Colin Barnes: WEA PresidentColin Barnes, WEA President, spoke at a lively and well attended regional Annual General Meeting on 21 November.

He recalled how inspired he’d been by the region’s ‘Tawney’ event last year and commented on the “thoughtfulness, innovation and success” of our region and its work.

In a wide ranging speech he stressed the need for all in the Association to work together especially in the tighter financial climate now facing us. It was important that WEA members took the debate about the future of adult education into the General Election, challenging prospective parliamentary candidates about their views on the subject.

Colin referred to branches as the “bedrock of our provision and our democracy” and commended the critical thinking encouraged in their courses. Evidence of this was provided in the branch reports to the AGM that included reference to Ledbury’s day school on Post War British Film (featuring The Third Man), Hereford’s partnership with the Museum Service, Wolverhampton’s Theatre Club and Cannock’s class on the Hundred Years’ War.

Laura Whinray was re-elected as chair of the region and in her review of the year referred to the variety of courses provided in the region and the huge amount of work involved in this.

In addition, the region's other Officers, Regional Committee and Association Committee representatives were elected along with the Trustees for the new Regional Development Fund. It was also decided to set up a working group to review the Region's constitution (Statement of Representation).