# **British Trolleybus Society Trustees' Annual Report for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022** ## Reference and administration details **Registered Charity number 1033666 Principle address** 2 Josephine Court Southcote Road Reading RG30 2DG ## **Executive Committee Trustees** ## **Dates acted** **Name Office** (if not for whole year) David Chick Chairman & Portfolio Leader – Publications Andrew Barton Secretary & Portfolio Leader – Membership Roy Fawcett Treasurer (Portfolio Leader – Finance) 1-Apr-21 to 16-Oct-21 Graham Bilbé Portfolio Leader – Engineering Helen Cross Deputy Chair & Portfolio Leader – Policy Development/ Administration Paul Dicken Portfolio Leader – Education David Hall Portfolio Leader – Library/ Archives & Website Paul Weal Portfolio Leader – Sales Francis Whitehead Portfolio Leader – Vehicles and (from 16-Oct-21) Treasurer (Portfolio Leader – Finance) ## **Custodian Trustees** ## **Name** **Dates acted** (if not for whole year) Robert Rowe David Beach Professor Francis Terry John Savage From 16-Oct-21 ## Structure, governance and management **Type of organisation** Unincorporated association - **Governing documents** 1. Constitution (dated 5 October 2013) 2. Trust Deed (under which the Charity’s assets are vested in the Custodian Trustees) > **Trustee Selection Method** Elected by rotation at Annual General Meeting (or other general meeting) The Executive Committee operates a portfolio-based management system that defines activities (including the general management of the organisation as a charity), responsibilities and reporting. BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 1 of 6 ## Objectives and activities **Objectives of the Society** The British Trolleybus Society (BTS), originally formed in 1961 as the Reading Transport Society (RTS), was registered as a charity by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales on 24 February 1994. The Society’s primary charitable object is to educate the public about the operation and historical interest of public service vehicles, particularly the trolleybus. ## **Main activities of the Society** In setting the objectives and pursuing the following activities, the trustees, via the Executive Committee, have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The objectives are: - (a) To maintain its historic vehicles and restore them to their original or an authentic condition in order to display and, where possible, operate them at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft in North Lincolnshire - (b) To assist in the progress and maintenance of the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft - (c) To publish a journal of the affairs of the Society - (d) To promote general interest in the preservation of passenger transport vehicles, but particularly to encourage the restoration, maintenance and general well-being of preserved trolleybuses and trolleybus equipment - (e) To encourage the writing and publication of histories on trolleybuses, their operating systems and their technical equipment - (f) To collect and maintain a library of such publications and other archival material that is relevant to trolleybuses ## Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements and the performance of the Society during the year - _**Note:** The Society’s financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. This report on the activities of the Society covers the twelve months to 31 March 2022. As has been the practice in previous years, for continuity this report also covers those planned events that have taken place since 31 March 2022._ **Annual General Meeting:** The sixtieth Annual General Meeting of the Society, which considered the activities of the Society from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, was held at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandoft on 16 October 2021. Roy Fawcett did not seek re-election as Treasurer and Francis Whitehead was elected in his place. The Executive Committee is very grateful to Roy for his exceptional service to the Society, having been Treasurer for more than 54 years. The Executive Committee is also grateful to Jim Gallagher, who retired as Independent Examiner. **President:** The Executive Committee was delighted that Nicholas Owen accepted its invitation to