2007
With a dwindling membership, Chairperson Harry Pope called an Extraordinary General Meeting on April 3rd 2007 at the York House Hotel, replacing the March AGM. Those present were Elizabeth Baker, Harry Bankhead, John Bennett, Ann Botha, Roger Hardman, Maureen Murphy, Harry Pope, Moyra Robinson and Peter Sampson.
In the April Newsletter Harry Pope wrote: ‘The general consensus of opinion was that the majority did not want the circle to cease but would like a format change. These formalities were carried through. The Constitution was amended to dispense with the annual subscription and this is to be replaced by a voluntary donation of £1 by those attending meetings to ensure that funds are topped up. I am fortunate to have recently purchased the Sheldon Hotel, in Burlington Place, Eastbourne, so am prepared to host our meetings there free of charge. It is agreed that meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month instead of the first so that this is less complicated with Bank Holiday Mondays etc.’

All members present voted that the Constitution, originally drawn up on March18th 1998, should be re-written. John Bennett proposed that wording be included officially changing the Club’s name from Eastbourne Writers Circle to Anderida Writers Circle.
Events lined up for 2007 were:
May – Children and Christian Writing; June – Marketing your work. Agents, do we need them? July – short stories; August – Poetry competition; September – Travel writing; October – Novel writing, crime writing; November – Non-fiction writing, Biographies and autobiographies; December – Christmas Dinner; January – Humorous writing, Funnies; February – Fifty word competition; March – Writers Workshop; April – Chairman’s Evening.

Sharon Searle married Patrick Winter at Chiddingly church on Sunday July 1st. Anderida members Ann Botha, Peter and Iris Sampson attended and presented the happy couple with a special card on behalf of all the writers.

At the July 10th meeting Ella Harris rejoined and two new members were introduced, Lawrence Butt and Lynda Osborne, who had discovered Anderida Writers from the Central Library notice board. The club’s details will be included in the 2008 issue of ‘Writers Market UK.’
The short story competition was for 1,000 words maximum on the theme of ‘Grand Ideas’, with first prize of £25 and £15 for second. Twelve people attended the Garden Party and poetry readings at Ann Botha’s home, which ended up being held indoors as the rain lashed down outside.