Three Towns Forum
Forum Central => The Three Towns Forum => Topic started by: Ian on July 16, 2021, 12:04:56 pm
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We're approaching the forum's 11th birthday. In the time it’s been running, a lot has changed. Some have left, some have passed away and some have joined and we've had more than eleven million hits.
DaveR has–sadly–been unable to devote much time, because of family and other commitments, so we’ve seen a lot fewer of his excellent photographs and missed his wry sense of humour. Although the forum has become largely self-managing, in August (19th, to be precise) we have to pay the annual costs of maintaining the hosting and retaining the domain name. Together, these come to roughly £200.
Because most of our long-time members are ad-free members, we now get very little from advertising revenue and, although our hit rates remain very high, it means that if we want the place to remain in existence we have to make the payments when they become due.
I have already PM’ed some of our most active and long-serving members, and one member has suggested that perhaps 20 members could contribute around £10.00 each. I would be able to set up a non-profit bank account which would exist purely for the annual renewal fees, and those members who wished to contribute would be able to pay into that account if they so wished.
In return those who contribute would become associate owners of the forum and would have a special board, inaccessible by anyone not in the group, where discussions could be held relating to the forum. They would also become able to modify and create aspects of the forum. In effect they would become moderators.
However, this all depends on whether there’s enough interest in keeping the forum going. We have some time to consider it, but please do let us know how you feel.
Thanks.
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I would be happy to contribute the £10 to keep it going.
I have enjoyed many aspects of the forum over the years and have found it very useful.
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I feel the same Hollins I've enjoyed reading peoples postings and also contributing things myself. It's the first thing I look at when I open up the laptop
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I'm in, as I mentioned there is to much history, photos, research and information on the Forum to lose it. $salute$ $3towns$
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Count me in as I get so much enjoyment from the information on Llandudno etc. I live some distance away and it is the only way I have of keeping in touch.
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Likewise £10 . 00 seems very good value .
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Quite happy to contribute £10 for this wide ranging facility and knowledge bank. which is organised in a logical and searchable format unlike FB alternatives.
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Happy to chip in £10.
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Count me in too! I have quite a few bits and pieces that I’d like to contribute, just haven’t got around to it yet, although I’ve been checking in fairly regularly. £10 is basically little more than a posh coffee and lump of cake.
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... and me!
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Count me in too
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Long time non posting member here. Love the town but can't visit as often as I would like. £10 is a small amount to pay for the enjoyment and knowledge I get from the forum. I would gladly pay a bit more if required to keep this forum running.
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Count me in.
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Count me in at £10 great value.
Nice to keep in touch with what is going on from long distance and fantastic people on here helping with family history etc.
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I'm in, it just wouldn't be the same without you $3towns$
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No problem paying just say when and how
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We're approaching the forum's 11th birthday.
I am sure it must be longer than 11 years.
Before I retired my business was a regular financial supporter for the forum when run by Craig Ollerton.
Nevertheless, Ian, please include me as a donor.
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I too was an original member when Craig Ollerton ran it. Can't remember how long ago, but it seems ages.
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I was also a member back then. I seem to think it went back to about 2007/8, at least that was about when I first discovered it online.
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I too was an original member when Craig Ollerton ran it. Can't remember how long ago, but it seems ages.
I remember meeting you there for the first time at the King's Head and it seems many years ago but I can't remember how long ago that was
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I remember that as well, I owe you a drink !!!
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Thank you all very much for the whole hearted response. I’m humbled you feel the forum is worth maintaining and that you all think so much of it.
In the next few days I’ll create a new topic which only those who have promised to contribute will be able to access. To facilitate this your member groups will change. You will see the new group appear in a new board. ‘Forum Central’ and ‘The Local’ are examples of boards and although the new board will appear on your screen it won’t elsewhere. On the new board we’ll be able to discuss things relevant to the forum and other issues.
Over the next few days you will also notice that you have more 'powers'; you will be able to change things by yourself. Please be careful when making any changes, as they can affect areas of the forum you might not intend them to.
Again, my sincere thanks for what you’ve said and the response in general.
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Evenin all
I don't get to the forum as much as i should, but I go back to the Craig O days.
If it's not too late, count me in for a tenner.
Life would not be the same if this forum was not here. And I agree - FB pages just don't do it for me!
TL
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I haven’t paid my tenner yet.
How do I do it, Ian?
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Thanks, temperancellandudno. I've changed your membership group.
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I haven’t paid my tenner yet.
How do I do it, Ian?
