This has been a very good year for the club, including as it does, the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the club. There were no cancellations from any of the speakers! We started with the Summer Social, the rearranged trip to Birmingham. This was a superb day for the members who attended, including a fabulous handling session, before an afternoon when we were taken around the Soho museum.

External events included the skittles evening, which once again was a great success. May's normal club meeting was turned into a birthday party, with generous help from members. An informal dinner will be held on 12th June, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club.

Our membership has risen to 38 this year, a reflection of the revitalised interest in all things numismatic in the World in general. We continue to attract new members, and I have to thank you all for that. The level of involvement at club meetings is a cause of great satisfaction, having risen to over 25. Reading Coin club is very much alive and well, despite rapidly approaching middle age.

Our financial position continues to be strong, but in order to keep our income in balance with our expenses, we are having to raise subscriptions again.

Next Season Social Events

The Summer Social will be the trip to the Royal Mint on Friday 20th August. We will be rerunning the skittles evening.

Thanks

I want to start by thanking our President, Frank who is standing down this year. I wish to thank our vice presidents, Maurice and Tim for all their work at meetings and our auditor Neil.

I want to thank all my fellow committee members, without whom there would be no club. This year has been particularly hard as we were unlucky to lose Dave early in the season and were unable to find a replacement.

This year the club has been ran by just four committee members and that is not a satisfactory situation. Whilst I have been Chairman this year, David has combined the role of treasurer with that of programme secretary, Michael has continued as secretary, producing the newsletter each month and Henry has provided new impetus into our publicity, whilst looking after the library.

We urgently need two more people from amongst our more than 30 members to do their bit for the club.

Under the clubs constitution I must come off the committee this year. As retiring chairman I would like to thank all the members for allowing me to hold the post of Chairman for the past five years. It has been an honour.