In the 1980’s the Honorary
Vice Presidents' were the "Life Blood" of the L&SCBA. It is
not overstating facts to say that without the financial aid from those who
were prepared to support the Vice President’s Fund, the L&SCBA may
well have had to "fold up it’s tent". How did it all start?
The President of the
Association in 1962, Major A.V.M. Brooks MBE JP suggested the appointment
of Honorary Vice Presidents' to support the main Association. Despite a
long and full discussion it got no further than that the Executive
Committee should give it more thought. These worthy gentlemen appeared to
have done nothing, and the matter was not raised again until 1964, again
it did not gain favour and was left "on the table". The fear was
that if such a Group were formed, it would become another playing
association and detract from the main objective of the London &
Southern Counties.
The matter was next
considered by the Executive Committee in 1973, when it could be seen that
unless something was done to attract an injection of finance into the
funds, the L&SCBA would be forced to increase the membership and
competition fees to make ends meet. Such action could so easily lose
members. However the idea of forming, the Vice Presidents' Association
still did not receive overall support. The matter was put back until the
November meeting when PP Maurice Bronkhorst proposed that an Honorary Vice
Presidents' Association be formed, limited to Presidents and Past
Presidents of affiliated clubs. It was "Off the ground" or was
it’? Believe it or not the matter was again left in abeyance, with the
General Secretary being asked to report on discussions at the 1974 AGM.
In 1975 thing on the
financial front were becoming difficult and both the General Secretary and
the Hon. Treasurer stated that the L&SCBA was facing a crucial period,
when expenses were exceeding income by quite an alarming amount. President
Tom Rolfe asked members of the Executive Committee to give very serious
thought to the introduction of Honorary Vice Presidents' and report back
to the next meeting. Thing were getting urgent!
Clubs were circulated and
response to the formation of a HVP Association was encouraging. Tom Rolfe
himself spoke of the matter at each Club that he visited and an article in
"CONTACT", the L&SCBA newsletter, was prepared on the
proposals. Finally a proposition by PP Maurice Bronkhorst seconded by PP
John Livingstone was put to an executive meeting, and carried unanimously.
Initially 148 members from
15 clubs said they would join such an organisation, 13 clubs declined and
the remaining 142 affiliated clubs "sat on the fence". Against
doubts but happily, the Hon. VP’s Fund did get off the ground.
A special badge was struck
and this badge identifies those people who continue to give financial help
to the Association. In return for their support they get in return an
opportunity, twice a year, once outdoors and again indoors, to meet as an
exclusive group to play for the Bellingham Bowl and Indoor Cup which was
presented to the Association by Allan Alvey.
Never must this elite group
of friends of the Association be sacrificed on the altar of just another
playing association.
By 1980 the number of Life
Members was 264 and the Annual Membership 176 when the administration, of
the Hon Vice President’s Fund was taken over by PP. Derrick Llewellyn.
Each year, until he resigned
in 1992, he managed, "by hook or by crook", to raise a thousand
pounds for the general funds. Encouraging club members to become involved
in the financial support of the L&SCBA. During, this period the
membership had increased to 740 Life Members and 156 Annual Members.
There is still a very real
need for the fund to continue its support of the finances of the main
Association. If you are not already a member of the Honorary Vice
Presidents', Lyn Arkill who has now taken over as fund administrator,
would be please to enroll you for £15 as a Life Member and £2 as an
Annual Member.
