2025 Follower’s AGM and Annual Meeting – Organised by Charles Knape (charles.knape@rupertbear.co.uk)
This year’s AGM and annual get together once again is nearly upon us. As per last three years we will again be meeting up at Warwick University at the Radcliffe Centre for a day of Rupert Fun.
What’s Happening:
Sales, Talks and demononstrations…
Throughout the day:
- Dealers’s Bourse from 9 AM;
- Origami demonstrations from 10 AM;
- Stuart Trotter signing pre-ordered Rupert Annuals from 10 AM
- AGM at 12 Noon;
- Raffle: Draw at 4:30 PM
- Buffet: if pre-booked, 6:30 PM
Talks during the day:
- Howard Smith: How Rupert survived the Tourtels
- Mark Manley: A Year with Rupert
- Stuart Trotter: The Surbiton Train Station Project (with an opportunity to ask questions
Information about the Fun Day:
This year we have decided to tailor down the event to just the one day of activity, aiming to go back to the early days where the focus was more social than razzmatazz.
With rising prices all around us, this will keep the costs of the event down for both you and the Followers and allows us to charge only £15 registration (no early bird discounts this year).
We won’t be handling out welcome packs in the traditional way: this year’s newly designed Warwick University 2025 badge (one per registration paid) along with any prepaid meal tickets and the day’s programme will be available to collect from the Followers’ sales table. Also we won’t be holding any formal events on the Friday evening for the early-birds, although most will be found in the bar area if you fancy an early catch up.
The venue have offered us promotional-prices reserved accommodation for the Saturday and the Friday, should you wish to make a long weekend if it. Those who have stayed at Warwick Uni before will know the facilities are excellent, there are complementary teas, coffees and biscuits and a paying bar. Accommodation, restaurant and the bar are all on the same floor, an easy distance apart if mobility is becoming an issue.
There will be a light lunch offering on Saturday prices at a subsides rate of just £12 per person. We won’t be holding a Gala Meal on the Saturday evening. Instead there will be a 2-course buffet evening meal (their buffet food is excellent). This will need to be pro booked/paid for (it is subsidised at £29) and again we will be gathering informally in the bar for those who are staying over, before heading back home on the Sunday morning after breakfast.
As last year, you will need to present your meal ticket on entering the private dinning area and restaurant respectively to gain admission. There will be someone at the door ticking you off.
A registration form is enclosed with the latest newsletter and is also available online on the Members’ area. The form will need to be either poster or e-mailed to Charles Knape (Charles.knape@rupertbear.co.uk) using the details provided on the form.
To order your Signed Annuals (and/or drawn figures) use the part of the registration form allotted for the prupse (non-attenders, use this form to order a signed annual to be posted to you).
For sellers:
If you would like to join our sellers this year and sell some of your excess collection or related children's books, ephemera and artwork, tables are free. Please specify on the booking form how many you require.
How to arrange accommodation:
Accommodation needs to be booked directly with the University. You can make contact with the Radcliffe conference centre by using the email address: Radcliffe@warwick.ac.uk and.or phoning on 024 7647 4711 or on the website using the web address: https://bandb.warwick.ac.uk
If emailing or phoning to be sure to mention the event and the promotion code to obtain reduced rate. The promotional code is: RPBB
Prices are:
- Single occupancy £84.00 including breakfast
- Double/Twin rooms £98.40 including breakfast
Prices include VAT.
Please note, 5 weeks prior to the event the accommodation will no longer be offered at the promotion rate or guaranteed. You have until 23 July to book – you have been warned! The spaces available are limited so will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
Car Parking
Parking at the venue is free. The location of the car park is subject to availability and can be at Scarman, Radcliffe or Kirby Corner Car Park. All university car parks have Automatic Number Plate recognition (ANPR).
You will be required to register in advance or on the day of the event to receive the free parking. The parking promotional code is NTXUE, once used as part of your online booking process, the parking cost initially indicated will drop to zero.
The university is also easily accessible by bus from Coventry train station.
We are always looking for contributors for our event and it is these contributions that keeps the event going and keeps it so interesting. If you would like to contribute or help out over the weekend, please speak to Charles Knape.
Thank you.
We all look forward to seeing you!
