Army Apprentices National Association & Memorial
Annual General Meeting 9th May 2026 Minutes
(Held at the National Memorial Arboretum)
In the absence of the Chairman, Terry Hanmam, Johnny McGahan agreed to chair the meeting, and welcomed those present.
Steve Joyce (Secretary) explained that he had heard from Terry who had just been discharged from hospital and was receiving ‘Hospital Care’ at home, and gave his apologies that he could not attend the AGM.
Member Present
Acting Chairman Johnny McGahan
Secretary Steve Joyce
Treasurer Glyn Marsh
NMA Liaison Rob Cross
Webmaster Peter Forster
Member Colin Taylor
Member Len Morland
Member Vic Amaira
Member Bob Cook
Member Bryan Wheatland
Member Derek Wheatland
Apologies Received
President Maj Gen John Stokoe
Chairman Terry Hanman
Member Roger Traves
Member Gordon Bonner
Member Ray Armstrong
Member Garry Kelly
Minutes of 2025 AGM
The minutes were briefly discussed and agreed
Accounts
The treasurer distributed a copy of the accounts and gave a brief verbal explanation. The Harrogate association has now closed, but before doing so, made donations totalling £2000. Therefore, the only income stream going forward will be donations from Carlisle and Arborfield associations, usually £100 per association per year.
The main outgoings are to the NMA for the hire of equipment for our service.
PA System – £150, Buggy Shuttle – £75, Lectern – £35 and Chairs @ £4 per chair.
Based on current costs + inflation, the best guess is that we have enough funds to cover our Sunday service for about the next five years!
Steve Joyce explained that for this year (2026) he had decided to only book a lectern and chairs for the Sunday service. He will supply a PA system and music for the hymns & National Anthem, using portable / Bluetooth speakers.
(Afternote. Following the service, Garry Kelly advised me that he has a more powerful portable PA system that he could bring along in the future).
Website
Currently we are hosting and paying for two web sites due to historical reasons. Following input form Colin Taylor and Peter Forster, and discussion between those attending, it was agreed that we only need one Website which is currently run by Colin Taylor. The Website’s name is: Army Apprentices National Association & Memorial.
Colin has generously agreed to continue to host the site. Glyn Marsh proposed that we close the site currently being run by Peter Forster and continue with the one site run by Colin Taylor. The proposition was seconded by Steve Joyce and agreed be all present.
The Chairman thanked Peter for all his hard work whilst Webmaster of the AANA.
The Future
The position of Chairman was discussed due to Terry Hanman’s ongoing medical issues which is hindering his active involvement with the association. The members all agreed that Terry needs to concentrate on his own health rather than worry about the activities of the association. Len Morland volunteered to take on the role of association Chairman. This was proposed by Johnny McGahan, seconded by Gly Marsh and agreed by all.
The members thanked Terry for his work to date at Chairman and wished him well for the future.
Len Morland gave an explanation as to why he thought that the Harrogate association closed down. Basically, the ‘younger’ members were reluctant to take on the various tasks required to keep the association going, and feared that the same could happen to the AANA&M association.
Arborfield was the last Apprentice college to close down, and therefore the AOBA is where the younger members may possibly be found.
Dave Merrick asked the question “What is our mission” as an association. This resulted in a long discussion as to how we can attract more members, as it is not normally until after retirement that we start looking to link up again with like-minded people. Also, there is less enthusiasm among the younger element to dress up for a dinner / social and more
inclined to attend a BBQ in casual dress.
Len Morland stated that as the new Chairman, he will be corresponding directly with the other associations to encourage more support from the other associations.
(After note) Whilst going through past association documentation, the Secretary discovered within the 2017 AGM minutes, the same discussion regarding the lack of support and ‘The Future of the Trust’ and promoting the Trust, as it was then, to a wider audience.
The Association committee for 2026 – 2027 will consist of:
:
Chairman – Len Morland
Treasurer – Glyn Marsh
Secretary – Steve Joyce
Webmaster – Colin Taylor
NMA Liaison – Rob Cross
Any Other Business
The parading of the standards was discussed no one is available to parade the HOBs standard. It was agreed that the HOBs standard will be draped over the HOBs plinth.
The Secretary was requested to contact the NMA regarding the agreement between the AANA&M and NMA now that the RBL has taking over. Also details of the year’s expenditure from our donation. (Please see attachment B)
The Secretary suggested the provisional dates for next year’s reunion, subject to agreement with the NMA & Cathedral Hotel for Saturday 8th May & Sunday 9th May 2027. (Now Confirmed)
Attachments:
A – Copy of the Accounts
B – Copy of the response from the NMA
Attachment – A
Attachment – B
(please excuse their typos)
I have highlighted certain parts – Secretary
On Wed, May 13, 2026 at 12:20 PM Andy Ansell <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Steve
I am very sorry your memorial did not appear as you would have wished for the event on Saturday. We do try and do extra cleaning prior to events so memorial look pristine for event but it not always possible due to resources and other priorities. May is always a busy month for the ground team with mowing and weed growth taking priority.
You are correct the maintenance agreement we have with the AANM does state the memorial will be cleaned at the end of the Summer and winter, and the base thoroughly following flooding. The memorial was washed before Remembrance (the end of summer), the entire memorial, not just the base has been washed several times following flooding through the winter and the memorial was washed in March (the end of winter). Its not fair at all to state the maintenance agreement has not been complied with when in fact it has as detailed above.
The event team do offer a specific pre-event cleaning for any organisation that would guarantee memorials are clean for event. If this is taken up, we will clean memorials on the closest working day to the service, and it guarantees memorials are pristine for the service. In future years if you email Paul Johson, copied in, well in advance of the event and ask him he may be able to program a May clean in when you know the date of the event.
In relation to maintenance following the merger, as I explained in my email on the 16th April 2026 nothing will change. The same team will deal with matters in the same manner, everything has transferred to The Royal British Legion unchanged. The maintenance agreement responsibilities previously carried out by the NMA have transferred to the RBL and my team remain responsible for them.
We do not offer a service to provide financial statements in relation to maintenance agreements sorry, this was discussed with John McGahan when the agreement was signed.
Sorry again your experience of Saturday did not need your expectation, my team and I remain committed to delivering the best possible experience for our memorial owner.
Regards
Andy
