The Oxton Society, Annual Report, 1st March 2024 to 28th February 2025
Welcome to the Chairman’s report for the year 2024-2025, my third annual report as chair of the society; another year has gone by in the blink of an eye!
Much has been achieved and much planned for the future, all in all yet another excellent year for the society and its members.
Our beautiful village continues to thrive thanks to the wonderful mixture of residential and business properties, all lending themselves to the special environment that is Oxton village and the unique vibe of the whole Oxton area.
Our core conservation work continues to deal with a plethora of interesting planning applications for building and tree work throughout the year for which our busy officers should be heartily thanked for the time and work they put in keeping on top of things.
Other positive results can be seen in the maintenance of our uniquely varied boundary walls and the work of the tree group, all of which goes towards retaining, nourishing and replenishing the feel of the village. It’s often the little nudges and willing knowledgeable advice which the society is able to gently give that can make a big difference in sustaining our village as a delightful place to live and work and thanks must go to all in the society whose expertise and devotion to the cause makes this happen.
Once more our main fundraising event of the year, the Oxton Secret Gardens, has flourished and advanced in its offering under the leadership of Kirsty Cotton and Lisa Stafford, along with the excellent stewardship of a small army of local volunteers, most of which who go mainly unheralded but to whom on behalf of the society and I hope the village in general I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude. Kirsty and Lisa, as event managers, have continued to build and develop the success of the event and I hope they know they are especially appreciated by all members of the society.
I know that many of our members also work with or are members of the Callister Gardens Trust and The Friends Of The Arno, so it was great to act on our renewed constitution and be able to make a financial contribution to both these organisations to help them develop and improve on their own activities. The enhancement of the immediately adjacent areas of the Oxton Conservation area is important to us, and obviously we can ourselves, enjoy the gardens they manage and the services they provide. Details can be seen
in the annual accounts statement in this report.
I would like to pay tribute to three retiring committee members. Firstly, George Harrison has been with us for many years and has been an active member of our tree planning group. His knowledge and calming advice over the years has been very important to the committee.
Two retiring executive officers from the committee and long-term stalwarts of the Oxton Society in Alan Chape and Jeff Willis, will also be retiring at this AGM. The time and effort they have put into every activity we partake within the Oxton Society over many years is impossible to quantify. Their dedication and unapparelled expertise will be greatly missed, so a huge thank you on behalf of everyone involved with the society both past and present is totally warranted. Alan and Jeff, the society would not be what it is today without
your colossal efforts. Thank you.
Coupled with the loss of committee members and a common theme in 2024-2025 is in the availability of volunteers to organize and help with running our projects and events, and I believe we are reaching a critical period of change.
It is hoped that over the remaining months of 2025, moving into 2026 will see a new band of volunteers joining our ranks who can keep the vibrancy of our village alive. If you, or anyone you know of can help in this important task, please contact us.
Further below are some more detailed statements of our activities, and most importantly, our financial report. Thank you, as members, for your support to the society.
Chris Jarrey
Chair