become the Society’s President. Since his appointment, Nicholas has taken a close interest in the Society’s activities and was guest of honour at the BTS Anniversary Dinner. **Finance:** Since the start of the 2021-22 financial year, Roy Fawcett has gradually transferred the management of the Society’s accounts to Francis Whitehead and as reported above, Francis formally became Treasurer following the 2021 AGM in October. The record keeping has been transferred by Francis to a computer-based system from the traditional manual double-book method used since the Society was founded. Monthly financial reports produced from the computer program are provided to the Executive Committee: these have developed over the year and now comprehensively summarise movements and balances for the various budget accounts, the total value of unrestricted and restricted funds, invoices settled and cash at the bank, all allowing regular scrutiny of the financial position. Francis is most grateful to Roy for his invaluable assistance and BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 2 of 6 patience during the hand-over period, passing on background and information, and answering many questions. The end of year accounts are attached at the end of this report. Subscriptions pay for all the costs of printing and distributing the Society’s magazines and the Society's running costs as well as making a contribution towards the cost of accommodating and maintaining its historic vehicle collection. The SponsorTrolley scheme makes a substantial contribution to vehicle accommodation and maintenance costs and helps to build funds for restoration. Most SponsorTrolley donations qualify for Gift Aid, making the SponsorTrolley scheme even more valuable to the Society. The Executive Committee is grateful to the generous SponsorTrolley supporters and to David Beach, who continues to administer the scheme. **Membership:** As at 31 March 2022, membership totalled 271, of whom 14 are complimentary members; in addition, 8 subscribe just to _Bus Fare_ _**.**_ Thirteen members, 4 of them from overseas, receive their journals on-line and 10, while having a printed copy of _Trolleybus_ , receive _Bus Fare_ on-line. A total of 10 members joined the Society during the year under review, all but one of them on-line. Sadly, five members passed away during the year. Of the 254 members receiving their journal by post, 172 have registered their email address and thus receive their renewal reminders automatically via email (their ability to receive the on-line-only newsletter is possibly an incentive): this reduces the workload of the Membership Secretary and Distribution Officer in their not needing to prepare and distribute paper renewal forms. Members who have not renewed their subscriptions receive a reminder; during the year under review, about half of them have subsequently renewed. Since the end of the last financial year, two more members have joined the Society and one member has re-joined. The membership at the end of August 2022 stood at 270. **Sales** : In the year under review, meetings and events have restarted after their enforced Covid-19 suspension and so the sales stand has been active again. Thanks are due to Sales Officer, Paul Weal, for raising significant sums of money for the Society under difficult trading conditions. **BTS Calendar:** The Society’s 2022 calendar made around £400 profit. The Executive Committee thanks Tony Belton for providing the photographs and captions. Another calendar, again using Tony’s photographs, has been produced for 2023. **Monthly Prize Draw:** The Monthly Prize Draw operates January to December each calendar year and produces funds for vehicle restoration: prior to inviting members to take part, the Executive Committee selects which vehicle should be supported by that year’s Draw. The proceeds from the 2021 Draw helped to finance the necessary mechanical work to London 1812, so as to be fully serviceable on its return to Sandtoft; 44 members took part, holding a record total of 136 shares (a participant can hold up to 5 shares). The Draw produced a £1,827.00 contribution towards no.1812. The 2022 Draw will benefit bringing Mexborough & Swinton 34 back to life. The Publicity Officer, Paul Dicken, revamped the Draw application form and this undoubtedly helped to