Annual General Meeting 2025
Sunday, 9 November, 1.30pm
at Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD, a few minutes’ walk from Euston and St Pancras stations and from Tavistock Square, venue for the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony* earlier the same day.
The AGM will include an annual report, the Treasurer’s report, the election of Officers and Members of the Executive Committee, and an open discussion forum. Details of those standing for election is available to view below.
If you would like to nominate someone to stand for the committee (nominees must be MAW members), or if you cannot attend the AGM but have any suggestions or concerns, contact us by Friday 31 October at info@abolishwar.org.uk or in writing to 1 Old Mill Place, Haslemere, GU27 1NE.
A proposal will be put by the Executive Committee to the meeting that, in the absence of a Chairperson and Secretary, the current co-convening arrangements, agreed at AGM 2024, continue for one more year, to be reviewed at AGM 2026.
Do come along to show support, air your views, and meet other members. We look forward to seeing you there!
*All are warmly invited to attend the Annual National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony, prior to the AGM, from 12noon to 1pm in nearby Tavistock Square. This is always an impressive and moving event. More details will be found at www.ppu.org.uk/events as they become available.
Who’s who and candidates for election
President: Professor Paul Rogers. Paul has been President of MAW since 2020. He is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and has worked in the field of international security, arms control and political violence for over 30 years. He lectures at universities and defence colleges in several countries and is a regular commentator on global security issues in both the national and international media.
Vice-Presidents:
Colin Archer – Secretary General of the International Peace Bureau 1990-2017. MAW Vice-President since 2012. Active with CND and Global Campaign on Military Spending (UK).
Martin Bell – a former BBC war reporter, MP for Tatton 1997-2001, currently a UNICEF UK Ambassador. MAW Vice-President since 2006.
Christine Blower – General Secretary of the NUT 2009-2016 and former International Secretary of the NEU. A Labour Peer since 2019. MAW Vice-President since 2013.
Diana Francis – former President of International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Council Member of Rethinking Security. MAW Vice-President since 2018.
Mererid Hopwood – Academic, poet and lifelong campaigner for peace working particularly within the International Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales. Instrumental with others in creating the Academi Heddwch Cymru – a peace institute within the Welsh universities. MAW Vice-President since 2020
John Gittings – active in the early years of CND; China correspondent and foreign leader-writer for The Guardian for many years. Member of the editorial team for the Oxford International Encyclopedia of Peace (2010, OUP) and author of The Glorious Art of Peace (2018, OUP).
Candidates for election or re-election to MAW’s Executive Committee:
Co-conveners:
Hilary Evans – member MAW Executive Committee 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Vice-Chair 2019-2023. Active member of Kingston Peace Council/CND, supporter of UNA-UK and has long-time strong environmental concerns. Co-convener since 2024.
Sally Reynolds – first joined the Executive Committee in 2001 when MAW was founded. Vice-Chair 2013-2014; Secretary 2014-2018; Acting Secretary 2018-20. Secretary 2021-2024. Also MAW Resources Secretary. Active member of Abingdon Peace Group and Abingdon Carbon Cutters. Co-convener since 2024. Acting Treasurer: Gill Hurle – committee member and Membership Secretary 2012-2016 and 2017-2021. Co-opted 2021 to continue as Membership Secretary and to represent MAW at Rethinking Security. Re-elected 2022 and took on the role of Acting Treasurer due to the illness of the elected Treasurer. Treasurer and Membership Secretary of Kingston Peace Council/CND.
Ordinary Members.
David Collins – member MAW Executive Committee 2018-2022. Co-opted 2022 in order to continue his important work for MAW on highlighting the connection between military activity and the climate crisis. Re-elected 2023. Is also an international member of Veterans for Peace.
Tim Devereux – MAW Chair 2014-2017 and 2020-24; Vice-Chair 2018-2019. Maintains MAW’s website and is also a member of Pax Christi and Yorkshire CND.
Heather Speight – a long-time member of MAW. Member of the Executive Committee 2014-18, then served as Vice-Chair until 2020 during which time she produced MAW’s booklet of quotations ‘From War to Peace’. Exec member again since 2022. Also active in Peace Action Durham.
Arthur West – a long-time supporter and member of MAW, Arthur was elected to the Executive Committee in 2022 on the understanding that he can only participate online (attendance at London-based meetings would not be feasible). He was Chair of Scottish CND from 2011 to 2019, is currently Secretary of Ayrshire CND and is active in the Scottish Peace Network, organising regular peace vigils, and Don’t Bank on the Bomb Scotland Network.
Abolish War team.
Editor: Helen Riley – has edited our newsletter Abolish War since 2012 and is willing to continue although not to be on the Executive Committee.
Proof-reader: Valerie Flessati – has proof-read Abolish War since 2015.