The Chairman made the following address:

“Before we close the AGM I want to return for a moment to the subject of retiring committee members and specifically Nancy Spratt.

Nancy joined the committee in the mid 90s and almost immediately found herself volunteering to take the vacant secretary’s job – which she held until the late 90s.

In the meantime, following a 3 year WEA Local History Class a group of residents including Nancy had amassed a lot of information about village history which was in danger of getting lost.

The Village Trust agreed to oversee the creation of a village archive with the aid of a grant from the Parish Council. Nancy and Christine Cooney organised the storage of this material in the village school so that it would be secure and so the children and teachers could make use of it.

A second copy was deposited in York City Archive. Over the years the archive has expanded and includes a special Social History file for local people to donate their own village memorabilia.

Nancy has continued to oversee and provide access to this important resource and to prompt the Trust and the History Group to mount displays for the wider public.

She has been an invaluable member of the committee always prepared to contribute ideas and argue her case in her quietly determined way.

After a few years of trying to escape from the committee Nancy has found a successor in Wendy Taylor who we welcome to the committee and to the post of archivist.

The Trust and anyone interested in our village’s development over the centuries owes a debt to Nancy for her work and determination in managing the project.

On behalf of the Trust Nancy I am pleased to make a small presentation to you with our thanks and best wishes.”

The meeting then supported the tribute with applause