AGM sees the election of a new club President and two more Life Members

  At a harmonious and heart-warming AGM last week at which all and sundry agreed that the club was in a smooth groove, we elected a new President, and the annual duo of life members.Bill Laws last served as President in 1989-90 and his second coming is fully warranted.  He follows in the footsteps of H. Morton-Carr [1887-1898 & 1903-1909]; Alf Harley [1950-52 & 1970-71]; Tom Carter [1956-57 & 1983-84] and Bill Lucas [1963-64 & 1986-88] who have seen the presidency swing round to them for the 2nd time.Bill joined the club a few months before the Coronation in 1953 and has poured significant tranches of his life into Belgrave, all the while enjoying a globe-trotting career as an outstanding engineer.  It is this precision and attention to detail which Belgrave has benefitted so much from - whether it be multiple rebuilds of Belgrave Hall [he just loves taking the old building apart and putting it back together again every 25 years!  And its current majestic guise has nearly made back its investment in a few short years]; to his TM'ship  of the BAL team over a period of 33 years, aided by Leo Coy, John Jeffery and Alan Mead in succession.  They won the National title 11 times.  And even as a solid engine-roomer, he was a precocious Vet who forced his way into the 12 stage team in his 40th year.But perhaps where Bill is most revered is in his tireless support of our teams, whatever the surface or venue.  The road and country lads can almost always count on him being there, often with camera in hand, as can the SAL squad of the last few seasons.  And it's not just supporting, but officiating or helping.  Give him a rake and he'll have that long jump pit looking pristine.Belgrave is fortunate to have such a revered figure guiding our fortunes for the next 12 months.------------------------------------------Another 'big gun' to be honoured at the AGM was Phil Wicks, whose contribution to club life over the last 11 years has been outstanding.  As quiet and unassuming man as you could hope to meet, he turns into a bit of an animal over the race course.  Still waters run deep...  He has led home our team at the National Cross five times, the same amount as Bert Footer, and only behind Gerry North; has won the Southern twice [thrilling races both], and is the 2nd most decorated relay runner in club history - indeed he won 19 medals in his first 21 outings!  His long stage at Sutton Park of 25:11 was the fastest for a generation (13 seconds up on Mo Farah's best).  We thank Phil for his many fine returns, and can only hope that at just 32, he has a few more arias to sing yet.Maureen Noel came to the sport late, but her indefatigable assault over not just the race-walking world but track, field, road and country in generally has left us all pretty breathless.  Suffice it to say that Jess Ennis looks a little laggard when compared to Maureen who has tried her hand at 26 different athletic disciplines!  Yes, I didn't know there were that many either... and there are still quite a few more left for her to try.  Many times a National champion or medallist in RW - too many to list here - she has also been a competitor at the World Masters, and in a few months heads to Perth, WA, to do damage to her 11th at Lyon last year.  We all wish her well.