Wee Willie Humphries was the guest as the Coventry City Diamond Club held their AGM/Lunch this afternoon.
The AGM spoke with an address from Chairman Tom Dentith before Secretary Julie Chambers read out the minutes of the previous AGM.
The Chairman’s report featured which saw nine Committee Meetings held and over 225 attending the Christmas lunch. The excellent range of speakers was also mentioned with John Williams, Bob Brolley and Jacky Isaac just some of those who have spoken at lunches over the last twelve months.
Treasurer Maureen O’Neill revealed that thanks to not having an Ascot lunch and the superb work of Kath Griffin in delivering letters to members, the Diamond Club was able to record a profit of £849 which will go to running the Diamond Club in 2014/2015.
With no questions, it was on to the Election Of Committee members. Three members stand down by rotation every year and this year it was the turn of Kath Griffin, Geoff Wells and Barbara Cassey. Unfortunately, Barbara’s health meant that she was not standing for re-election after over ten years on the Committee and she was presented with some flowers on behalf of the Diamond Club and thanked for all her service and that of her late husband Ben who was also a former Committee member.
Kath and Geoff were both duly re-elected with former City manager’s secretary Jenny Poole welcomed on to the committee.
The AGM closed at 12.31pm
Ray Stephens, the Diamond Club’s representative on the SCG, asked for ideas about the new stadium to take to meetings before Willie Humphries was introduced. Jimmy Hill’s first signing in 1962, Northern Irishman Willie, who has been retired for the last eight years, told Joe Elliott and the 194 members and guests about the lengths Jimmy Hill went to get him to sign. Initially, Jimmy Hill had accepted that Willie was not interested in leaving Northern Ireland at that time but Jimmy Hill went to Cardiff where Willie was playing in an international and spoke to him for three hours. Willie was invited over for the Easter weekend and given a tour of Warwickshire and eventually signed on the Tuesday night. It was a decision that Willie never regretted.
Willie, who still knows every word to the Sky Blue Song, spoke about Jimmy Hill looking after the player’s families, the cup run including the Sunderland game, the legendary Soccerball’s, the Peterborough away game, the 6-3 win at QPR in a highly entertaining speech.
Humphries received a massive ovation before having to depart to catch a flight to Belfast. Billy Bell put on an enjoyable set which was followed by the bingo and a raffle as another excellent Diamond Club lunch came to an end.
Pictures courtesy of Pete Chambers
