The Tenby and Saundersfoot branch of the Labour Party held a successful and well-attended AGM on Saturday, December 18, when local MP Nick Ainger and local AM Christine Gwyther joined the branch meeting, as usual, to give their end-of-year reports and enjoy a festive glass of sherry and home-made mince pies. Tony Wales, chairman of the branch, welcomed everyone and gave his own report of the busy year the branch had had in its monthly meetings, social events and involvements in various local issues, particularly in local health issues. Tony, as a member of the Community Health Council, had made this particular social issue a priority this year. In the election of officers which followed Tony's report, it was unanimously agreed that he should continue as chairman of the branch; Malcolm Bevan was elected as vice-chairman; Betty Hibbits was confirmed as treasurer; Marjorie Bevan as events secretary; Sara Spence and Bryn Rees as joint minutes secretaries; Mollie Neate as press officer; Harry Gardiner as branch photographer; Dot Ridley as membership secretary and Olive Spence as lottery organiser. The treasurer's report was circulated and commented on. A healthy balance in the bank was reported. Dot gave a good report on membership numbers. They had had three recent new members, and she had done some interesting 'number crunching' regarding attendance at meetings. This showed that regular attendances were good, and particularly good when a nationally-known speaker was coming to the branch. Nick Ainger, in beginning his report, asked the branch members to note the beautiful view of Tenby on his official Christmas card this year (by kind permission of Mr. Alun Morgan). These, going out in very large numbers, would, he hoped give added favourable publicity to Pembrokeshire and Tenby in particular. Nick gave a review of 2006 at Westminster and wanted us to concentrate on all the good news, not the doom and gloom of the media circus. AM Christine Gwyther also gave her end of year report, concentrating, naturally, on Welsh Assembly issues and especially on local issues with which she had been deeply involved. Christine's commitment to the re-provision of Tenby Cottage Hospital and to the strengthening of resources at Withybush has been well documented. The chairman thanked Christine and Nick for all their work and for their support at branch events. Marjorie Bevan issued the new calendar of events for 2007 to all present. Once again, Marjorie had succeeded in getting a number of very high-profile politicians to come to speak to members at Tenby, the first of which was the Rt. Hon. Ann Clwyd MP, who would be the guest speaker at the annual constituency dinner on Friday, January 19, at the Fourcroft Hotel, Tenby. Tickets are limited, and menus and cheques should be with Mollie by January 3. Any enquiries now, should be addressed to either Mollie on 843147 or Marjorie on 842604. After the raffle draw, the meeting was adjourned for sherry and mince pies. Because the constituency dinner will be in place of the January branch meeting, the next meeting will be on Saturday, February 17, when Alun Davies, newly selected Assembly Labour List Candidate for Mid and West Wales, will be speaking to the branch.