I've been trying to set up a community bank account for the three towns, but it's proving trickier than I anticipated. So, I ave a favour to ask:
does anyone have a business account that could be used to collect contributions towards the forum costs? The reason I ask about a business account is that it should contain no personally recognisable details.
If not, I can probably arrange something through a pal who's a chartered accountant. If you do have such an account and would be prepared to allow members to pay in once a year can you let me know on this email address:
Gersonalk@protonmail.com
or use the PM system to send me a message. The 19th is fast approaching, so iuf time does run out I will ensure we don't end things by default and pay the costs until we can get an account running,
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Sorry but I can't help you there Ian as I don't do any form of internet banking. I can pay by cash though and can arrange for it to be hand delivered where ever is convenient for you.
Please send a PM if you need to
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I think we have an old cheque book some where.................
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Okay. All the information regarding the payment is in the annual payment topic (http://www.threetownsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4650.new#new).
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Sorry, only just saw this! I have been a member for some time, although I don't post (This is my first!) But I visit often & enjoy reading the comments. I would be more than happy to chip in too!
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Thanks, Bagpuss. I'll alter your membergroup and you'll see a new board and topics. The payment method is detailed in that.
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Thanks, Bagpuss. I'll alter your membergroup and you'll see a new board and topics. The payment method is detailed in that.
Great, thank you!
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Personal Message (Offline)
Re: The forum and its future: your views.
« Reply #28 on: August 12, 2021, 07:12:38 PM »
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Okay. All the information regarding the payment is in the annual payment topic.
This link doesn't appear to work what arrangements are in place to contribute?
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Thanks, Spotty Dog. You were not in the original list of those who signed up, which is why you cannot see the linked message. You will however, now be able to.
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Ian,
Payment made today.
Graham
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Thanks Ian, I missed the earlier link but will hand the cheque in tomorrow
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Thanks, folks. When we're all done, I'll produce an account so everyone who's paid will become a shareholder in the forum.
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As a reminder all the information regarding the payment is in the annual payment topic (http://www.threetownsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4650.new#new).
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I have sent my cheque through the post as I am not able to get out to the St. George's Hope this is ok.
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Is this the correct address for postal contributions ?
ST GEORGES HOTEL, THE PROMENADE,
LLANDUDNO,
CONWY,
LL30 2LG
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Substitute The Promenade with St George’s Place where the main entrance is.
Everything else is correct.
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Great; thanks.
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Paid with thanks
today
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Thanks.
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Happy to contribute to such a wonderful forum. How can I do this from Australia?
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I'm trying to sort out an account into which you can pay from Aussie.
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Ian,
Payment made in cash yesterday.
thank-you
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Thanks.
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I've now had contributions from six people. Many thanks to them, and I'll be sending PMs to all those folk.
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Ian, I wrote out a cheque yesterday and I will drop it off shortly.
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Hi Ian
£10 in the post to St Georges Hotel.
Thank you for everything you are doing keeping the Forum going.
It means a lot for us a long way from home.
$thanx$
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Many thanks, Mull.
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Can someone let me know if I can pay by BACS please? I don't use cheques and am too far away to pay in cash.
Helig
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I know how you feel, Helig.
When I looked at my cheque counterfoils I could not believe how little I have used my cheque book over the past 10 years.
Anyway, Ian, I dropped off my cheque this morning at reception.
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Thanks, Bri. Soon as I get it I'll drop you a PM.
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My cash contribution delivered this afternoon in a white envelope - seem to have run out of brown ones!
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Posted
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Ian Just a thought do you have sufficient subscribers to cover the cost of the Forum ,have paid my dues .
Thanks for all the work
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It looks as though we might have just enough.
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I’ll be popping a cheque in the post tomorrow. Many thanks Ian for organising this.
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Thanks, SAJ .
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Thanks, Bri. Soon as I get it I'll drop you a PM.
I dropped it off this morning at reception on the way to the gym just before 10am.
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Thanks.
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I have left an envelope with the subscription in cash and an accompanying note at the reception desk in the St. George's Hotel this morning. The receptionist did not know anything about it at first, but she soon found someone who did and she put with a bunch of envelopes waiting for collection. Hope that is OK.
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Sorry, haven’t had a chance to drop my donation off at St George's yet, but should be able to next week!
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Posted mine to the hotel today. Thanks.
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Many thanks, all.
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Any way to make an online payment yet please. I'm waiting to pay.
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I have put the bank transfer through this morning.
