This has been my first year as Chairman of the UTRNTA and so this is my first annual report, and I really want to report just what a good year it has been.
When Covid hit in 2020, we, like every other similar organisation, really struggled to keep our heads above water. Initially, of course, we weren’t able to meet at all in person, and though well organised online talks kept us in contact it wasn’t at all clear just how we would emerge as restrictions were slowly eased. I think those questions and uncertainties have been finally answered this year.
A series of quite excellent talks through the winter months (and our very grateful thanks to Penny, and others, for organising those), saw numbers almost explode, so that extra chairs being retrieved from storage cupboards became a more/less regular feature at meetings. All the talks were good, but, for me I think the highlight was probably Sjoerd Vogt talking about Tolkien and the Farringdon Folly Tower.
The same can be said of our summer day trips where far from the half-empty coaches of recent times, coaches have been filled and some trips have had a waiting list after selling out! A very special thank-you to Stella, who has now stepped down after several years organising our trips. I’ve not managed all of them by some mark, but I did particularly love the very local trip to Coleshill.
And when I speak of trips, mention must be made of our very happy holiday to Pembrokeshire when 27 of us had a lovely five days in the care of the remarkable, and wholly reliable coach-driver Phil, visiting Dinefwr – house, parkland and castle, then St David’s, Tenby and Calder Island (some of us), as well as interesting stops on both outward and homeward journeys. Next year’s holiday details are now (/ will soon be) available. The treasures of rural Suffolk (including the famous Sutton Hoo) beckon, so do get your booking in early because I sense this too might well sell out!
In addition to winter talks and summer trips we have held coffee mornings (next one on Tuesday week at Chiseldon Three Trees Farm Shop and café), a summer picnic, a New Year lunch at Blunsdon House Hotel (booked again for 5 February next year), and Christmas Afternoon Tea at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel (and we’re doing that again too – in just over three weeks time).
As very much the ‘new boy’ on the committee this year I would like to thank all the other committee members, and most especially our secretary, Derrick Beer, for all the help and guidance they have given me as I’ve tried to find my feet over this year. But at the end of it, I feel I can confidently announce that we are well and truly back, and we can look forward to next year with considerable optimism.
John Taylor
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