Minutes of the AGM of the OHJGS held at Royal Cinque Ports GC on Wednesday 8th April 2026 at 6.30pm.
Present: Messrs Rob McCowen( President), Graham Negus ( Hon Sec) George Atkins, Nick Budge, Dan Burstow, Will Collard, Tom and Ed Fairfax, John Fraser, Rob Huxford, Paul Turrell, Harry Taggart, Russell Ogden, Mark Semmence, Jeremy Waud, Joe White.
- Apologies for absence were received from Patrick McGahan, Hon Treasurer.
- The President gave a brief overview of the Accounts which had already been circulated to the members. Total income for 2025 was £4,335 representing mostly the £1,040 from the £20 annual subscription from some 55 members. The other main source of income was £3,200 from the OJ Club, as a part subsidy for the inter school events. Total expenditure was £4,019, primarily £3,927 for the Competition entry fees. The surplus for 2025 was therefore £316. It was noted that there had been no website costs in 2025 from the Hurst Foundation site. In future years from 2027, the annual charge for the new OHJGS site would be £600 although this would be covered in 2026 from three society member donations. The point was made that the annual subscription of £20 was no longer realistic if it was to cover future levels of basic expenditure, particularly as the four Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter society events were run at cost. This was generally accepted. The balance sheet was strong with total assets of £113,046, mostly as a result of the Tony Travers very generous donation, ring-fenced for covering the support of junior players at the inter school events.
- Paul Turrell was confirmed as Captain of the Society for 2026 with Mike Harrison as Vice -Captain.
- The dates of the 2026 meetings were Spring, West Sussex, 6th May (Match Manager Rob McCowen); Summer, East Sussex National, 30th July (Ed Fairfax); Autumn Hayling Island/Goodwood, 27th,28th September (Paul Turrell); Winter, Walton Heath, date to follow (Jeremy Waud).
- Mellin Organisers. The meeting wished to record its thanks to Rick Holgate who had managed all the West Hill Mellin events for more than a decade. The future management of these events would be divided as follows; Mellin over 55 years, Jeremy Waud; Burles over 65, Patrick McGahan; Millard over 75, Rob McCowen.
- Ed Fairfax reported that a match between the OHJGS and the College was being arranged for 22nd May 2026 at Pyecombe GC. He would be seeking a team of low handicap OHJGS golfers to make up a 6 man team.
- For the past 2-3 years, the Society had been using the Hurst Foundation site to draw attention to the Society and its fixtures and to seek new members. However, in addition to this, the Society now needed a more detailed site to cover management of the society meetings, its archive, directory and news functions. The new ohjgs.co.uk site was now operational and would be the future go to hub for all Society news and information and overtime reduce considerably the work of the Hon Secretary.
- Line of Succession. The President stressed the need for the Society to move forward and transfer the running of the OHJGS to the next generation. To achieve this, over 2026 the role of Hon Treasurer would be moved over to Tom Fairfax and the role of Hon Secretary to Robert Huxford. The role of President would go to Jeremy Waud, in recognition of his many years of support of the Society, starting in 1980 and representing the Society in the Hewitt and other inter school events since 1983 with 44 matches played, the second highest in the Society history.
- Centenary of the Society. This was in 2029 and a Centenary committee had been formed to plan how this was to be celebrated. The year 2028 marked 100 years since the first discussions about forming a Society took place at Pyecombe GC. A suitable event for this would also be planned.
The date of the 2027 AGM was provisionally set for the 7th April.
Rob McCowen. 11 April 2026