Minutes of the AGM of the Old Breconian Association
held on Sunday 15th March 2026
Present
W Hugh Phillips (President)
Rhian Williams (Chair)
Jonathan F Spencer (Treasurer)
Huw L P Richards (Head of OB Engagement)
In attendance
Felicity Kilpatrick (Archivist)
John Millidge
Jonathan Morgan
Martyn Thomas (Development Director)
Charlie Embray (Secretary)
Item 1: Those Departed
1. HR read the names of those departed and a minute’s silence was observed.
Item 2: Apologies for absence
2. Andrew Lewis & Kate Dobbs (OBA Charitable Trust)
Item 3: Head of OB Engagement report and membership update
3. HR noted significant overseas members, 30% on database aren’t in UK. Notes what else can we do to engage.
4. HR noted difficulties communicating with younger generations, Social Media key.
5. OB sports continue to thrive rugby, cricket anniversary in Sofia Gardens win for OBs. Beat Cathedral school for first time. Good presence of OBs in sport: Gethin etc… OBA continues to support sport.
6. HR noted 35 total events, an event every couple of weeks.
7. Curriculum for life continuing to support.
8. HR noted continual success of reunions, especially 10 years.
9. HR noted 51 OB children in school out of 370, OB discount continues to attract significant numbers.
10. HR noted use of Birthday cards to highlight address changes and improve records.
11. Leavers books, ties, hoodies remain successful way of maintaining connection.
12. HR noted moving OB day to Saturday a success as more events in school.
Item 4: Archive
13. FK noted salary arrangement in new place since September to make archive more sustainable.
14. Main headline: increasingly dealing with new stuff – digital world providing good avenues but big challenges.
15. No backlog of donations – everything packed properly, FK noted regular enquiries per month.
16. Most photos scanned – FK noted responsiveness of OBs to provide photos missing. DeWinton gallery needing more, Orchard and Always completed.
17. FK raised debate of digitising Breconian allowing online downloads. Cost a key stumbling block.
18. FK emphasised success of C+H Fund, small but active fund that can act quickly to resolve issues. FK noted Bursar’s good management. Clear process with no one person making decision, noted as positive way of doing things to consider future.
19. FK identified next projects: re lettering of WW1 memorial and Chapel door.
20. FK highlighted strong engagement of current pupils with 40 years co-ed. Asked HR if girls engagement has risen HR in agreement. Sally Stewart event a great success – DeWinton chapter over. Next part of story is Bannau and then opening of Donaldson’s later.
21. FK highlighted work by Isobel Hurn in Marketing.
22. FK key challenge to archive – how we manage digital future, a challenge for all archives. Key is how things are grabbed now for Archive, won’t happen in the future. Challenge, we are thinking about it.
RW noted more social media posting and quality of the posts, FK pleased it’s not overkill but working well.
Item 5: Treasurer’s report
23. JS presented Accounts for the year ended 31st July 2025.
24. Accounts independently reviewed and signed off on 3rd February 2026 by Graham Butt FCA; Association recorded its thanks for him for carrying out review.
25. Overview given: Balance Sheet showed cash balance of £80,000, most of which held on deposit generating income for Association. Various lines of stock held which OBs are welcome to purchase. Stocks of 2k+ in balance sheets, JS notes strong accounts and long line of stock. Good accounting practise.
26. JS noted HR effort to shift stock, spread of stock.
27. JS notes all debts received, all credit paid other than Association’s annual donation charitable trust.
Action: JS made provision for £5,000 donation to go to charitable trust and asked for formal approval. Unanimous approval by the Association.
28. JS noted: income down, costs up and donations down as key headwind. Income dependent on what parents willing to give, challenging environment which leads to this being reduced.
29. JS desire for more stable income – will meet with new Head and Bursar with HR for this. Strong balance sheet but need to look forward.
30. Continued high interest rates – JS transparent with HMRC about more interest but hasn’t heard anything back.
31. Secretary money spent.
32. Remaining costs still in line, annual recurring costs includes secretarial contribution to CCB, postage and stationery (predominantly relating to Birthday cards sent to OBs), archive costs, secretarial costs and support to Golf Society by way of subsidy to players in OB events.
33. Overall surplus for year.
34. JS noted main donation is to Charitable Trust, remaining donations are dependent upon individual requests to the OBA for assistance from OBs and Christ College for sporting, academic and school OB record purposes. 9 such donations during year totalling £4,287.
35. FK asked about changing income stream, what would be preferred? JS noted either flat amount for OBA or based on number of leavers. FK asked about number of drop off leavers – JS says down 3% on £21k, JS dependent on what school collect and notes lack of control on what comes in.
