Minutes
of
meeting
held
in
Holm
Community
Centre
on
27
th
April,
2009
Present
:
Brian
Aim
Councillor
Andrew
Drever
Alfie
Flett
(chair)
Erlend
Flett
Hazel
Goar
Jimmy
Goar
Ida
Gorn
Ken
Hambly
Fraser
Henning
Shirley
Henning
Reg
Jamieson
Gracie
Laughton
Marlene
Mainland(minutes)
Kenny
Marwick
Jack
McIntosh
Jan
Moar
Douglas
Paterson
Helen
Paterson
Margaret
Smith
Vera
Tait
(
It
was
noted
that
apologies
had
been
re
ceived
from
several
people
with
a
prior
engagement)
Purpose
of
meeting
:
To
establish
a
proactive
group
committed
to
acquiring
St
Nicholas
Church,
in
order
to
ensure
the
sanctity
of
the
church
site
and
the
surrounding
churchyard.
To
form
a
management
committee
to
progress
the
business
of
the
group.
Background
Mr
Alfie
Flett
expla
ined
that
according
to
Church
of
Scotland
policy,
redundant
churches
are
put
for
sale
on
the
open
market.
This
had
already
happened
in
St
Andrews
and
Deerness,
and
now
St
Nicholas
in
Holm
is
due
to
be
advertised
for
sale
in
the
near
future.
The
B
listed
building
is
surro
unded
by
the
cemetry,
the
property
of
Orkney
Islands
Council.
The
building
has
no
services
or
independent
access.
The
historic
listing
imposes
restrictions
on
development
or
alteration.
However
there
is
concern
about
who
might
acquire
the
building
and
how
this
would
affect
the
sanctity
of
the
churchyard.
With
a
view
to
forming
a
support
group
for
the
acquisition
of
St
Nicholas
Church,
Mr
Flett
had
sought
advice
from
Voluntary
Action
Orkney
in
drawing
up
a
constitution,
which
was
based
on
that
of
the
friends
of
St
Ninian’s
in
Deerness.
Discussion
The
meeting
was
opened
for
discussion
and
the
issue
of
listing
featured
prominently
as
this
has
implications
both
of
restriction
of
development
,
and
expense
in
upkeep.
The
roof
appears
quite
sound,
but
there
is
no
guarantee
to
its
safety.
It
is
not
known
whether
it
can
be
de
‐
listed,
but
th
is
possibility
will
be
explored.
Decision
The
majority
of
those
present
(17)
wished
to
form
an
action
group,
which
would
be
known
as
The
Friends
of
St
Nicholas.
There
were
three
abstentions.
According
to
the
constitution,
initial
members
of
the
management
committee
were
nominated
and
seconded.
Andrew
Drever
(n.
J
Goar
s.I
Gorn)Alfie
Flett
(n.A
Dreve
r
s.
H
Goar)
Marlene
Mainland
(A
Drever
H
Goar)
Freddie
Tait
in
absentia
(
V
Tait
H
Paterson)
There
will
be
a
further
meeting
to
complete
committee
membership,
but
the
group
can
now
be
registered
through
VAO
as
a
formally
constituted
body.
