Mr Chairman, Madam Lady Captain, Ladies and Gentlemen

It has been an honour and a privilege to have been your Captain for the last 12 months and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who have helped me through the year.

To be effective a Captain needs the help and support of a strong Committee and I would thank this years Committee Members for their tireless effort.  My special thanks to Ian Hearne, my Deputy, and the Club Manager, Roger Davies who have both assisted me greatly.  Thanks also to the President, the Ground and House Chair persons and the members of the Finance Committee who have helped me in the restructuring of the Clubs management. 

Paul Williams and Nick Osborne have put a lot of work in this year to ensure that our accounting systems are correct and effective – without their efforts we would not have been able to manage the Clubs finances as efficiently.  Thank you Paul and Nick, as well as Sally - who has had to implement the majority of these changes whilst also putting up with Roger 5 days a week!

Gareth Bennett, our Club Professional continues to carry out his duties in his usual quiet and efficient manner and it with thanks that I congratulate him on reaching the milestone of 30 years loyal service to the club.

My thanks also go to the members of staff who have performed their duties with alacrity this year, Julian Bartlett-Jones and his team, Steve and Karen behind the bar; Scott & Margo in the early part of the year and latterly Tony in the kitchen. 

Thank you also to those members who have contributed their time and skills to maintain and enhance the fabric of the Club, saving the Club considerable expense in the process.

Congratulations to all of the teams representing Dinas Powis this year, with some mixed results, but all conducting themselves well as ambassadors of the Club.  My congratulations on a successful year to the 1^st and 2^nd team captains, the Jackdaws, Hallets, Wayfarers, Senior and Junior Captains. 

I would also like to thank the junior organisers Ian Ryley and Colin Williams, as well as the winter league organisers Roger Davies, Ian Johnson and Kevin Mooney.  Congratulations also to Deri Moore for another successful Charity Day.

My especial thanks to everybody who donated a prize to my Captains Day, and all those who helped to make the day a success.

Ladies and Gentlemen, during my inaugural speech a year ago I issued a rallying cry to all members to pull together and help the Club through these difficult economic times – the amount of thanks which I have just given only goes to underline what a collaborative effort it is to make the club successful. 

I also indicated in my speech that a priority would be the regulation and control of our finances and the restructuring of the management of the club.  I am pleased to announce a return to profitability for the Club, achieved by strict cost controls (implemented without sacrificing spend on the Course or infrastructure of the Club), as well as the maximisation of all income streams over which we have any control.  The exception to this obviously being Member Subscriptions which continue to decline, we have targeted recruiting new Members as a priority and this will continue.

At this point, whilst discussing our financial pressures, I think it would be appropriate for me to mention Resolution 7 which is before you today and is intended to gradually bring the Clubs age related discounts into line with other clubs in the area.  I would strongly urge you to support this resolution which is one of a number of vital financial reforms which we must put in place if we are to continue in the black!

I know that the Committee and the incoming Captain are aware of the challenges and difficult choices we face, but I am sure that Ian and his team will meet and overcome all challenges with your continued support.

Finally, I would like to thank Mrs Kit Roblin, Lady Captain for her help and support during the year.  I would also wish Mrs Sue Bridle every success in her year of Captaincy.

(Captain then presented Mrs Roblin with a bouquet of flowers)

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have now reached the conclusion of my report and I would like to finish by thanking once again all of those who have contributed to the success of the Club and all of those who have offered me their generous support and kind words during the year. 

If I have omitted to mention anybody it is not on purpose and not through lack of appreciation, although it may be through a desire to enjoy the incoming Captains hospitality a little sooner!

Thank you very much, it really has been an honour.