The Association's 20th annual general meeting on 6th March was run in its usual efficient, business-like manner.

But it encompassed an 'end of era' feeling as it was the last AGM as our President for Dr Ian Calder, for Stephen Frost as our Agent and for Andrew Lansley as our MP – but the first for Heidi Allen (whom we hope will replace him in May).

Ian Calder has been our President for four years, presiding with great aplomb over our AGMs and always on hand when needed for sound advice.  A tough act to follow?  Yes – but who better than Dorothy Calder MBE, his wife?  Dorothy is a former chairman of the Association – indeed, she was chairman when Andrew was selected to replace Sir Anthony Grant, our MP until the 1997 election.

Stephen Frost has been our Agent for 16 years (he took over from Richard English) and, sadly, will be leaving at the end of May, having been responsible for all the important background stuff of four general elections and for around 350 candidates in local elections.

For Andrew, there were mixed emotions as he recalled that in each successive election since 1997, his percentage of the vote has steadily increased to just over 48% – his challenge to Heidi is to break the 50% barrier... and Heidi is working very hard on accomplishing just that.

The event was, however, tinged with sadness as Colin Barker paid tribute to County Councillor John Reynolds and Anne Howard, a stalwart of the Association, whose untimely deaths have robbed us of two very noble, helpful and enthusiastic people.  In his memory, this year the Hardwick Salver went to John Reynolds.

Prize giving is an important part of the AGM – this year was no exception, as we record in our photographs below.

▲  A good turn out at our 20th AGM, held at Foxton Village Hall on 6 March 2015.

▲  Top table at the SCCA AGM – from the left: Julian Polhill (Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Area Conservatives), Heidi Allen, our candidate in the 2015 general election, Joshua Vanneck, SCCA Hon Treasurer, Stephen Frost, SCCA Agent, Dr Ian Calder, SCCA President, Dr Bill Potter, SCCA Chairman, Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP and Ben Shelton, SCCA Vice Chairman, Political.

▲  Dr Ian Calder was given a bottle of whisky to mark his retirement as SCCA President.

▲  Andrew Lansley took over the presentation duties, beginning with Gordon Hilton Jackson, Chairman of the Swavesey and District Branch, who received a Certificate of Achievement on behalf of the branch for the 'outstanding performance' of raising over £1,000 during 2014.

▲  Robert Cook, Chairman of the Comberton and District Branch, also received a Certificate of Achievement on behalf of the branch for their 'outstanding performance' of raising over £1,000 during 2014...

▲  ... as did Mark Howard on behalf of the Melbourn and District Branch, which also raised over £1,000 during 2014...

▲  ... likewise, Dorothy Calder on behalf of the Girton and District branch, also for raising over £1,000 during 2014...

▲  ... and so did Andy Bower on behalf of the Queen Edith's branch for raising over £1,000 during 2014.

▲  Heidi Allen presented the January Trophy to Gordon Hilton Jackson in recognition of the Swavesey Branch achieving a 40% increase in branch fundraising over the previous year – as they did in 2013....

▲  ... while Robert Cook received the Eynesbury Shield to in recognition of the Comberton Branch achieving the highest increase in membership over the previous year – as they also did in 2013.

▲ Top of the page.

Photos and report: Peter Mann