Downing 2010 cover opt b_Layout 1 - Downing College - University ...

DOWNING COLLEGE ASSOCIATIONA SSOCIATION N EWSThe 82nd Annual General Meeting was held in the Howard Building onSaturday 26th September 2009. With about fifty members present thePresident, Bill Tudor John, reported on another successful year for theAssociation with good merchandise sales continuing to bolster the StudentSupport Fund. He emphasised his enjoyment of his year of office, and stressedhis thanks to Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members. Peter Thomsonand Frank Weiss gave their reports on finance and merchandise followed by anaddress by the Bursar, Susan Lintott. She noted the strong position of theAssociation, whereas it had been a difficult financial year for the College.Conference business had been adversely affected by the refurbishmentprogramme, and the portfolio had sustained a significant loss. The HowardTheatre, nearly ready and boasting a remarkable interior (see the front cover ofthis issue), would be fundamental to financial recovery, and better results wereexpected from the very competitive conference business. The fund manager hadbeen changed and the investment committee reinforced. Bed and Breakfastbusiness would be promoted through the “Cambridge Rooms” website, and itwas hoped that alumni would take advantage of that. Lower buildingexpenditure would now be possible, with restoration of V staircase finished andthe completion of the boathouse causeway.The Secretary, John Hicks, advised that at the Annual Dinner there wouldbe about 165 diners (with the Hall thus being almost at full capacity), of whomabout 60 members would be on their own and the rest with spouses or partners.The President then formally conducted the elections, with Peter Thomsonsucceeding him in that office, Gwyn Bevan (1948) becoming President-elect,John Hicks and Norman Berger remaining Secretary and Treasurer, and NevilleTait (1962) and Leo Judd (1965) joining the Executive Committee, the lattersucceeding David Parr who had resigned. Barrie Hunt (1966) became anAssistant Secretary, and David Blackadder and Martin Mays remained Auditors.Roy Farmer, Julian Childs and Holly Hedgeland had been co-opted onto theExecutive Committee to continue their roles in communications,merchandising and publicity.Finally the President reported that, in the light of several requests to be givenearlier notification of Alumni Weekend events before decisions had to be madeon University events, Tariq Sadiq had agreed to attempt this, though the needto get commitments from speakers would present a problem.Members then enjoyed a superb dinner in the extremely impressive restoredHall, hearing from the Master about the College’s achievements in the past year,applauding the awards of the Association Prize to four students for best Firstsin College in their final year, and appreciating the President’s recollections of10