Record of Decisions Taken at the Inaugural Meeting of the Willingale Family Society

The inaugural meeting of the Willingale Family Society took place in the Willingale Room of Lopping Hall, Loughton, Essex on Sunday 30 June 2002 at 1300. This is a record of the decisions taken at that meeting, which had been called by Keith Willingale (Malmesbury, Wilts) following discusions with Graham Richards and Steven Willingale via the web site www.willingale.org.

Present were:

Keith Willingale, Graham Richards, Steven Willingale, Linda Pattinson, Kim Willingale, Esther Willingale, Louise Willingale, Sophie Willingale, David Talmage, Bob Willingale.

Apologies:            Andy Willingale, Graham and Christine Day

Purpose

The main purpose of the meeting was “To decide whether to form a Willingale Family History Society (WFHS), and if the decision is positive, to take the first steps to do so.”

Keith Willingale lead a discussion on the options and the types of organisation that were in existence for researching into family histories; these were:  To carry on as at present; to form a WFHS; to form a One-Name Society (ONS); to form a Willingale Society (with the combined objects of WFHS and ONS).  Those present had experience of FHS as users but not of ONS.  Examples were provided of each and the meeting quickly decided that the ONS was the way forward.  The name chose was the Willingale Family Society.

Committee

Keith Willingale then lead a discussion on the advantages (and disadvantages) of forming a committee to take the work forward.  It was agreed that a committee was needed in order to share the work, to share the responsibility for making decisions concerned with membership and with access to data, and to broaden the scope of activities undertaken.

The following officers were elected:

Guest Speaker

A guest speaker - Councillor Chris Pond - gave a talk on Thomas Willingale of lopping rights fame.  This was followed by a discussion on the subject including the possibility of erecting a plaque to his memory.  The meeting deferred a decision on contributing to the plaque until the prospects for membership (and funding) became clearer.  KW queried the existence of a picture of Thomas Willingale which he recollected seeing about 25 years ago.  Chris Pond suggested the most likely building was Loughton Hall, which was now part of Epping Forest College, it was agreed that a letter to the principal would be worthwhile

ACTION KW

Chris Pond also provided the details of two local publications - the Loughton Guardian (local paper) and Think Loughton (Town Council newsletter) which should be interested in publishing details of the meeting.  It was decided to provide copy for them.

ACTION KW

GOONS

A brief discussion resulted in a decision to register WILLINGALE and 5 variations with the Guild Of One-Name Studies (GOONS).  The main reason was seen as the need to consolidate the focus of activity in willingale studies within the group and to avoid this being lost if others were to register the name.

ACTION GR

DONM

It was decided that the next meeting should be in the Christmas Season and should precede a social event.  Venue could be Lopping Hall or Willingale Village Hall (or another).

ACTION LW

AOB

A discussion concerning membership rules and charges resulted in a decision to follow those of a comparable society as distributed at the meeting, and also to have country representatives abroad.  The chairman would invite foreign members to adopt this role when it has been defined and members are available, membership rules and costs would be drafted by the treasurer.

ACTION SW

The formal meeting was declared closed at 1550.

A toast was drunk in English Quality Sparkling wine to “The Willingale Family Society - long may it prosper”

Members then had individual discussions concerning particular records before leaving.

Dist:

All attendees with e-mail addresses

CT:

Councillor Chris Pond