increase the number of participants to a new record of 48 holding a total of 149 shares. The proceeds to be transferred to no.34’s fund are scheduled to be £1,788.00. During 2021 the organiser, Andrew Barton, had to conduct the Draw in isolation at his home due to the Covid-19 suspension of the Reading area meetings. However, with their resumption, the 2022 Draw is taking place at the meetings. Andrew is grateful to the participants for making this valuable contribution towards vehicle restoration. **Gift Aid:** Gift Aid provides a substantial enhancement to the Society’s income, but in the year under review, no claims have been made to HMRC. Nevertheless, thanks are due to Martin Harvey for his background work in maintaining the gift aid records. **Publications:** The Society’s magazines, _Trolleybus_ , _Bus Fare_ and _Wheels_ , are published monthly (but see below about _Wheels_ ) and the Executive Committee wishes to thank the editorial and production teams (Dave Chick, Jody White, Bruce Lake and James Cusworth) as well as everyone who supplies news, articles and photographs, and Derek Pearson who envelopes and posts our BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 3 of 6 journals plus inserts every month, turning them round very quickly after receiving them from the printers. The Society’s monthly electronic _News & Events_ newsletter which is produced by Publicity Officer Paul Dicken is now published jointly with the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. Thanks to Paul for this much-appreciated initiative. Philip Jenkinson retired from the posts of Production Editor of _Trolleybus_ and Editor/ Production Manager of _Wheels_ in December 2021 with _Wheels_ unfortunately ceasing production then because a new editor could not be found; the Executive Committee is grateful to Peter Braybrooke for ably taking over as _Trolleybus_ Production Editor with effect from January 2022. Philip had resigned because of his terminal illness. We were all greatly saddened by his death in February 2022. **Trolleybooks** (joint publication panel of the BTS and NTA): Bob Rowe, David Mulvey and Dave Chick are the BTS Trolleybooks Representatives and Roger Clark is the Trolleybooks Treasurer. No new books were published during the year under review but the Panel has an exciting schedule of new books in preparation. **Meetings:** London meetings resumed in September 2021 and Reading meetings in January 2022. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, the NTA and the BTS presented online Zoom meetings as substitutes for these respective meetings. The BTS Zoom meetings were arranged by Graham Bilbé and enabled by Dave Chick to whom thanks are given: these presentations proved popular and allowed members far from Reading (some even from overseas) to attend and participate in a Society activity. ## **The Society’s Collection of Historic Vehicles:** - London Transport Q1 1812 was transferred from storage in Reading to Ian Barrett’s workshop near Dorking in February 2022 for its planned major mechanical overhaul. Last overhauled by LT in November 1960, as had been anticipated, a lot of the chassis components needed to receive attention with numerous parts found to be in poor condition and having to be machined (some by specialist contractors) or replaced – often involving the manufacture of new. In the current year the overhaul has been completed and no.1812 returned to Sandtoft to be tested before re re-entering service at a BTS-organised event at Sandtoft on 27 August 2022 - The fund for the major restoration work required on Mexborough & Swinton 34 continues to grow. A BTS group visited the Garrett Long Shop Museum, Leiston, Suffolk in September 2021, where an Ipswich Garrett trolleybus with a similar chassis is being restored, to begin a collaboration which will benefit no. 34 - Bournemouth 301: In the review year, no.301 was transferred from Keighley to Hooton Park, Cheshire, initially to have its window rubbers renewed. Further work, mostly internal, has been identified and is being carried out. Thanks to Keith Baynton for undertaking this work - Reading 113 received attention prior to operating at the BTS 60[th] anniversary weekend - Funds continue to be built up for the restoration of Aachen 22 - Bournemouth 99’s defective resistor bank has been