A hybrid AGM

For various reasons quite a few of our key members found it difficult to come to Wesley Memorial Church for out Annual General Meeting, however we were able to run it as a hybrid meeting.

Tom, our Chair conducted the meeting, as we accepted the minutes of the last meeting, and elected a new committee from the nominations which had been submitted earlier. His review of the year reminded us of all the good times we have had together.

We postponed a decision on the Roy Lewis Award, the recipient of which will be decided by the committee, rather than the full meeting.

We accepted an updated Safeguarding Policy, and are grateful to Mary for her Safeguarding expertise in creating it to fit our needs. We will schedule Safeguarding training into our next programme.

The Treasurers report showed that, although we have sufficient reserves, we are running at a deficit, and we discussed fundraising options.

Although not the most exciting of Club Nights, it is an opportunity for the whole membership to see the more administrative side of the way the club works, and to provide ideas on where we should be going.

We look forward to what next year will bring.

Normal Club, plans and politics

With summer events, particularly Parallel Windsor and our holiday at Avon Tyrrell fast approaching, a lot of planning was needed, and Mary was very busy sorting out the details for these forthcoming events.

We will also be performing a signed song at at PhabFest, and Helen taught us the British Sign Language signs we needed for this.

For those of us with an interest in politics, such as Tom, who is not only interested by knowledgeable – there was plenty to discuss. Oxford Phab is a place where people can hold a wide range of beliefs and still listen to each other and discuss our opinions in a (fairly) civil manner – even if they are wrong!

Looking forward to Spring and Summer

Having had a break for Easter we had plenty to talk about, but the main focus of the evening was looking forward to the events of the Spring and Summer.

Particular highlights of the Summer will be our return to Avon Tyrrell for another holiday there, and PhabFest at Parallel Windsor , where we hope to meet up with friends from other clubs, and also arrange to be sponsored as individuals or groups as a fundraising activity.

We are also looking forward to our trip to see 42 Balloons, at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. This musical by Jack Godfrey is based on the story of Larry Walters, who really did use a cluster of weather balloons to fly high into the air in a lawnchair. The musical has received very positive reviews, and an article on the BBC website. This is particularly exciting news for us as although 42 Balloons is performed by a very talented professional cast Phab members have appeared in some of Jack Godfrey’s earlier musicals, including Amazing Love.

Easter Bingo

Once again members were very generous in the prizes they brought to our Easter Bingo – the beautifully wrapped mugs with cute teddies and bunnies made by Tom’s mum were particularly admired and eagerly sought as prizes.

As we usually do, we play a rule that people who have already won a big prize pick a small prize if/when they win again and we play until all the prizes have been won, so nobody goes home empty handed (unless they ate their prizes on the night!)

Tom did out bingo calling, with assistance from Libby, who informed us of notable events from the twentieth century which the number which had been called, such as 14 – 1914 – Start of the First World War.

Eyes Down for a First Line

Church Party and Barn Dance

Wesley Memorial Church invited Oxford Phab to join their Church Party with Ploughman’s supper and Barn Dance.

Some Phab members arrived early, and helped set up the Hall and John Wesley Room, lay tables, cut bread and cheese, prepare drinks, put out snacks and the multitude of other tasked needed for such an event, with over 80 attendees to be a success.

There was an urban railway based quiz before the supper, with pictures of trains, trams and buses from all over the world, and city transport maps all round the walls of the John Wesley Room. These gave an alternative activity, and conversation point, though many people were content to sit and chat.

The Ploughmans supper had not only a variety of breads and cheeses, salads and chutneys but also some delicious home made hummus. Following this were a wide selection of contributed deserts, from chocolate cake to crumbles.

The evening was rounded off by a series of Barn Dances, organised by Derek, our experienced and patient caller.

Some Phab members were among the kind people who stayed on to clear up and set the rooms straight for the following day.

Looking forward to 2024

Our first chance to meet after Christmas having been delayed by floods, we were glad to catch up. We also eagerly anticipated an exciting programme for 2024, including not only a return to Avon Tyrrell in July but a Phab Fun weekend in Bournemouth in November. Although this may seem a long way ahead places are limited, so member should book, through the club, as soon as possible. There is a regular payments plan available to spread the cost.

Filling in forms and diaries for the upcoming events

Wesley Memorial Candlelit Carols

After the high energy excitement of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie‘, some of us moved to the more tranquil setting of Wesley Memorial Church, were we listened to and participated in a mixture of tradition and modern Christmas Carols.

It has been a difficult year for many, so it was good to have the last opportunity of 2023 for Phab member to gather together as a time of uplifting music and words of hope.