Council for British Archaeology Wales Cymru
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting and Business Meeting held at Hafan Yr Afon
Newtown
Saturday 11th November 2023
| [These minutes have been converted from the original pdf so some formats have not been preserved] |
| 23.01 There were 14 members present, 5 apologies are noted in the minute book.
23.02 The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held in Welshpool on Saturday 1st October 2022 were approved as a correct record. |
| 23.03 Matters Arising from the Minutes: There were none. |
| 23.04 Chairman’s Review of the Year |
| As you may know from the newsletters, Dr Nikki Vousden, who has done an excellent job as editor, will be leaving the position. Her talents in this will be missed and we give her our thanks: although she will be staying on the committee. Archaeological activity for all, whether professional, academic and the amateur community groups and societies was greatly affected by the pandemic. However, with things getting back to normal, as normal as they can, activity is on the increase and those important collaborations between all interests can recommence. This, I think, is vitally important in keeping the historic environment current and relevant by engaging the public in archaeological activities in which they can make a contribution, or at least informed and made aware that there is an historic environment. I am particularly pleased to say that the new website has been launched which will give our members better access to what CBA Wales/Cymru does and what, importantly, is happening archaeologically in Wales. The site is now active and if you have not looked at it yet please do. The website is bilingual using the latest translation programme, however, Mr Tomos Jones, who is a native Welsh speaker, will be checking the translation for any errors. I thank Mr Julian Ravest for developing the new website and making it possible.Archaeology in Wales Volume 61 for 2021 has now been published due to the dedicated work of our editors, for this issue, by Mrs Kathy Laws and Dr Simon Timberlake, and we are very pleased that the publication problems have been resolved. As I stated Nikki Vousden is retiring as the newsletter editor and I wish to introduce and welcome our new editor Dr Emma Wager who has generously offered some of her time to continue the editing of the newsletters and allowing us to continue providing current news on the archaeological activities in Wales. We also have printed issues of the newsletter availablehere today. This year’s Spring Meeting was held at Abbey Cwmhir in Radnorshire and hosted by The Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust arranged by Mr Julian Ravest through his involvement at Abbey Cwmhir and research by photogrammetry of the local landscape. Examples of his work can be seen on our display boards. This was an excellent day, which stayed mainly dry, which allowed a tour of the Abbey by Julian Lovell. The speakers on the day were Professor David Austin, on Abbey Cwmhir in the context of Strata Florida and Mr Mel Walters on the work of the Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust. Relevant to this event is an article in Archaeology in Wales, Volume 61, on the survey of an upland landscape on the Golan Grange of Abbey Cwmhir. In addition to the re-launch of the website, we are in the process of a project to digitise past editions of Archaeology in Wales and make them available on the website. The project is in its early stages; and will take some time, as it is time consuming to search through the library material. This is currently with our committee member Dr Gary Robinson for which he receives our thanks. We had an excellent day in participating in this year’s launch of the CBA’s Festival of Archaeology by having a festival event at Powis Castle, Welshpool, on Saturday, 15th July. A day of sunshine and heavy showers did not put a damper on events not even the excavation of the 17th century water feature. Full details are available on the CBA website on this event and all other events throughout the country. I was pleased to see this as a bilingual event, with an instantaneous translation by a real human being in the presence of Dr Fiona Collins, whom I am pleased to know since my days as an organiser and Director of a performing arts festival, as a respected professional story-teller and folklorist and has learnt Welsh as a second language. So, Neil Redfern, the CBA Director, was saved having to get his tongue around the language. We had a stand with photographic displays, a handling collection by Simon Timberlake, who engaged the public with explanations and answers to questions, and a selection of CBA Wales publications and donated second hand books, on Archaeology of course. The National Trust provided tea, biscuits and cakes for which we were very grateful. The CBA has twelve independent regional groups, including CBA Wales/Cymru, with which it works and collaborates within its advocacy and promotion of archaeology. This is facilitated by regular groups meetings in which matters can be discussed, especially matters of a common interest. One significant matter, which has been under discussion and negotiation, has been a Memorandum of Understanding, which was agreed last year. This identifies the joint aspirations of the groups and the principles of collaboration. The Memorandum includes how we present ourselves in identifying with the CBA, promotion, membership, structure of the groups and of course advocacy and campaigning. By identifying and agreeing common standards, the groups can set their standards within this agreed structure allowing for their own circumstances and matters particular to them. Therefore, the groups meetings represent a vital and important means of collaboration between themselves and the CBA. In addition to providing advocacy to all archaeological organisations in Wales we are proud to support and were possible facilitate the Young Archaeologist Clubs of which there are now six. The latest is the founding of a new club at the Rhondda Heritage Park, which we are giving our support. |
| 23.05 To receive the examined accounts for 2022/2023 The examined accounts for 2022/2023 were presented to the meeting and accepted nem con. |
| 23.06 To consider an alteration to membership categories and an increase in subscription rates The proposal from the committee was that:
A suggestion was made that a digital only membership like that proposed for Student Membership should be offered more widely. It was agreed that the committee would consider |
| 23.07 Membership Secretary’s Report There were currently 309 members on the list, 23 of these were underpaying (old standing orders), did not receive a AinW l but did receive a newsletter. There were 33 institutional members, 276 individual or joint memberships and 5 free memberships (deposit libraries etc). There were 117 members who paid a CBA central membership and choose Wales as their regional group and 192 members who had joined CBA Wales/Cymru directly. There was now a dedicated membership email address via the new website. Membership forms, direct debit forms and gift aid declaration forms were also now available via the website. |
| 23.08 Archaeology in Wales Report Volume 62 was well in hand. It was hoped it would be with the printers by the end of the year, so more back on track. It would contain eight articles and a shorter than usual gazetteer section. There appeared to be a falloff in the number of projects being submitted for inclusion in the gazetteer. It was thought that the need to submit material no longer featured in the brief for commercial work in Wales. It would be useful to talk to the trust control archaeologists and also possibly CIfA. It was noted that the charging for commercial reports still needed implementing. |
| 23.09 Election of Honorary Officers and Committee Members. The list as presented was voted on and agreed nem con. Gary Robinson was elected as Treasurer. Ian Brooks, George Nash and Emma Wager were elected to the Committee (Emma Wager had agreed to take on editing the Newsletter) |
| 23.10 Appointment of an Examiner of the accounts. In the absence of the Treasurer it was not known if Rosemary Roberts had expressed a willingness to again act as Examiner. It was, therefore, proposed that Rosemary Roberts be provisionally reappointed Honorary Examiner for 2023/24. Agreed nem con. |
| 23.11 Other business – There was no none. |
| Evan Chapman Secretary CBA Wales/Cymru |