removed but not yet taken to be refurbished - Glasgow TB78: A prototype replacement interior vent cover has been produced using 3-D printing technology; following slight adjustments to the design, arrangements are being made to produce a batch of these vent covers. The rear platform has been rebuilt and recently, replacement oil seals fitted to the rear axle - Walsall 342 remains in storage at Thorpe-in-Balne but is expected to be removed soon, following completion of the David Croft Depot at Sandtoft - Walsall 872 still has a hydraulic leak and a defect in its electrical control circuitry - Cardiff 203’s rear brakes remain in need of a complete strip-down and re-assessment - South Shields 204, Huddersfield 631 and Manchester 1344, along with Reading 113, are all reliable and regular performers at Sandtoft, helping to keep a high profile at the Museum for the Society - “William”, the horse tower wagon, remains in the depot at Sandtoft BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 4 of 6 - Reading 47, the Society’s 1935 AEC Regent motorbus is maintained in roadworthy condition and insured for road use, although use is only occasional, in the local Reading area and passenger loads are restricted to avoid overloading it structurally. No.47 retains a respectable appearance despite its last repaint being many years old now, but the bus is in need of some extensive bodywork renovation. During the year under review the owners of Huddersfield 619 offered the trolleybus to the Society and a package was negotiated which allowed the BTS to accept the donation without putting the existing historic vehicle collection at risk. No.619 was formally handed over during the present year. Thanks are go to Graham Bilbé and Francis Whitehead for their continuing leadership of this aspect of the Society’s work. **Publicity:** The appointment of Paul Dicken as Publicity Officer has led to an increase in publicity for the Society, with (among other things) articles about London 1812 generating donations for the restoration fund. **Website and Social Media:** The BTS website is a necessary publicity tool and continues to play an important role in recruiting new members. The Executive Committee is grateful to Ashley Bruce, our Webmaster, and to Dave Hall and Simon Guppy who maintain the content. During the current year the website, under a working group comprising Paul Dicken, Peter Short, Ashley Bruce and Dave Hall, has been revamped and now has a much improved appearance and more logicallygrouped content that is also simpler to maintain up-to-date. Thanks are due to all concerned, but particularly Peter Short for his technical input into building the new site, including working with Sales Officer, Paul Weal, in establishing a more attractive on-line shop. The Society’s Facebook page now has more than 1,500 followers: thanks must go to Dave Chick and Dave Hall for so much input into keeping the Facebook page topical. **Events: t** he Society ran the August 2021 Bank Holiday Trolleydays at Sandtoft, whilst the BTS Members’ Day and 2021 AGM was also held at Sandtoft. In the current year, a tour and dinner celebrated the Society’s 60[th] anniversary, albeit twelve months late, the delay being caused by Covid-19. Thanks are due to Dave Hall for organising these two events, which were enjoyed by many members. **The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft:** The BTS has continued to work closely with the Board of Sandtoft Transport Centre Limited. As the owner of the adjoining _Burntwood_ premises and one of the Museum's three supporting societies: BTS and STCL are part of a Joint Working Group to plan the Museum’s expansion and this is reported below. **Joint Working Group with STCL:** The BTS/ STCL Joint Working Group (JWG) presented its report to the BTS Executive Committee and the Sandtoft Board at a joint meeting on 29 August 2021, when the JWG’s recommendations were either accepted or, after discussion/ agreement, amended. The plans for the Sandtoft District Railway were subsequently worked on and during the current year planning permission has been received and groundwork has commenced. The JWG recommendations for increasing the number of open days resulted in a successful trial during August 2022. _**Burntwood**_ **:** The work needed to widen the _Burntwood_ entrance