AGM

RDRA AGM 2025

Thank you to everyone who came to our AGM on Monday 16th June 2025, where we talked about issues in the local area, like the closed Aquadrome path etc, and appointed the next Committee. Sadly, our much loved treasurer Leslie Chrol-Frolowicz is unable to continue due to ill health. Prior to the AGM, we presented Leslie with a special award to say thank you for his dedication and long-service. A photo of Leslie receiving his award is in our RDRA AGM slide deck. Leslie started on the RDRA Committee as Membership Secretary in 2016 and became our Treasurer two years later – we will miss him greatly on the Committee! The position of treasurer was offered at the AGM and we’re glad that someone took up the mantle – to be officially appointed at our next Committe meeting on 7th July.

RDRA President Michael Stimpson presided over the RDRA AGM, sitting at the table, on the right, next to RDRA Chairman Ash Pattni

As always, if you would like to join our Committee please contact us for a chat. We are in great need of young and passionate people!

The highlight of this years’ AGM were our two speakers who were delightful.

First we heard from Chris Hillier, a resident of Rickmansworth for over 55 years, who showed us many amazing black & white images of well-known areas that we hardly recognised. We especially liked the old video of ice skate races at the Aquadrome! If you would like to find out more about Rickmansworth history or even about the many fossils found here, please visit our small but lovely Rickmansworth museum located next to Watersmeet, along Rickmansworth high street.

Record-breaking ice skating at the Aquadrome

Next we heard from Sue Lacey who is a great advocate for restoring nature and the countryside, from Woodoaks Farm as seen on Countryfile . We enjoyed hearing about the Black Barn Project – a worthy project which will provide much needed facilities to help them teach others about good soil, land management and regenerating the landscape. If you would like to volunteer at Woodoaks or attend one of their many activities, like Zumba on Saturdays 10-10.45am or Yoga on a Sundays 9-10am or the Market Garden on Sundays 10-4pm or Herts Health Walks on the first Friday of the month and more, please visit: https://woodoaksfarm.com.

Woodoaks Farm activities

Please contact us if you would like to give a talk at our next AGM or tell us something important happening in Rickmansworth!

RDRA 100+ Club donates to two good causes:
https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2025/06/rdra-100-club-good-causes/

Join RDRA 100+ Club here:
https://rickmansworthresidents.org/100plus/

By R.D.R.A., ago

The 95th Annual General Meeting of RDRA will be held on Monday 16th June 2025, 8pm at the Education Centre, Batchworth Lock, Rickmansworth

You are invited to attend our AGM to let us know your views regarding matters related to Rickmansworth and surrounding districts.

All residents of Ricky town, Mill End, Penn and surrounding areas are welcome, but only paid-up members can vote. Refreshments will follow the meeting. Please Park in Church Street, Moor Lane, or Tesco.

Education Centre address: Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, Batchworth Lock Canal Centre, 99 Church Street, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 1JJ

Agenda

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. To Approve the minutes of the last AGM on 17 June 2024
  3. An overview of the last year and thank you’s. (Chair).
  4. Treasurer’s Reports (Treasurer): To approve the accounts for 2024 and appoint the auditors for 2025.
  5. Election of President (Michael Stimpson is willing to stand again)
  6. Election of Committee:
    i. Hon Chair (Ash Pattni is willing to stand again if no takers)
    ii. Hon Secretary (Christine Evans is willing to stand again)
    iii. Hon Treasurer (Leisle Chrol-Frolowicz is standing down, nominations please)
    iv. Web Site & Social Media Controller (Debbie Wheeler is willing to stand again)
    v. Membership Secretary (Anne Littlejohn is willing to stand again)
    vi. Planning Matters (Bob Templeman is willing to stand again)
    vii. Committee Member (Carolyn Venn is willing to stand again)
    viii. Committee Member (Andrea Clark is willing to stand again)
    ix. Committee Member (John Payne standing down, nominations please)
    x. Newsletter Editor (post vacant, nominations please)
    xi. Membership Recruitment (post vacant, nominations please)
    xii. Event’s Organiser (post vacant, nominations please)
    xiii. Fund Raiser & Publicity (post vacant, nominations please);
  7. The Committee can co-opt 3 people. If you are interested in becoming more involved as a co-optee please let us know.
  8. Any Other Business
  9. Followed by: Refreshments and talks by Two Guest Speakers:

    Chris Hillier on the history of the Aquadrome
    Chris, a retired engineer, has lived in Rickmansworth for over 55 years. An early member of Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, he is passionate about local history and serves in the Rickmansworth Historical Society. He was Chairman of Watford and District Industrial History Society until last year (www.wadihs.org.uk). Chris frequently gives history talks, donating proceeds to Workaid (www.workaid.org.uk), where he volunteers.

