16 Dec 2021
WPCS AGM Llandrindod Wells
Saturday December the 11th saw approximately 100 members attend the Society’s annual AGM, rescheduled to a later date in the year due to the Covid pandemic. Members were pleased to be at a physical meeting once again.
2021 President C.R Davies of the Hafdre stud chaired the meeting and welcomed members from all parts of the country.
The main business of the meeting centred around the updating of the Society’s Articles of Association with 11 of the 16 Special Resolutions put forward being accepted. The revised 2021 version of the Articles can now be seen by clicking this link.
https://wpcs.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Articles-of-association-2021-Web.pdf
During the deliberations Members asked about the Charter document which almost all of the daughter societies had signed up to prior to the Brexit negotiations. It can be viewed by clicking this link.
https://wpcs.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Charter-WPCS-FINAL-DRAFT-MD.pdf
Society Chair of Finance and HR Wyn Jones noted that the Society had made a surplus of £110,567 during the year to December 31st 2021.
Only five applications were received for six places on the Council of Trustees and therefore
• Mr Steve Everitt
• Mr Ed Gummery
• Mr Wyn Jones
• Mr Dilwyn Roberts
• Mr Martin Waters
were all duly elected to serve as Trustees for the period 2021 -2024. A sixth member Mr Cemaes Evans was elected from the floor and will serve for the same term.
The Society’s highest honour the Brodrick trophy was bestowed upon Mr Charles Arch of the Fflur stud primarily for his life’s work as a commentator at the Royal Welsh Show.
The Society’s lifetime achievement award recognised the efforts of an individual who has unstintingly helped so many breeders over the years and encouraged and trained so many young handlers, Mr Bobi Roberts from Rhydymain in Dolgellau.
The Society’s Kentchurch award recognising great work in the field of equine welfare was awarded to Vets Phillipa Hughes and Lisa Durham whose Dyffryn Tywi Equine Clinic have served the inner-city horses and ponies of Swansea and worked tirelessly with the Lluest Recue Centre.
Honorary Life Memberships were bestowed upon the following members in recognition of their work as breeders and supporters of the Society
• Mr John Hendy – Cledwyn Stud
• Mr Brian Davies – Briolen Stud
• The late Jeff Parry – Talponciau Stud
Dynamic young handler Sky Whittle was awarded the Society’s Young Achiever award for her showing prowess exhibiting the family’s Brynithon Cobs.
This year the Society awarded a special award to Mrs Karly Howard-Wilkinson for her tireless effort raise money for Cancer charities with the Bucks Counties Spectacular Shows.
President Roger Davies in his address to the members shared his wishes that in these difficult times every breeder should ‘be faithful’ to the Society and its objectives. ‘Byddwch yn ffyddlon’. He also welcomed the increasing use of Welsh Mountain ponies in conservation grazing schemes.
Retiring Chairman of the WPCS Council Colin Thomas thanked the outgoing President for his commitment to the Society.
The incoming President Mr Stewart Franklin of the Sarum stud shared with members that his first contact with Welsh ponies was at the Shalbourne stud of Miss De Beaumont, where he had the honour of looking after the legendary Coed Coch Glyndwr in his later years.
In his inaugural speech Mr Dennis Price of the Afan stud paid homage to his mother when accepting the honour of Society President- elect for 2023, noting that she encouraged him to develop his interest in the ponies which has led to a lifelong involvement with the breed.
The meeting closed as the Society celebrated 120 years since its foundation with members enjoying a President’s tea before the journey home.