Helig
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The hosting costs fall due shortly, and will be around ?180.00. Split between us all that comes out at around 15.00 per person.
I suspect the numbers contributing have fallen, so we need to consider if the forum can continue. I look forward to hearing views on this.
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It would be a great shame to close the forum ... even if the number of regular contributors has dropped. We will all miss Steve's newscasts, so we don't have to trawl through the poor journalism of the local press; and Hugo's ramblings and photos really give us all something to look forward to daily. Along with the various other "debates" - we all have our views, may well differ from others but I'm sure we still remain friends.
There are other local forums on Faceache where you can find information on things going on, but you have to sift through loads of inane, often downright objectionable, comments to find the constructive stuff. Does not make for good reading, unlike here.
Hopefully the forum can keep going.
... just noticed - that is my 1,000th posting !!!
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I will gladly contribute to the cost of the forum because the Three Towns Forum is the first thing I look at when switching on my lap top.
The forum members have a wealth of knowledge on all subjects and I've enjoyed seeing photos of gardens, wildlife and people's holidays. I don't go on holidays anymore so it's a treat to see where people have been to, whether it's in the UK or abroad
Over the years I've had some good advice and tips on a number of things and offers of help too when I needed something. When my hard drive on the lap top failed Ian straight away offered to help and another time when my central heating failed one Winter, Fester quickly offered me a portable heater so we wouldn't be cold. It's kindness like that that makes the TTF special for me.
I don't do facebook anyway but I've been getting regular e-mails from local sites but they have all been redirected to Spam.
We all know that DVT likes his cars so I'm sure that he would have liked the Lamborghini that went past the Escort type of van my brother was in when he was on the Junction flyover roundabout. Although the van was quite low my brother said that he was looking down on the Lamborghini. I don't think that I could get in that car let alone get out of it
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Steve, Put me down for another year. I like the straightforward reporting with easy access for later reference, unlike the inane ramblings on various FB groups.
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Thank you to the four who have promised to contribute:
Hammy
Hugo
DVT
Mull
Pili Pala
SAJ.
Steve H
Michael W
This is the list of those who paid last year and the year before.
Bri Roberts,
Hammy,
Cordyline
Steve H,
Hollins,
DVT,
Hugo
Helig,
Nemesis,
Gwynant,
Dwyforite,
Cambrian,
Robbie G,
Blong B,
Spotty Dog,
If everyone on the list was to pay this year it would only be ?10.00 pp. If the entire membership of 60+ were to pay then it would obviously be far less.
Anyway, please have a think.
Update: the current list would mean we'd all have to chip in ?26.00 each unless more donate.
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Count me in. Mull
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Thanks, Mull.
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I have paid my contribution for the last two years. Last year there was some difficulty in confirmation that my bank transfer had been received. Since I live some distance away I am unable to pay any other way. I am happy to pay but have concerns after my experience last year.
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I note my payments is not shown in the list of people who subscribed for last year. I have a receipt for the bank transfer.
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Apologies, Helig. I will amend that now. Direct transfer is the best method if you can do it. Alternatively, I can let you have a secure address to which you could send a cheque.
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You can count me in again this year too. Is it still the same bank details as last year?
I know I very rarely post, but I very much appreciate being able to log on occasionally and catch up with all the local news. I've been on a couple of different forums over the last 20-odd years, and they're still the best places to find lovely communities :)
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Same details, Pili. And thank you.
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I?m happy to contribute if I could please have the banking details. Haven?t posted much recently as have been unbelievably busy for a retired person! I do have a couple of stories relating to ancestors on my Llandudno Thomas line which may be of interest, just need to catch up with myself.
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Thanks, SAJ. Will message you with the details.
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Ian ... if you're at Bodnant tomorrow or Thursday I'll pay cash. Otherwise please message me the bank details ... Cheers, Dave
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Last time I left the cash in an envelope at the St George's Hotel in Llandudno. Is it ok if I do the same this time and mark the envelope for your attention?
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I've sent PMs to everyone, but left the amount due to be confirmed. If no one else contributes, it will be 26.00 each,
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Count me in please.
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I will, MIchael. And thank you.
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I can confirm that the Hosting invoice for the next year will be ?155.88 - I?ve attached a screenshot.
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Thanks, Dave.
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Okay. Based on the total number who have offered to contribute, that means we each will have to pay 11.80 to keep the place going.
Don't pay just yet; I'll give it another week or so before shutting the window, just to see if anyone else would like to contribute.
Many thanks to those of you who have already pledged to donate.
