Annual Meeting
Saturday 24th September 2022
We are pleased to announce that, now the worst effects of the pandemic seem to have subsided, we are resuming the running of annual Charity meetings, beginning this September. The Trustees certainly need to consult more widely now, as regards what people want from the Ann Conroy Trust. The Charity, in turn, needs to explain what it is able to deliver at present, given its limited manpower resources. We are, essentially, developing a COVID recovery plan.
In order to do this, we will spend time explaining our position to those who attend and listening to what they have to say. We will, as on previous occasions, be inviting at least one medical expert to address us, although there may not be time for several presentations. We will certainly provide adequate time for “mingling” amongst attendees because this, we have found, has always been one of the most valuable aspects of our annual meetings.
A major challenge for us, when planning this event, was to find a suitable venue, now that we no longer have the Eaton Hotel, which fell victim to the pandemic. Besides cost issues, a major consideration has been ease of access, for people coming by car or public transport. After a good deal of searching and thought, we have selected the Edgbaston Park Hotel, a newly established facility on the University of Birmingham Campus*. This hotel and conference centre is located in the pleasant and leafy suburb of Edgbaston. It has adequate car parking facilities and the University railway station, being rebuilt as part of the Commonwealth Games re-developments, is a ten-minute walk through the University campus to the hotel. It provides a ready and rapid link to New Street, Birmingham’s main railway station. We have been impressed by the overall layout and facilities, with a clean and modern feel. You can take a look yourselves, via the Hotel’s website, at www.edgbastonparkhotel.com, which provides details of location, together with lots of pictures of the facilities available. You can also watch a brief video on YouTube – https://youtu.be/Ac3KOnxUZi8.
When it comes to costs, these are higher than they were at the Eaton. This has to be seen as part of the overall cost-of-living increases to which we are all now subject but, in the case of the hospitality industry in particular, this comes as no surprise. The Ann Conroy Trust cannot subsidise the cost of hotel rooms but does make a significant contribution to cover function room hire, plus the costs of lunch and other refreshments. The fee for paid-up members and their guests (up to three) will remain at £10 per person. Non-members will be asked to pay £20 per person. A buffet lunch will be provided, as well as refreshments throughout the day, all included in this fee. These contributions cover less than half of the overall hotel charges levied for each person attending.
Please complete the application form, below, if you wish to attend. Please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can provide catering numbers to the hotel.
*Not to be confused with Birmingham City University
Order of Events
Registration from 10am onwards
| Time | Event |
| 11:00 | Chairman’s report |
| 11:30 | Mr George Tsermoulas, Consultant Neurosurgeon “How COVID 19 affected neurosurgery and how future practice has changed as a result” |
| 12:15 | Mingle & Meet |
| 12:45 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Mr Nicholas Haden, Consultant Neurosurgeon Title to be announced |
| 14:45 | “Over to You” |
| 15:15 | Tea /Coffee |
| 16:00 | Raffle Draw |
| 17:00 | Close of Meeting |
