All change at the Bircham Centre

Brenda Green, a retired local government officer, has been elected as the new chair of the Bircham Centre. She replaces Ian Boldero, who held the position for the past year, and stepped down at the Centre’s annual general meeting on 25 April, along with Brenda Palmer and Louisa Dreisin, who have all been trustees for six years.
 

Brenda Green

 
A presentation was made to Mr Boldero, Mrs Palmer and Mrs Dreisin, who were thanked for their contributions to the Bircham Centre and for their hard work and support.
 
In his chair’s report Mr Boldero said: “It is now 97 years since Samuel Bircham bequeathed this building to the Reepham community. As a board of trustees we meet once a month to discuss all aspects on how we manage this charitable trust.
 
“We have continued to improve the fabric of the Centre and have been careful to identify and prioritise works so that we make repairs to the building with annual surpluses rather than by dipping into reserves that we keep for possible emergencies.
 
“There is no endowment to maintain the building so trustees work hard to maintain and enhance current income streams and also to try and develop new ones.
 
“Our biggest income stream is the shop and over the past few years this has gone from strength to strength. Janice and her team do a fantastic job; the income from the shop has nearly doubled in the past five years.
 
“I believe the trust’s constitution that limits trustees’ time on the board to six years is a good rule to have; it allows new people to come on with new ideas.”
 
Mr Boldero said it has been a privilege to be part of “a great team and I would as like to thank all trustees that have served during the year and to wish current and prospective trustees all the best for the future.”
 
Mrs Green, who has lived in Reepham for three years, has been volunteering with the Bircham Centre since moving to the area. “Ian has done a fantastic job as trustee and chair and I would like to thank him for all his hard work and support,” she said.
 
“Over the next year the trustees will be focusing on delivering the next stage of the building maintenance programme; we have a very old building which needs constant maintenance and repair. All our income goes towards the upkeep of the Centre.
 
“I would also like to thank my fellow trustees and the community for their support and donations to the Centre. I look forward to working with them over the next year and as chair for the Bircham Centre.”
 
Three new trustees were elected: Hugh Ivins, Philip Lowe and Stuart Lane, all local residents with a wealth of skills and experience.
 
The Bircham Centre still needs three further trustees following some recent resignations. If you are interested in becoming a trustee, please contact the Administrator, Gill Wheatley 01603 879242 or thebirchamcentre@gmail.com
 
See our earlier story:

 

New Bircham Centre chair Brenda Green (right) makes presentations to outgoing trustees (left to right): Brenda Palmer, Louisa Dreisin and Ian Boldero

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