The 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Abbeyfield Oxford Society took place on Wednesday 24 April 2019 at Brian Lewis House. It was well attended by staff, residents, trustees (past and present), and friends of Brian Lewis House.

Chairman Jim Heywood welcomed and thanked everyone for coming. He went on to describe how Brian Lewis House had flourished during the past twelve months, both as a community and in financial terms. The financial success had been partly due to maintaining a high level of room occupancy – that, combined with prudent financial management, had allowed a number of structural improvements to be made.

Firstly, extensive work had been done to the roof – and Jim thanked the staff and residents for putting up with the inconvenience the work had caused. A second big improvement had been to the kitchen, which has had a complete make-over – Jim further thanked everyone for the disruption to normal service while that was going on. Finally, work was now in progress to give a face-lift to the top-floor flat. He hoped and believed that these would be the last major works that the house would need for a long time.

Jim then thanked Karen Thomas, who was stepping down as a trustee of many years’ standing, for all the hard work she’d put in. He also thanked the remaining trustees, volunteers and other helpers for all their hard work. Finally, he thanked the staff for holding the show together – with a special mention to Chaowadee and the other kitchen staff for laying on their usual fine spread of food for us to enjoy.

Following the formalities, the assembled throng spent a delightful hour or more enjoying the food, chatting to one another, and listening to some excellent chamber music played by a hastily-gathered ensemble of friends of Brian Lewis House.