    Sue Lacey will give a brief overview of the Barn Project and Crowd Funding 
    Sue is the Community Engagement Manager at Woodoaks Farm in Maple Cross.

Hope to see you there!

By R.D.R.A., ago
David Gauke was the guest speaker at the RDRA's 2024 AGM, pictured with RDRA Chairman Ash Pattni.

94th AGM minutes

Pictured: David Gauke (guest speaker at the AGM) with RDRA Chairman Ash Pattni.

Minutes of Annual General Meeting held at the Education Centre Batchworth Lock on Monday 17th June 2024.

Those Present:

Ashok Pattni (Chairman) and 24 members/friends of the Association. 

The President, Peter Crispin, opened the meeting with a few preliminary remarks about none of the political parties contesting the forthcoming general election having made any mention of local government funding in their manifestos.

1. Apologies for absence:

Christina Evans, Anne Littlejohn, Paula Hiscocks and Sheila Harrington.

2. Minutes of AGM held on 19th June 2023

These were approved by the meeting.

3. Hon. Treasurer’s statement of accounts

The accounts were presented by Leslie Chrol-Frolowicz, the Treasurer. Subscription income was down about £200 on the previous year, largely on account of difficulties with PayPal in the Spring of 2023 when three months’ worth of subscriptions were not processed by PayPal with effectively no redress.

There had been a successful wine & cheese with jazz event which made a useful net profit (£165 being donated to good causes locally), also the 100+Club raffle has generated a new source of income. It is hoped to be able to terminate the need for annual subscriptions within the next couple of years. RDRA are grateful to Batchworth Community Council for their generous grant of £500 which has been used to fund promotional material.

Total receipts were up compared with the previous year by nearly £2000, although outgoings were up by some £3000, with the result that available funds at year-end (31st March) show a reduction of about £1400.  This gives a balance at financial year end (31st March) of £6360.

With the decision to discontinue the publication of Independence in future RDRA expects to make substantial savings by communicating on a regular basis primarily using e-newsletters with current information, rather than with information which has since become somewhat out of date.

The accounts were approved by the meeting.

4. To appoint an Honorary Examiner

The Treasurer expressed a big “thank-you” to John Samson who had once again examined the accounts.  RDRA are pleased that he has expressed his willingness to continue as Honorary Examiner.  It was proposed and accepted by the meeting that he be re-elected to that position for the current financial year.

5. Chairman’s Annual Report

After expressing thanks to membership Secretary Anne Littlejohn who unfortunately was absent due to illness, Chairman Ashok Pattni spoke of the committee’s concern that the Association appear relevant to the people of Rickmansworth.  Average age of members was 75+, also people had lived in the town for over 25 years on average.  Membership numbers were less than half the pre-Covid period and there was an urgent need to enrol younger people, particularly on the committee.

The biggest single issue currently facing the Association was the proposal to build 95 flats on a small island site on the canal where there is currently only one dwelling, the deadline for objections being only a couple of weeks ahead.  The  meeting agreed to formal opposition being made to the proposal. Reena Ranger spoke about drainage problems with the town ditch owing to multiple ownership of different sections of this.

6. Election of President

A vote was taken and past Chairman Michael Stimpson was duly elected to this post.

7. Election of Life Vice Presidents

There no nominations for additional names to be added.

8. Election of Officers

The meeting was happy for existing officers to remain in post.

9. Election of the Association Committee

The meeting agreed to the re-election of existing committee members.

10. Any Other Business

There was none.

11. Guest speaker: David Gauke, former MP

The meeting concluded with an informative and entertaining speech and questions answered by Mr Gauke who spoke of his experiences of having served as both an MP and Cabinet minister.

SLCF18/6/24

By R.D.R.A., ago

Notice of our 94th AGM

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 17th June at 8pm in the Batchworth Educational Centre, Batchworth Lock, Rickmansworth. All are welcome but only members are allowed to vote. Refreshments will be available after the meeting. Please park in Church Street, Moor Lane or Tesco.

The agenda will be:

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Approve and sign off minutes of the last AGM 
  3. Honorary Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts
  4. To Appoint an Honorary Examiner
  5. Chairman’s Annual Report.
  6. Election of President
  7. Election of Life Vice Presidents
  8. Election of Officers
  9. Election of the Association Committee
  10. Any Other Business
  11. Guest speaker: David Gauke, former MP
By R.D.R.A., ago