The MOA 2026 AGM
Held at the Atlantic Hotel, Liverpool on 7 March 2026
Headline report
Elected Officers:
Commodore – Neil O’Connor*
Vice Commodore – Howard Weeks*
Hon Secretary – John Oldham (2nd year)
Treasurer – Sarah Cull (2nd year)
Membership Secretary – Vacant.
The membership post will be covered by the Vice Commodore until a new membership secretary is appointed
Membership subscription to rise from £26 to £28 from September 2026.
Notes:
* The Commodore and Vice Commodore are elected for two years.
Key points
Membership remains roughly constant overall, there was a drop in Solent branch members but this was compensated by a rise in members in other branches, including an increase in overseas members
Finance remained stable, there was a slight reduction in income for 2025 compared with 2024 and a lower overall surplus. Consequently the General Committee proposed an increase of membership subscription to £28. There was proposal from a member to raise this to £35. Members voted on these proposals, in favour of £28 per year.
Draft minutes AGM 2026
The draft minutes of AGM 2026 (to be ratified at AGM 2027) can be found here (Members only )
AGM 2027
Branches are requested to put forward proposals for hosting AGM 2027
Photographic award winners.
Our guest speaker for the AGM dinner was Stuart Wood. Now retired, Stuart had over 40 years of experience as a Liverpool harbour pilot. He gave a fascinating insight into the work of pilots, illustrated by describing the typical day in the harbour pilots life, from meeting a supertanker at the pilots station in the Irish sea and piloting it into the Mersey until it was alongside on the oil refinery berth.
Members attending the AGM enjoyed a guided walking tour around the centre of Liverpool, including the ‘Cavern Club’, famous for its association with the Beatles, and where Cilla Black (statue pictured above) started her career as the ‘cloakroom girl’
Winner of ‘at Anchor’ shield
‘Carrick in Pulladobrahin’
Winner of most creative picture.
‘Pilgrim at anchor in Les Ecrehous’
Winner Icom Photographic competition
‘The Skerries’
The 2026 AGM in Liverpool was well attended – see picture left. It is our tradition to rotate the AGM around the MOA branches. We hope to be able to announce the venue for AGM 2027 soon.
The picture below is the operations room in the Western Approaches museum. This museum is housed in the original ‘bunker’ that directed the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’
AGM reports
To see the AGM business presentation slides, click on button 1 below (members only). To see the full list of prizewinners click on button 2 below
The Commodores Award – Caroline Gray