Thank you to the 12 who have promised to contribute for 2023/24:
Hammy
Hugo
DVT
Mull
Cambrian
Pili Pala
SAJ.
Steve H
Hollins,
Michael W
Helig
Tellytubby
+ Ian.
This is the list of those who paid last year and the year before.
Bri Roberts,
Hammy,
Cordyline
Hollins,
DVT,
Hugo
Helig,
Nemesis,
Gwynant,
Dwyforite,
Cambrian,
Robbie G,
Blong B,
Spotty Dog,
If anyone else feels it's worth keeping the forum going for another year, I will message you with the relevant details.
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I only just noticed recently, but has the Forum stopped advertisements? and a query, I am not on the list for previous contributors?
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I am happy to pay a contribution if you can keep it going, thanks.
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Thanks, Hollins will put you up there now.
Steve: I fixed that this afternoon.
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I only just noticed recently, but has the Forum stopped advertisements? and a query, I am not on the list for previous contributors?
The ads were stopped because Google refused to allow them. We believe one member deliberately attempted to inflate the numbers.
On the previous contributors, I've been moving the contributors' names from 'paid last year' to this year's sign up, which I ought not to have done. Sorry about that.
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Well, the good news is that we're down to a sensible figure of under 11.80 each to pay, now.Thanks to everyone who's volunteered.
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Hi Ian
Could you send me bank details and I will make a contribution.
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Thanks, TT and I will message them over.
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Hello Ian,
I will pay the subscription this year if you will send me the bank details. I cannot trace these. It would help if you could let me have the name of the account holder as they always check this. I presume this will alter the amount payable by each of us.
Helig
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It will. Helig and thank you. Message on its way to you now.
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I only just noticed recently, but has the Forum stopped advertisements? and a query, I am not on the list for previous contributors?
The ads were stopped because Google refused to allow them. We believe one member deliberately attempted to inflate the numbers.
Ian, is it worth trying again, or even an appeal?
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I will contribute if bank detail and final amount advised. As regards the future, I wish there was a bit more history and genealogy research as there was hitherto but I accept that what comes onto the forum is in the hands of contributors.
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I feel the same about the history and genealogy as you do Cambrian, it seems to have quietened down since lockdown but let's hope that it picks up again.
One I can remember well was the William Davies one and you provided the break through that enabled Hugh Davies to get a birth certificate of his Grandfather William Davies.
Poor old Hugh was spending money willy-nilly trying to get the correct birth certificate but to no avail, but it all turned out well in the end and Hugh was a very happy chappie
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I only just noticed recently, but has the Forum stopped advertisements? and a query, I am not on the list for previous contributors?
The ads were stopped because Google refused to allow them. We believe one member deliberately attempted to inflate the numbers.
Ian, is it worth trying again, or even an appeal?
Might be. Anyone fancy trying?
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I will contribute if bank detail and final amount advised.
Thanks, Cambrian. Will notify everyone of the final cost in the next week.
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I only just noticed recently, but has the Forum stopped advertisements? and a query, I am not on the list for previous contributors?
The ads were stopped because Google refused to allow them. We believe one member deliberately attempted to inflate the numbers.
Ian, is it worth trying again, or even an appeal?
Might be. Anyone fancy trying?
I would not have a clue ! :-[
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I will be sending out a PM shortly with details of final contribution this year. There are 13 contributors for the total cost of 155.88 GBP, which makes each member?s contribution 12.00 GBP. Thanks to all who are chipping in.
Ian
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I forgot to add: I would be extremely grateful if when you have paid you could drop me a PM stating that. Many thanks.
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List of those who have contributed as of 30.8.23:
DVT 8)
Hammy 8)
SAJ 8)
Helig
Cambrian
Tellytubby
mull
Michael W
Hollins
Pili Pala
Hugo
SteveH
Ian
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Hi Ian
I've made a donation today to bank details
as given.
TT
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Thanks, TT.
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Hi Ian,
Contribution sorted this morning. Many thanks for keeping the Forum going.
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Hello Ian,
My contribution was sent by bank transfer yesterday morning. I put the reference on it as you requested.
Helig
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Hi Ian
I called at the St George's Hotel this morning and left the envelope at the reception desk as requested
Hugo
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Many thanks, all.
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Ian, Transferred this afternoon.
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Thanks, Steve.
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I've just transferred mine now :)
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Dropped mine off at St George's on Tuesday afternoon.
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Thanks, both. That's the full list of contributors who have now paid. Many thanks to you all.