This year’s AGM took place on Tuesday 7 May 2019, at Community House, Easemore Road, Redditch.

The meeting was chaired by our President, Bob Taylor, with Tony Jay (Chairman), Sam Smith (Treasurer) and Jean Chalk (Secretary).

Alan Leadbeater Memorial Award Winner: Liz Bird

This was the fifth year that this award has been presented. It is in honour of our dear friend and President, Alan, who passed away in 2013.

It is the only award whose winner is chosen by our members attending the AGM. It is for their favourite performance of the year, from a previously announced list of nominees chosen by the committee. It is not necessarily for the the biggest role, or most prominent performer of the year – a debut, or a cameo performance could equally be the performance our members enjoyed the most.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s winner of the award is LIZ BIRD, who was chosen for her role as ‘Sister Mary Lazarus’ in our November 2017 production of ‘Sister Act’.

The photo shows Liz receiving the award from Joy Sidaway, who was in attendance at the AGM to make the presentation.

Norman Wheeler Memorial Award Winner: Paula Lacey

This annual award, dedicated to the memory of our late President Norman Wheeler, is presented at our AGM to a Society member who has, in one way or another, made an outstanding contribution to the Society in the past year.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s deserving recipient of this award is PAULA LACEY.

As choreographer for Sister Act, Paula became the driving force behind the production during the initial phase; making decisions and getting things done. Even when Tony had taken over as director, Paula continued to contribute in many ways to the show; helping, and advising. And let’s not forget all those fabulous dance routines – all explained in a calm, friendly and respectful manner, and which brought out the best of everybody’s varying abilities. To all intents and purposes, she was co-director of the whole show.

On top of all that, when one of the cast had an accident and we lost our original Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours just a couple of weeks before the show, it was Paula who, without batting an eyelid, volunteered to take over and learn this prominent role, and performed it wonderfully.

Sister Act would not have been the success it was if it wasn’t for Paula’s superlative contributions.

The photo shows Paula receiving the award from President, Bob Taylor.

Committee 2018/19

The committee for this year as appointed at the AGM, and thereafter, are as follows:

  • President: BOB TAYLOR
  • Chairman: TONY JAY
  • Treasurer: SAM SMITH
  • Secretary: JEAN CHALK
  • Committee Member: MATT BRIDGEWATER
  • Committee Member: PAUL MITCHELL
  • Committee Member: LOUISA PICKLES
  • Committee Member: JOY SIDAWAY
  • Committee Member: SUE WILLIAMS
  • Co-opted (Marketing Manager): RYAN ALLEN-ROSE
  • Co-opted (Children’s Manager): ROZ CHALK
  • Co-opted (Ticket Secretary): TESSA LODGE
  • Co-opted (Publicity Manager): KELLY MITCHELL
  • Honorary Member: ANN DUFFIN