Dominic Manning announced the joint resignations of himself as chairman and Christopher Strangeways as administrator at the Rother Environmental Group (REG) members’ annual meeting on Tuesday, February 23. This, at a stroke, effectively removed the executive capability of the organisation.
Members listened in silence as Strangeways reported on the limited activities undertaken during the previous year. There had been some talks and discussions on fracking, transport and the circular economy, and grants totalling £3,750 had been made to local groups out of funds donated by Sony Pictures following the filming of The Monument Men in Rye.
He presented the latest accounts and called for nominations of trustees, whose responsibilities would be twofold – to oversee the remaining funds and to approve the use of the group’s name in connection with any future proposed projects in the environmental field.
At this point, members rallied to the cause with eight or nine volunteers to act as nominees, including Nigel Jennings who agreed to act as convenor, and Strangeways (who is still the REG president) has not entirely left the organisation of which, for a number of years, he has been chairman.
It was open to individual members to propose activities which might be carried out under the aegis of REG, which continues to be respected in local government affairs.
Stuart Harland thanked Strangeways and Manning for their hard work over the years in sustaining and promoting the environmental campaigning group. Apart from its own considerable achievements, REG had spawned or been the catalyst for a number of other local action groups including Rx Energy conservation, Rye Community Garden, Transition Rye and the Rye Schools’ E-Fund.
The meeting closed in optimistic mood, assisted by a ready supply of liquid refreshments in the Benson Room at the George Hotel.
Photo: Kenneth Bird