History
2020 - Present
2020 / 2021
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, the AGM on April 13th, 2021 endorsed rule changes to allow two AGMs to be held together on-line on that date.
This entailed Chairman Tony Flood sending out proposals in advance by email and members giving their votes and proposals by reply.
A vote of thanks was given to Tony Flood, who was awarded the Anderida Accolade for outstanding services to the club.
Subscriptions for 2020 were cancelled because there were no meetings, and subscriptions for year beginning April 13th, 2021 were reduced to £20. Members playing £10 of this subscription prior to April 13th, 2021 were eligible to vote at the AGM.
During these troublesome times, Anderida were dealt additional blows with the sad deaths of Vice President Alan Baker and Ollie Cater, the husband of our patron Tamara McKinley. Tony Flood and secretary Heather Flood paid glowing tributes to them.
2022
Anderida got back to normal after the disruption caused by Covid, with meetings cancelled and the AGMS for 2020 and 2021 being held together by email.
At the AGM in April, 2022, a tribute was given by chairman Tony Flood to the late Rod Colley, who, with his son Alistair, had managed our website.
Tony Flood reported that members had been supportive of each other by giving critiques to those reading extracts from their work, with best-selling author Tamara McKinley giving in-depth feedback.
But more people were needed to join the committee. Christine Racher and John Silverton stepped up to fill the positions of secretary and assistant secretary following Heather Flood's decision to stand down as secretary for health reasons.
Francis Wait took over as Treasurer from the long-serving Roger Hardman.
The Anderida Accolade went jointly to Heather Flood and Tamara McKinley.
2023
Chairman Tony Flood said that 2023 was a successful year, but it was disappointing that most of the tasks of running the club had fallen on the same few people, with himself and Francis Wait each filling three or more roles.
The annual Short Story and Poetry Competition continued to be a highlight in our year, with actors Brian Capron (the club's Vice President) and Sue Thacker reading out entries.
Tony Flood thanked those who had helped launch his new book Fall Guy - Who Really Killed His Wife?
2024
Anderida Writers were delighted to host the book launch at our March 2024 meeting of the latest in the series of Cliffehaven war-time sagas, written under the name of Ellie Dean, by international best-selling author Tamara McKinley.
Chairman Tony Flood said: “Tamara has given us great support as our patron and former chairman so it was wonderful that we could show our support for her and her latest book Love Will Find A Way.”
Vice-chairman Nigel Gearing sponsored an additional annual Short Story and Poetry competition for the Gearing Trophy, with cash prizes of £225. Nigel and Anderida Patron Tamara McKinley judged entries.
John Silverton won both sections in the Anderida Annual Short Story and Poetry in July. Actor Brian Capron of Coronation Street fame, who had shared reading the entries in previous years, was unavailable this time, so actress Sue Thacker read all 18 entries.
With Christine Racher and her brother Michael having left their positions as secretary and assistant treasurer, John Silverton stepped into both roles.
2025
Chairman Tony Flood turned into a 'showbiz entrepreneur' by arranging for Anderida to host a performance by singing star Dec Cluskey of The Bachelors. It was a big success, attracting a club record sell-out attendance of 81 members and guests, and spreading the word about Anderida.
Actor Brian Capron praised Tony and Heather Flood, the winners of the Anderide Annual Short Story and Poetry competition, and fellow members on showing great talent with their entries, which he read out, together with actress Sue Thacker.
Tony Flood, Alan Baker and Francis Wait have won the Annual Short Story competition multiple times. Similarly, the Annual Poetry competition has been won multiple times by Heather Flood and John Silverton.
Francis Wait and Philippa Drake won the short story and poetry sections in the Gearing Trophy. Entries were again judged by sponsor Nigel Gearing and Tamara McKinley, who provided feedback to entrants.