Sunday 12 February 2012

They cracked. It went to the brink: the trustees were lined up to insist Dave 'was not a fit and proper person'; Dave had his statement ready to show that all he had done was to the benefit of the Society and that the poison set in when he accused Rogerson of lying to him over the minutes secretary business - because he had.

On Tuesday evening David Bratt telephoned. This was the first time he had spoken to Dave since October. He told him that the dispute was tearing the Society apart, and for the sake of the Society he wanted to avert the 'brutal' and bloody' showdown on Friday. He proffered a solution: that he would resign as trustee and president if Dave would also resign as officer.

Dave replied that he didn't want to see the Society torn to pieces either, but his first concern was to repair his honour and reputation; he was prepared to resign but first he wanted a public apology, exoneration from all charges and all suspicion, and his legal fees refunded. And David Bratt agreed. Dave also apologised in full for being rude to Bratt. He said that if he got those concessions, he saw no reason why Bratt should resign either post; in his opinion the wrong trustee was resigning.

Bratt, however, insists he is determined to go. We think the rift with Rogerson may run deeper than we know; he certainly hinted at that. Or maybe the letters from at least two other officers, saying they wanted no part in such a blatantly unfair 'trial' that would only bring shame on the Society, made the trustees realise their madness. All sides are bruised by the affair. But Dave now has a statement from the trustees, as follows:

On behalf of the PNFS Trustees following a meeting on Friday 10th Feb 2012 I can inform you that the following has been agreed:

 

1. The assertion that you are not a fit and proper person to be an Officer of the Society has been withdrawn.

 

2. The independent financial review undertaken by Liz Hudson completely exonerates you of any suspicion of misappropriating the charity funds, of misusing the charity, or of procedural non-compliance.

 

3. Your suspension has been lifted and you are allowed access to Taylor House and the computers.

 

4. The Society will pay the legal fees that you have incurred (approx  £204). 

Rhoda Barnett has asked him to go back to helping with her legal committee. Rogerson looks likely to stand for Chairman again, but I would like to think he might be less ready to bully the next person to disagree with him, or that he might not be allowed such a grip on power in future. I tell Dave to avoid shaking his hand, or perhaps to offer him a mince pie instead.