Last Call for the Guild
AGM Weekend
Secretary writes:
The Guild AGM weekend will be held at Highgate House
Northampton between the 29th and 31st January 2016. All members and associate
members are invited. An application form to book your accommodation
requirements is attached.
The Guild AGM will be held on the afternoon of Saturday 30th
and formal notification of this will follow.
The final details of the programme for the weekend are in
the process of being prepared and will be put up on the website in due course.
However one element will be a Naseby battlefield walk which will be held on the
afternoon of Friday 29th. It would be useful if members interested in
participating in this would indicate that on the application form at this
stage.
Payment for the weekend can be made by cheque (made payable
to the Guild of Battlefield Guides) or bank transfer (if using this method
please let me know when you have paid and reference the payment so that I can
identify it). Payment must be made before 31st December 201
Places are virtually filled up and there are now very few
rooms left. If you want to attend please let me know asap.
To date the members and associate members attending are as
follows:
Graeme Cooper
R Barnes
Chris Finn
Anthony Rich
John Pratt
Carlo Larosa
Vivienne Whelpton
Paul Oldfield
Terry Webb
Ian Langworthy
Allan Wood
Gary Edwards
Mike Mizen
David Harvey
John Cotterill
Tony Smith
Mike Peters
Simon Worrall
Emma White
Mike Scott
Brian Shaw
Dudley Giles
Tim Stoneman
Tony Coutts Britton
Lord Faulkner
Wybo Boersma
Willem Kleijn
Duncan Barnes
Chris Preston
Andrew Thomson
Duncan Cook
Julian Whippy
Clive Harris
Kathleen Neagle
Ian Gumm
Glenn Hearnden
Bert Eikelenboom
Joel Stoppels
Julian Humphries
Dennis Weatherall
John Hamill
Rob Deere
Edwin Popkin
Jip Meijer
Paul Kersey
Jo Hook
Mike Shiel
Bob Darby
John Greenacre
Anthony Scott
Tim Saunders
Tom Dormer
Gary Weight
Michael Jackson
Chris Scott
Pamela Golding
Andy Johnson
James Porter
Jim White
Roger Lye
Phillipe Maree
Belgian Tourist board
Belgian Tourist board
Stuart Kinloch
Vern Littley
Bruce Littley
Gordon Hill
Bob Brunsdon
Alison Hine
Simon Bendry
Francois Wicart
Margaret Pearson
Rob Webb
Robert Hina
Sue King
John Marr
Ewan Carmichael
John Harris
Carl Hellicar
John Marr
Paul Stevenson
Christopher Newbould
Steve Cocks
Susan Cocks
Keith Bowen
Frank Baldwin
John Richardson
Gary Sheffield
Please double check that you are on this list if you
think you are coming! If you should be on it but are not please let me know
asap.
AGM 2015 - Call for Member
and Associate Members Resolutions
Secretary writes:
The Council is currently requesting members and associate
members resolutions which they would like to put before the AGM. Any current
member or associate member can forward a resolution, details of which need to
be emailed to Tony Smith, Guild Secretary at secretary@gbg-international.co.uk.
Resolutions should be sent to the Secretary by the 18th December 2015 in order
to comply with the requirements of the Constitution for giving notice of the
AGM.
All resolutions must be detailed in the email and due to the
nature of voting will need to have a clear ‘For or ‘Against’ outcome. The
formal notice of the AGM, the list of resolutions and proxy forms will then be
published and forwarded by e-mail to all members and associate members at which
point the resolutions will be opened up to proxy voting with a deadline for
receiving these of the 23rd January 2016.
All members and associate members will be eligible to attend
the AGM and will have the opportunity to vote on any of the motions in person.
Any individual member unable to attend the AGM is entitled to appoint a proxy
to attend, speak and vote on their behalf as per Section 324 of the Companies
Act 2006 and Article 19 of the Guild Constitution. Anyone appointed as a proxy
must themselves be an individual member or associate member of the Guild of
Battlefield Guides entitled to vote.
Validation at the Annual
General Meeting
Tim Stoneman writes:
Guild members wishing to be validated for Assignments 1, 5
and/or 6 at the AGM should email me (valsec@gbg-international.com) by
29 December in order for the validation sessions to be arranged and fitted into
the weekend's programme.
Members wishing to submit written assignments prior to the
AGM are reminded that the Validation manual states: "Candidates must allow
at least a clear month between submission of assignments to the ValSec and the
Friday before the Guild AGM if they are anticipating the award of the Badge at
that AGM. There will be no assessment of written assignments at the
AGM." Thus the deadline for submission of written assignments by
those hoping to be awarded the Badge at the AGM is also 29 December.
Will Townend Award
Secretary writes:
The award honours the memory of the late Will Townend, in
particular his willingness to share his extensive technical knowledge of
Artillery and his wider knowledge of battlefields in general with his fellow
Battlefield Guides.
It is also intended that those nominated for the award will
be recognised as selfless members of the GBG who freely and unselfishly share
their knowledge with their peers.
To date I have not had many nominations. I would be grateful
if members could put some thought into considering who they might like to
nominate and let me know. Voting is restricted to members and associate members
of the Guild only.
Security Situation in
Belgium
Jean-Michel Veranneman writes:
The Belgian government has downgraded the threat assessment
for Brussels from 3 to 4 which means a terrorist attack is likely but not
imminent. This means condition 3 now applies for the whole of Belgium. Four is
the maximum. I have been from Liège, where I live to Brussels and back the day
before yesterday, with no problem whatsoever. Apart from (far) more police (and
army) patrols on the streets than usual, life is pretty much returning to
normal.
I would personally advise for school trips from the UK to be
postponed but I think individuals or small groups can come and go without much
risk.
New Book Launch
Ryan Gearing writes:
Details on a new book on history of chemical (gas) warfare
from the April 1915 (chlorine) attack and first use of phosgene in Dec '15 -
launch at In Flanders Fields Museum 10th Dec.
Anyone is welcome RSVP on the invite (attached).
For more details on the book please see http://www.the-trench.org/publications/monographs-and-edited-volumes/innocence-slaughtered/
Bouzincourt Tunnel System
Dave Platt writes:
I would like to let our members know that after a long and
complicated process I have secured access to the Bouzincourt tunnel system.
It's easily accessible for any groups visiting the Albert area.
It’s a unique experience with 829 individual pieces of WW1
graffiti on the walls and art created by soldiers of different nationalities as
a lasting memory of their last acts prior to going into action.
The system has about 25 accessible chambers with WW1
artefacts, like boots, tins, SRD jars and cutlery.
The package includes, a safe visit action plan, risk
assessment, PPE, insurance, head torches and a registered tourist guide to open
up and liaise the experience.
If any of our members are taking tours to the Somme and wish
to add a really interesting and unique tunnel tour I can organise that with at
least 2 weeks notice.
Main points:
- Maximum group size of 10. (it's possible to have larger groups by arrangement)
- Minimum group size of 4 persons.
- 2 weeks notice.
- Visit duration about 1.30 mins to include a safety brief.
- Bookings, PPE and insurance arranged through me.
- Head torches and hard hats provided.
- Cost £20 a head to include all the above and a specialist guide.
Email: daveplatt.dp@googlemail.com
for details.
11 visits already completed this year and 17 bookings for
next year!!
Despatches - Pictures
Secretary writes:
Many thanks to all those that have sent pictures in reponse
to my request for more for the next edition of Despatches - I have been
overwhelmed!
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
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