gateway is likely to be divided into separate “packages” as it has not proved economical to appoint a single contractor to carry out the work. In January 2022, the BTS archive at _Burntwood_ was moved to a larger room, partly to accommodate the additional items that were received from the John Whitehead and John Zebedee collections. Both sets of items have been sorted and boxed and added to the collection, resulting in the new archive room being nearly full already. The “engine shed” and a large section of track for the planned Sandtoft District Railway will be located on the _Burntwood_ plot; as reported above, planning permission for the railway has recently been granted and initial groundwork started. Meanwhile, the rolling stock and track is stored at _Burntwood_ . A smart electricity meter has been installed and has proved useful in remotely monitoring electricity BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 5 of 6 usage. The Executive Committee is grateful to John Stainforth for continuing in the role of _Burntwood_ Property Manager and to Stewart David who is the local point of contact and regularly checks the property; David Hanchett manages accommodation bookings for BTS members working at the Trolleybus Museum. **BTS Archives:** The Society's archives and in particular the extensive photographic archives continue to be maintained by Dave Hall and are a useful source for authors of new works about trolleybuses. Dave has scanned several photographic collections during the year and the archive now comprises more than 50,000 images. In the current year Dave Hall and Sandtoft Archivist Eric Moy visited Crich Tramway Museum to study that museum’s archiving methods and record making. **The Future:** The Society looks forward to the continuing support of the membership in its endeavours to keeping knowledge of the trolleybus to the fore. ## Financial Review ## **British Trolleybus Society Policy Concerning its Financial Reserves** 1. The Society is positively maintained as a going concern, adopting robust management methods to ensure that it has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 2. The Executive Committee regularly reviews the level of the Society’s financial reserves. 3. Over and above the requirement to meet in full the Society’s spending commitments, the Executive Committee’s policy is to maintain sufficient reserves to: - (a) Where appropriate, bridge any gap between the spending of funds and the receiving of income - (b) cover emergency repairs and other unplanned expenditure on the Society’s charitable assets and freehold property - (c) satisfy the requirements of all the donors to the Society’s restricted funds, and those of the providers of grants and the like There are no funds that are materially in deficit. The Executive Committee considers that there are sufficient funds at year-end, in total amounting to £158,463 including the restricted funds which total £122,842, to provide adequately for planned expenditure and these contingencies. The Executive Committee is of the view that the BTS, a charity, is a going concern and has a reasonable expectation that adequate resources are available for it to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. ## Declaration **The members of the Executive Committee declare that they have approved the trustees’ report set out above.** ## **Signed on behalf of the Executive Committee** Andrew John Barton **Secretary** David George Chick **Chairman** **Date:** 28 September 2022 BTS Trustees’ Annual Report September 2022 Page 6 of 6 British Trolleybus Society Rggl$terd Charlty No. 1033666 Receipts and Payments Accounts Fortho period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 Receipts and Payments Year lu 31 March 2022 Restrictod Endowmont funi16 funds to the nearest£ tothe nearest E Unve¥tricted fund$ the nearost£ Y&&rlo 31 2021 Total funds to the neaiestE to the rrtarest£ Recei Mèmbership $uhcnputs Ctyvla.19 lupptyrt grant 8uFDtwc¢d lax 18fund Oonaknon5 cogtsl IrnpT￿rn8Ots Donatv)ns V6hKl& sponsornhip ISponsorTroMgyi Donal￿$ VehKL• resloratyon 7.1179 .000 11.218 6,102 360 10,600 10,496 10,491 10.8 zuo 44,652 166 1,546 166 Donat￿n8 Other GfftAid Tax iedaims fmm HMFIC Legè¢ie5 SWes takin Troiieybooks BTS share ￿ profbt p￿en P8yment$ Irom STCL lor trdieybus usage nthty Pr￿9 Oraw