MALVERN Spa Association recently held their 2009 AGM in the Guesten Room at Lyttelton Well, Church Street, Malvern. The well attended meeting saw Dr John Harcup OBE re-elected as Chairman for another year and founder member Carly Tinkler was re-elected as President for another three years. The remainder of the committee were also re-elected for another 12 months.

In his Chairman’s address Dr Harcup ran over many events of the past year. Recalling the 10th Anniversary Dinner last September, where we were honoured by the presence of our new Patron, Lord Sandys, as our principle guest. Dr Harcup also spoke about the successes of the Heritage Lottery Fund project that has now concluded with all the projected 17 water features fully restored, full details in our latest Newsletter. The end of the project coincided happily with this years Well Dressing, itself a record event. Holy Well and the Clock Tower were both blessed at separate ceremonies by The Right Reverend David Walker, Bishop of Dudley. The Holy Well should soon be bottling Holy Well Spring Water in the very near future, after extensive restoration work. The Clock Tower has also undergone a major restoration and now has water restored to the well house after may dry years. Publicity has been very kind to us; we have had mention in the Tourism Guide, What’s On and we have printed new Trail Guides and a Well Dressing Guide. Our Web site is fully active and up to date and we have had fantastic coverage in BBC’s CountryFile with 5.7 million viewers. Malvern Walking Festival also included two MSA walks, one on the Water Cure the other around some of the Springs & Spouts. Last winter, the Halloween evening and the Christmas party were both roaring successes. We have a very dynamic programme of events coming up and all are listed on the new member’s events card. In conclusion members were reminded that this years Annual Dinner will be held at the Wellington Inn on Thursday, September 24.

The meeting concluded with a talk by Ian Rowat (MHC) on Semi-Natural Water Features in the Area, David Armitage (AONB) on the Heritage Project Conclusion, Lionel Butcher on Well Dressing 2009/10 and finally Barbara Meddows on MSA future events. Finally the Chairman thanked David Armitage for all his help in administering the Heritage Lottery Fund money, and on behalf of the Association presented him with an engraved glass coaster.

RAY ROBERTS (Malvern Spa Association Secretary)