Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Cricket Memorabilia Society
held online 10th November 2025 commencing at 7:00pm
Present: Mr Richard Brown (Chairman) (RB), Mr Steve Cashmore (Secretary) (SC),
Mr Peter Madelin (Treasurer) (PM), Mr Alex Picker (AP), Mr. Nick. O’Neil (NO),
Mr Phil Lloyd (deputizing for Mr. R. Pease) (PL), Mr. Andy Collier (AC),
Mr Ken Burney (KB).
Apologies: Mr. Roger Pease
The last meeting’s Minutes were accepted and had been posted on our website.
Any Matters Arising would be covered on the Agenda.
1. Chairman’s Introduction
RB noted that we had recently lost both Keith Hayhurst, our President, and John Jameson, a RB said that he would send out a newsletter prior to our Lord’s meeting. The Grace Gates are closed and, as such, we will enter around the corner from there. There will be limited parking for committee members, vendors and the infirm.
There will be a choice of 3 meals at the Tavern. Pre-booking is required. The cost for each meal is £20.
Our guests are Chris Cowdrey and Norman Cowans who will be travelling up from Hampshire.
RB has booked Richard Whitehead for our AGM. RW has written a wonderful book about Hutton’s 1954/55 tour to Australia. RB is confident that the book will become an award winner.
There are no guests booked, as yet for Hove. Subject to interest, there could be a visit to the museum at Hove on the Friday night prior to our meeting.
2. Secretary’s Report
We have 287 paid up members, 22 more have yet to pay their subs. There will be a final reminder included with the September magazine circulation for those 22. This will be a hard-copy insert and only for non-renewers so won’t appear in the magazine itself. RB pointed out that our membership makes us one of the larger cricketing societies.
The December edition will list our new members for 2025.
3. Magazine Update
SC has been emailing the printers today about this. Publication should be soon. There has not been, as yet, any copy from members for the December magazine despite requests. AP has been in touch with David Frith who is prepared to write a piece about recent auctions. Our March magazine will be the 150th edition! As such, we should make it a special one.
4. Treasurer’s Report
PM has completed our accounts for 2024/25 to 30 June 2025. There is a deficit of £975 (the previous year’s deficit was £839). Member subscriptions were up by about £100. The costs for the June 2025 magazine are included. The deficit reflects the fact that both meeting room fees and guest fees are increasing.
Should we consider making a member charge for our Lord’s meetings since that is our most expensive venue to hire?
Our accounts have not, as yet, been verified but are ready for this task.
Our adverts via the Cricket Society are free.
Card sales were £370 (74 @ £5 each) at Derby.
For post meeting card sales, those from October 2025 onwards will be £8. Cards prior to that will remain at £5.
PL will contact RP with regard to future committee membership by a member of the Auctions Team.
5. Auctions
There were 62 attendees at Derby. There were 24 external bidders. Our 3 guests were excellent. 84% of the lots were sold. Gordon Bickley, Brian Sanderson and Michael Rayner ensured that the operation of the auction was smooth.
Perhaps the auction was a little autograph heavy. There will be lots from 2 large collections at future auctions.
RB and SC talked about an archive of photographs from past CMS meetings.
MR has advised that the preparation of the auction lots list can be difficult to transfer from Word to Excel. Is there any software which could assist? PL will look into this.
CMS charges 10% to non members as sellers as opposed to the 7% for members. Is this differentiation being applied.
Seller queries tend to come to SC via our website contact page. He then arranges photos as necessary and emails the entire auction team for them to pick up the enquiry.
6. Promotion of CMS
We will be in the Nottinghamshire CCC journal.
We will look to get an article in Wisden Cricket Monthly with which the Cricket Societies’ Association has a link.
RB will approach Annie Chave regarding an advert in County Cricket Matters.
When we advertise via the Cricket Society the auction is the central focus.
7. AGM Preparations
SC advised that the Constitution needs to be updated. The accounting Year End is now 30 June NOT 31 July. Cheque signatories – a cheque can be signed by the Treasurer or the Chair or the Secretary. Expenses are approved by the Treasurer NOT the committee.
RB Having an AGM via Zoom rather than in person is more democratic as more people attend and give their views.
All constitutional changes need to be recommended to the membership for their approval. Thus, RB will list the proposed changes within the Agenda for the AGM. SC to email RB with changes outlined in the meeting.
Member subscription rates = no change. We have adequate reserves.
For Lord’s we pay the room rate for a charity. Nevertheless, the charge has doubled since we have been going there.
8. AOB
KB volunteered to be Vice Chairman – this offer was accepted by the committee. RB will communicate this to the membership.
NO will not be at Lord’s. KB will collect money for the cards. AC will do the raffle.
The committee will meet again after the Hove meeting.
This meeting closed at c 20:30