Alton Jane Austen Group AGM 2026 Minutes

On Thursday 3rd September, the Alton Jane Austen Group held its AGM for 2026 at the Alton Assembly Rooms.

Pat Lerew chaired the meeting and the full committee attended, along with our guests from Alton Town Council, Alton Assembly Rooms, Jane Hurst, Jane Austen's House Museum and Gilbert White's House in Selborne.

1. Regency Day (report given by Susie Carpenter)

A councillor grant paid for a new JARW gazebo for this year. We need more volunteers to help set up/ take down. The parade needs to be longer, with a clear published route for the attendees. Our thanks to Alton Town Council for helping with the road closure, and the sound system on the day. Next year we need banners for the Assembly Rooms, and possibly our own sound system.

2. Regency Week (report given by Jenny Colquhoun)

Very hot week - would benefit from our own air con unit (or renting one) - some events were cancelled as a result. Need to decide and publish timing of speeches at Welcome Event in future, and ensure events at the Houses (any of the three) don't clash. Events at Cassidy's Bar were well received. Waterstone's and Museum events unfortunately clashed with the existing programme. The 'talk' market is reducing and the 'experience' market is growing. We'll be amending our refund policy for 2027 and recommending attendees purchase event insurance.

3. Marketing and Programmes and Window Competition (report by Pat Lerew and Stephen Lewis)

Leaflets are well received by the wider market and will be continued. The souvenir programme may be revised to reflect its new purpose. The window competition will be more prominently announced on the back of the road closure letters.

4. Volunteers - 2026 and 2027 (report by Susie Carpenter)

More volunteers are needed for Regency Day, and to help the events during the week run more smoothly. Maybe talk to Alton Arts Festival.

5. Accounts for 1/9/25 - 31/8/26 (report by Susie Carpenter)

Accounts received and accepted by the committee. No questions arising from the room

6. Grant Scheme (report by Julie McLatch)

The Grant Scheme application form is live and will remain open for two months. Applications will be read and scored during October and applicants contacted in November. The scheme is for any organisation to apply, for capital or revenue projects, for sums up to £500.

7. Plans for 2027 (Report by Jenny Colquhoun)

Plans for the Birthday Ball weekend are in place (and tickets can already be purchased), and Regency Week 2027 is already coming together. We hope to have Regency Week tickets on sale before the end of 2026.

8. AOB (Pat Lerew)

We will be sending leaflets to the JASNA AGM (in Tucson AZ) for our 2027 programme. The public car park in Chawton is now ANPR, controlled by Fullers Brewery through the Greyfriars Pub.

No other business was raised and the meeting was brought to a close.