Sub¥cripbDn6 STCL &Ub$cnPt￿ns collecteo by BTS Bank Int¢i¢$i thsctllaneous income 11,066 3.059 729 729 3,250 1.3Z8 18 J,250 1.32V 2.914 18 102 57 106,394 Sub total 23.9 34773 67,673 Ass8t and invo8tmonl?ale8 None Sub total aTrJ ￿>t￿ge L89ai. auoit and general meeting cos 8yfflty4ood Council tsx. uiilrties & mAint¢n&h¢¥ VOhi¢iè¥ A￿MM￿tr￿- STCL veThc￿5 Awotntnod&lv>n- ulhgl Vehcks Towin9 CO$tg Vehic￿5 RèJ*rfaton costs braryand ar¢￿ve cos Readiro area Sllle¥ stock & co815 (Ind￿1￿ Insviancel Momhly Pnze Draw Expenses lonlhty Pnze Draw Pnz STCL subs¢rWon¥ foTr¥arded to STCL ank. PaYP￿ and rigthl tharyes 7,872 7,812 1355T 1860 4.720 8.550 2667 3,3SZ 1,210 ID,D86 3.35Z 120D lo￿16 2T7 1JS 1,2fr3 277 136 1.293 1,861 1310 1,296 1,246 1,474 2t,302 1874 47,9lS 373 Sub total 26,613 3¢6)0 in nt None Sub totsl r0tslpaym￿ts Ye•r Sutplus/Deficit Tran8f•rs b¥￿een funds Cash funds last yoar-ond Cash funds thls 2.59 7.t60 9.T57 69, T6rf 40,926 108.51T 149,445 79.682 8TSkcounts 2021-22 Ptyelof3 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2022 Unr85tricted funds to n••r•¥t £ 16,246 26,411 Restricted fund$ io n••r••t £ 7,165 112,735 2,94z Endowrn8nt lunds to n•ai•i¢£ Cash fundè Lloyds chtyue accouni 9131-MAr- LioyJ$ $4ving¥ 4¢GOunt Ngix)IWdo aGcount PayPal account 4,221 Sub total 124142 Lloy¢¥ choque account lunpr•Mnt•d ch•9u•I 4t 31-Mfir-221 -7,1 115.677 Totsl Cash lunds 42.786 Unro$trl¢to fund8 io nèar••t e Restrictod fund8 to n•ar¢•t C Endowrn•nt fund• Oth•r monotary •i1•ts Non• Fund lo whlch ••••t b•iDng Curr•ni valu• Co8t l¢ptlon•ll ¢uTh•nt ¥•lu• loptknnall ••i•t b•long• A•iot• r•talngd lor th• So¢l•ty'• Hijloric iioMeytuS¢Sl hi*iofi¢ ¥?hiEIryi own w• TIoil•ybu• WglDfrad & ewipmeni Fr••hO￿l￿Trd pi¢p•rty- 8uintwood stock 14.110 Unr¢iiii¢t•a Unr•sincwJ 5.650 446.fj31 TOTAL D¥tai16 Fund fo whl¢h AMO￿nI dy¢ Ython du• IotsiioNII Ll•bllltl•• N¢n• BTSAxrNnts2021-22 Pagt24f3 Analysis and Statement of Restricted Funds as at 31 March 2022 B•l•th¢e 01-Apt-21 Paymnts Transf•r 8¢￿e￿n R￿VIC10￿ Funds * n*•wt£ 31-Mar-22 to n•ard•l É to rMr••tE Readin9 Tow•r Ww 201 40. 847 1,392 40,107 -356 4,131 892 829 440 12.714 74 R•OOing 47 8(H¥n•rnoth 99 South sh￿￿* 204 Roadhig 113 C4rdth 203 L¢nootl 1912 V¥•1￿11 342 IIDchNl•i 1344 Waliill 872 A4chèn 22 T87• 031 BOurngmo￿Ih 301 Hu(kJDNIKid 819 SUB TOTAL (¥**￿1P￿1?IC lurt￿j 424 s.￿1 610 750 7•) 900 1,057 9UXI T.9r7 14.02$ 219 4.263 755 720 745 1.803 ,Z44 31,024 590 1,$2 7QO 1434 6036 7P0 3872 5.02S 3.e72 100.79$ 703.934 23,43• I,￿) SICL mvmbeiihip atsb•cr￿9 RejioL￿ NHLF Gr•ni IPoKi• PrwKI 6uinMwd Montnly Pr4• Dw120211 lgnthty Pr¥• Dr4w120221 32 1735 1.72$ 10 5tyJ 2ZQ 2Q?O .773 1 ?75 4¢$ 21.61J -1.wj ?825 115.677 Approval and Signatures Approvod and signed by authori8¢d tr￿te•S on behall of all th• tru•tg9• 04t• 01 •pprov•l FIiANCI$ YIMITEHEAD o ?.. Y.Q) • OAWD CHICK zl 8TSAcLurts 2021.22 P4e3d3 BRTfIsH TROLLEYBUS SOCIETY Registered Charity No 1033666 Inde endent Examiner's Re ort OD Accoun Report to the Trustees / Membets of - BRITISH TROLLEYBUS SOCIETY On Accounis for the year ending - 31" March 2022 Sei out on Pages 1,2and3 I report io the twstees on my examination of the accounts of the above chariry ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110312022 Responsibilities and basis of the report. As the charity ITUStees of the Trust. you are responsÈble for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chariues Aci 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respea of my examination of the Thist's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Aci and in carrying out my exatnination I have followed the applicable Diiections given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Aci. Independent Examiners Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material fflatters have come to my attenuon in connecuon with the examination which gives me cause to believe that kn any mater￿1 respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 10 ol the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have corne across no other rnatte￿ in connection with the exarnination to which attention should be drdwn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed .. Da￿ . f October 2022 Name . Alan Buder Relevant professional qualifications or body . NIA Add￿sS .' 62 St Michaels Road. TAlehut51, Read￿g, Berkshire. RG30 41LX