
Ian McClelland one of our long-standing Committee members, stepped into the role of sorting the prize money out at our Autumn Show as John had already moved. We are grateful to him with assistance from Dee, sorting out the very fiddly finances. Although not a member of our Committee, Dee always steps into help at the Shows wherever we need her. Also, the ladies who help in the kitchen at the Shows. It all makes for a smooth-running Show.
As always, I would like to thank the Committee for the hard work they do at the Shows. It is such brilliant team work and you are all brilliant!
I hope the Society continues to flourish as we have recently heard that Rickmansworth Horticultural Society has had to close as they couldn’t get anyone to continue the Committee. Without the Committee we wouldn’t have the Shows.
If you would at any time like to help or have any ideas please speak with one of the Committee, or myself.
7. Election of Officers (following 2-year term) and Committee.
Vice Chairman: Kate Soothill
Proposed: Nick Mansi Seconded: Audrey Hammett
Society Secretary: Sandra Turner
Proposed: Jenny Roberts Seconded: Ian McClelland
Treasurer: David Turner
Proposed: Emma Dickins Seconded: Steven Booth
Committee elected on Block (Philip Beausire, Emma Dickins, Joan Horwood, Julie Mansi, Ian McClelland, Graham Peiser, Jenny Roberts & Cathy Vines)
New committee members – None
Agreed on block – show of hands (at least 25 in favour – probably unanimous)
8. 2026 dates
a. Spring – 28th March 2026
b. Autumn – 12th September 2026
c. AGM – 14th October 2026
9. Any Other Business
Steven Booth asked whether we had plans to spend the £4000 in the bank account. Steven Booth and Jono Holmes made comments that we probably didn’t need such a large reserve but it shouldn’t be frittered away. It was agreed that we would raise the issue at the next Committee meeting. Margaret Stratford gave thanks to the committee and all who help with the shows and other activities for all the efforts made.
The business of the AGM closed at 2020 and was followed by a talk from James Parsons from Shantock Nurseries & cheese and wine afterwards.