|
THE NINETEEN FORTIES
During the early 1940s the problems between the owners of the land (Mr. Belton) and the golf club continued. As noted earlier Mr. Belton had issued a notice to quit the land by the golf club. After some negotiation by the committee members this was withdrawn but not without some concessions being made by the club. Mr. Belton also wanted to impose a restriction that the grass on the fairways should not be cut so that his cattle could have good grazing. This was subsequently changed to read that the grass should not be cut too short.
At the meeting of 5th February 1941The Secretary reported that Mr. Belton had informed the club that he would have to plough up part of the course this year as part of his quota that was imposed by the agricultural committee as part of the war effort. It appears that the committee pulled some strings in this matter. The Secretary spoke to the Admiralty Chief of Staff who in turn spoke to The Agricultural Committee on behalf of the naval personnel who used the course. There is very little more recorded of these meetings or conversations. However it appears that the course was not ploughed up.
It was in that year (1941) that the effects of not cutting the grass too short came back to haunt the committee. The Open Meeting (Competition) that was for July 10th had to be postponed until July 24th due to the long grass. The Llewellyn Cup had to be discontinued because the competitors refused to play because the grass was too long. Apparently they were at the mercy of the owner as to when the grass was cut. After the committee talked to the owner he promised to cut the grass the following day.
On the 12th December 1941 there were notes made in the minute book (unsigned) that “I was given information that Mr. Belton intended trying to buy his farm and that he considered selling the portion let to the golf club to us”
Another note in the minute book dated 12th January 1942 stated that Mr. Belton did not buy the farm.
Yet another note (again unsigned) dated 12th February 1942 stated:
Mr. Belton gave me to understand that he intended to plough up that part of the golf course. Viz, part of No 3,4 & 5 immediately. I therefore got H. Llewellyn, J. Cobb, B. Tully to go and see Mr. Belton and make him an offer of (sic) round £30 in compensation and ask him if he would plough up other land on his farmland the reply was he would for £35 and the rent be increased to £60 a year.
These notes were unsigned and were not discussed in committee.
At a meeting on 25th February 1942 the secretary reported that The Agricultural War Committee had replied to the letter sent from the club committee agreeing to exempt links from ploughing.
Following this the landlord had approached some members of the committee complaining that this meant more ploughing on his homeland and that he would have to plough a field which he had lately gone to the expense of ‘laying down’ He later expressed to a deputation that he would require compensation for this and additional rent after the end of the March Quarter.
The committee agreed that Mr. Belton be paid £35 as compensation in consideration of the above and the rent be £60 per annum as from Lady Day 1942.
On 3rd June 1942 an Extraordinary General Meeting held at the clubhouse after the committee had received a letter from Price & Kelway Solicitors. They had recently received a letter from J. Belton, Gelliswick viz to end the existing agreement between Milford Haven Golf Club and himself. Also offering the Golf Course to the Milford Haven Golf Club for £2,000 with the exception of the 6th Green.
Twenty-six members were present, when an agreement was come to, to purchase the course, if Mr. Belton would include No 6 green in the sale.
A committee was then formed to see Mr. Belton. Viz, H. Llewellyn, J.L. Cobb, B. Tully with D.W. Hughes and Mr. F.L. Joyce. The purchase was to be made by a small Co. to be formed and then to re-let to the Golf Club in due course. Also after purchase the Co. so formed would sell shares to the members of the golf club with a minimum of £25 per share. The committee, after seeing Mr. J. Belton to report back to the Golf Club.
This appears to be the embryo of the present Milford Haven Golf Club Ltd.
At the Annual General meeting on 25th August 1942 the following has been extracted from the minutes under the heading “Other Business”
The buying of the Golf Course then came under discussion and after a long talk by several members and explanations by the committee (appointed to see into the matter at a previous meeting held on Jun 3rd) it was proposed by Mr. Roy Lewis and seconded by Mr. L. Cobb the members present also approving that the Golf Course be purchased on Mr. Belton’s proposed terms/ Viz, The whole of the course with the exception of No 6 Green, this to be leased to us at £1 per year for seven years with renewal for as long as he is the owner of the land, and the purchaser to pay all expenses both vendor and purchaser.
At the same meeting it was also proposed to repay all of the money previously loaned to the club (I assume by members) totalling £106-7-0 in today’s money £107.35p
It was also proposed that 3% be the minimum interest to be paid to the Co. to be formed to purchase the course.
The following were then appointed to form a small committee to work out details for the purchase of the course.
B. Tully, L. Cobb, H. Llewellyn, H.G. Rees, R. Lewis, O Limbrick, L.F. Joyce, J. Kerr.
This committee did extensive research into the benefits and problems of becoming a limited company, not the least of which were the tax implications of the move. They obviously spent a great deal of time looking in to the different ways of achieving this.
On the 9th December 1942 lengthy discussions were held into how the new company was to be set up, it was decided that the company would be set up as a limited liability company with share capital to be in £1 shares. The Company would be allowed to borrow money and to issue debentures with interest being taxable at source. They also found that the profits of the club would be subject to Schedule A tax and also for 1/3 of Schedule B Tax.
There were also questions as to whether every member must or should hold a share. Questions were being asked about the standing in the club of shareholders against non-shareholders.
While these questions were written in the surviving minutes the answers or solutions to the problems were not recorded.
It was at the meeting on the 7th of April 1943 the first signs of a rift in the committee appears. This extract from the meeting that is reproduced verbatim explains the problem although the first part of the minutes is a little vague.
The Golf Co. This matter was brought forward and it appeared from the discussions that the previous meeting formed to carry on with the formation of the Co. was not formed with the purpose of forming the Co. It was then decided to elect a new committee for the purpose of forming the Co. so that this could be done at the earliest possible time.
Mr Joyce explaining that, as things are now it is very unsatisfactory for Mr. Tully and himself.
The new committee was elected for the purpose of forming the new Co.
A. Limbrick Chairman, L.S. Joyce, D.T. Hughes, R.E. Rees and W. Kerr
And that the committee and secretary to have the power to (sic) coop (I assume he means co-opt) other shareholders on the committee. Also to report as soon as possible to the General Committee.
The next meeting dealing with this subject was held at the Midland Bank and consisted of the committee formed at the golf club on April 19th (This date is questionable because the minutes of the meeting where this committee was formed were dated April 7th)
It was at this meeting that it was decided to base the Articles for Milford Haven Golf Club on The Hankley Common Golf Club Ltd. These articles being similar in principle to what was required by the committee and being similar to our own case.
On the 15th of June 1943 an Extraordinary General Meeting was convened where all of the proposals were put to the members.
The proposal was made by J.L. Cobb and seconded by A. Ritchie. The motion was carried unanimously.
The directors of the club were elected being the oldest members of the Milford Haven Golf Club Org. and were as follows:
A.M. Jamieson, J.H. Llewellyn, L.J. Meylor, C.J. Howell, G. Clarke, J.L. Cobb, H. Llewellyn and B.Tully
It was also proposed by G. Clarke and seconded by J.L. Cobb that all copies of the articles of the new Co. be charged to all members who desire same at 4/- each (four shillings or 20p in today’s money)
On the following five pages is a copy of the Memorandum of Association. This memorandum was drawn up to register Milford Haven Golf Club as a Limited Company. This enabled the Committee of 1943 to become Milford Haven golf Club Ltd. And allowed them to raise money to purchase the land which up until that time they had leased from Mr. Belton.
While all of the paperwork was completed and signed by the 30th August 1943 the articles were not incorporated until the 7th August 1943.
Back to: Index Page
|
