TOC 90th Anniversary AGM 25th May 2024

The Haynes Motor Museum near Yeovil played host to our AGM this year, and a very good venue it was too. We had a separate parking area, the staff were friendly and efficient, the room was excellent and the cakes delicious!

Attendance was a bit lower than in previous years, whether because of its location, specifically chosen to attract our West Country Members, or because it was a bank holiday or perhaps because so many regular attendees were on the re-scheduled Spanish trip which then directly clashed, we shall never know.  There was certainly an unusually high number of apologies due to the latter. However, the mood was upbeat and it was good to see some new Members, Peter Loxston and Roger Peel, and Members from that part of the world - the objective when selecting the venue.

Howard Day explained that the Club had made a loss of £4,742 during the year, which was well within our capacity to absorb as the Club’s funds stand at a healthy £40,974. The deficit was mainly due to increased costs of spares storage, the costs of the Magazine print and postage and investment in the website to improve its functionality. The previous year’s AGM had voted unanimously in favour of a subscription increase to £50 and this had now been implemented. 

Talking of subscriptions, Howard thanked all those Members who now pay their subs by direct debit; it makes his job so much easier. Thanks were also due to those Members who had so generously made donations to the Club and these are greatly appreciated. Membership numbers have stayed encouragingly level, unlike some other Clubs, through this period.

Coming back to life after Covid, (and what a different world that was!), the TOC was able run a full range of activities in 2023, which were well supported by Members. The Club is fortunate in having Members willing to organise tours events and owes tremendous gratitude to everyone who has done so. 

2023 will also go down in TOC history as the year in which Talbots achieved two remarkable successes: firstly, Talbots scored a magnificent result in the Le Mans Classic with five finishing and claiming 1st and 2nd places, a great credit to the Pace team, Polson mechanics, the Slijpen crew and, of course, the skilful and determined drivers. Secondly, Dr Richard Lisman and Charlie Elliott won 1st and 2nd in their class respectively at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours; a fantastic result for the owners and marvellous publicity for the Talbot marque.

David Roxburgh thanked all the contributors to the Magazine and, due to them, it has continued to provide an interesting and varied series of articles; please keep them coming! 

The financial report shows that we had sold £2,524 worth of used spares during the year. As the rent for the container now stands at £2,400, Ian Potts made a plea for both donations and sales in order to keep this invaluable service going. Thank you to Ian and everyone who helps in collecting, sorting and selling.

The Directors, other than Andrew Jolliffe who has retired to live in Italy (lucky fellow!), and Howard Day who relinquishes his role of Treasurer, were confirmed and no election had been necessary - but we still need new volunteers to assist in running the Club! Please consider how you can help; it’s worthwhile and enjoyable. The Club could not function without the active and enthusiastic support of its Members: helping with and donating spares, writing Magazine articles and proof reading, technical advice, input to IT, regalia, helping with events such as Prescott, and running other events, and in many other ways. Thank you to everyone who contributes to make our Club so successful and so enjoyable. We were delighted when Paul Dennis, a fairly recent new Member, volunteered to assist, particularly in relation to IT; we’ll be back in touch soon, Paul!

After the business of the meeting, David Roxburgh presented awards to those recipients who were present. Firstly, Neil Lucas was awarded the Talbot Owners’ Club trophy for all his work on the company accounts each year – work which is very much appreciated by the Club. 

Next, as he retires, Howard Day’s contribution to the Club over the years as Membership Secretary and Treasurer, as well as his inventive generation of so many great ideas for promoting the Talbot marque (I mention only the TOC Regent Street display in 2016) and this year’s 90th Anniversary celebrations, were all marked by the presentation of one of our rarely awarded TOC Merit Awards. Howard, your input into the Club has been invaluable and we shall miss your enthusiasm.

Other awards to be presented in person during the year are: 

       The Test Track trophy for contributions to the Magazine – John Tomsett for his frequent articles on and around the Talbot world.

       The Mike Couper Shield for sporting success at an amateur level – Simon Scott for competing in his 1909 Talbot 4 AB.

       The Percy Lambert trophy – Des Burnett for his magnificent rebuilding of a 1916 ST25/50 Tourer, as featured in the Magazine.

       The Light Car trophy – brothers Archie and Austin Scott for their enthusiastic embrace of the Talbot world and use of an 8/18.

       The Rawlings trophy – Dan Nicholson for his recommissioning and enjoyment of a 14/45 tourer.

       The Fox & Nicholl trophy – Adrian Montague in recognition of supporting the Talbot racing history by entering his historic Talbot 90, PL3, into so many events, driven by John Polson.

The Arthur Archer trophy – Charlie Elliott in recognition of his splendid result at the Pebble Beach concours.

The John Young trophy – Ian Potts for his major contribution to the management of the Club’s used spares, keeping so many Talbots on the road.

After the Club proceedings, we all enjoyed a tour of the Museum. Those of us who had known it many years ago were very impressed with the quality and variety of the collection, the presentation and the building itself. It is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area. 

Finally, it was a pleasure to have the company of Annette Haynes at our dinner that evening, thanks to Hugh Mayes, who had previously been a Trustee of the Museum. 

David Roxburgh