RW asked what OBA can do for end of year to get more enthusiasm for leavers. HR noted no issues with leavers, it’s parents. HR notes £300 for 10 years membership so missing out inflation – most schools have alumni as expense line. HR noted issue of being unable to distinguish who have and haven’t paid – older members will have no recollection of paying or not. Differentiation in price of events members or not doesn’t work. Area to re-visit HR. HR noted possibly more money with larger year but need a sustainable income, could receive nothing then OBA would be £20k down.
Item 6: Charitable Trust report
36. HR on behalf of KD: received steady stream and paid out 6.3k in 2025 – increase from £4000 in 2024. Average award £500.
37. Assistance for second degree, towards electives, fund education and vocational-based travel, annual travel award for 6th form. As before, majority for further education and travel. Applications are to a high standard and majority receive awards.
38. Promotion of Charitable Trust key to receiving regular and good number of applications. Trust published to sixth form with reminders of purpose of Trust and fact of annual £1,000 travel award.
39. 2025 saw several very good applications, as a result one £1,000 and two £500 grants were awarded to 6th formers for vocation years before starting degrees.
40. Travel award to be increased to £1,500 in 2026.
41. Trustees asking for more feedback for promotion and how to promote to wider community. Written update on how grant has helped them.
42. Annual donations from OBA fund Charitable Trust, £6,000 received from OBs in 2025 up from £4,000 in 2024. Regular quarterly fluctuating income from capital held in investment, majority in charity investments.
43. Report notes that consideration of level of funds held in working capital will be considered by trustees as they go through process of approving accounts.
44. Once 2025 accounts approved copies forwarded to OBA.
Action – need to appoint new trustee as only 2, prudent to appoint 3rd and will work with HR.
KD extended thanks to JW (Jeff Wright fellow trustee), HR and JS for preparing accounts.
Item 7: Foundation update
45. MT gave update on school matters. Noted record recruitment in September despite conditions. MT warned VAT unravelling and more pressure. MT noted success of Estyn inspection + CIW official visit where school came out very well.
46. New head, aim to steady ship and reassure parents with continued visit. New Bursar.
47. MT Foundation on £5.4 million, recent shocks in stock market so will be lower. MT noted change of bank to CCLA from Canadian Bank as easier to administer. Reality is fund not successful, more cautious.
48. MT highlighted continued backfilling with aim of £10 million in Foundation to fund bursaries and scholarships.
49. MT predicts £100k annual fundraising, £33.5k from GD 2025
50. MT noted success of Pupil Opportunity Fund (Neuadd a/c).
51. MT noted GD not best in Jan, will give 18 months for next one – internal review to follow.
52. MT briefed Association on Malaysia + Korea Malaysia receiving again after takeover. MOU for Korea with Sep 2029 open.
JM question on new Chair of Governors and his background – MT noted long standing ex parent.
HP asked about gift aid – MT highlighted importance of this Income. This is a process Development Office and Alison keep on top of.
53. MT noted addition of cricket nets and positive impact for school cricket. Third wicket and notes support from OBs and supporters.
JM asked about pavilion, MT noted vast cost meant project unlikely and pr disaster, plan for refurbishment to make habitable supported by director of sport. Over £100k just cost.
JME asked about how pav failed with money put in – MT noted water and power issues, reasonably good order. Positives but WIP, MT notes key project for sport.
54. MT noted money tight for Capital Projects, managed deficit of £1.5 million.
JM pleased with invite of former cricket club back to sport, HR noted chance meeting to get that back.
Item 8: Chairman’s report
57.RW gave summary of year, starting with tribute to fallen OBs, particularly Major Llewellyn.
55. RW noted mixed bag of activities. Number of games cancelled including 7s, football, netball and hockey. Valued reconnection. Hope for return in 2026. Success of OB golf continue as highlight and attract support. RW notes shooting rivalry with Llandovery.
56. RW noted lower attendance of OB day, committee active discussing ways to increase attendance. Honor Colin Kleiser in fitting tribute to open nets.
57. RW noted milestone of 40 years co-ed. Member of first intake of junior girls so importance, events planned to commemorate. London dinner centre piece in June, Tori James guest speaker. Events throughout year. Successful reunions providing networking opportunities.
58. RW gave thanks to FK work with archive. Thanks also to HR for efforts to connect OBs generations, thanks to JS for stewardship as treasurer and ability to support pupils who may not have opportunities without support. Gratitude to Head for his time and support of OBA, school, and wider community.
59. RW hopes for continued success with more attendance to events.
Item 9: Date of next AGM
60. AGM to coincide with sevens if format is to continue.
JME asked about London OB dinner event - will be same day.
Charlie Embray
Development Office/Secretary
