Friends and Patrons of the Buckinghamshire County Museum (Charity No - 1059377) Annual Report 2021122 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT This report covers the period April 2021 to end of March 2022 The Friends and Patrons ntinue their support. promotion, assistance and improvement of the Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust {The Trust), a charitable company (Charity Ref - 11533451. In June the Museum formally changed its name to the Discover Bucks Museum. Covid-19 still had an impact on the Museum this year with closures and staff shortages and it also caused delays to the Discover Bucks refurbishment project. The Omicron variant also influenced both the Museum and our operations during the final third of the reporting year just as there was hope of a return to normality. Volunteers who normally help the keepers at the Halton site were again unable to work this year as the site was closed, eXpl to staff. Planned outings for the Friends were again cancelled. In the Autumn the Friends organised their 111h Off the Wall Art Fair showing contemporary Bucks makers work which included paintings, prints, ceramics and jewèllery. Over 150 people came to the opening and Friends volunteered to steward during the exhibition. £5,631 was raised for the F&P from sales of £15.816. Kate Eckett retired at the last AGM as Chair of the Friends and Patrons after eight years in the role. Her successor is yet to be announced. Sue Shave retired at the end of April 2022 after four years as Director of the Museum. Museum staff, Sonia Whiteman and Mick Hutton retired after long service at the Museum and we thank them for their help over the years. Infomialion Nole-"Discover Bucks" is a trading name of The Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust. The Trust does not intend to change its name or legal identity. Likewise. the Friends and Patrons has resolved not to make a name change either.
Main Achievements Over the year 2021122 the Friends and Patrons have given grants to the Museum totalling £59,355.00 (see below). The Patrons contributed to the refurbishment of the Discover Bucks Galleries and supported the Picasso and Masters of Print exhibition on loan from The Higgins Museum in Bedford. The Friends, contribution of £17,500 to the Discover Bucks Galleries was the balance of the £150,000 committed to the project from the Brill legacy. The new galleries were opened to the public on 2nd April 2022. The Friends also supported the Museum's requests for Treasure items which included a medieval silver coin hoard - 18 silver coins of Henry111, a medieval silver ring {L8ckhampslead), a post-medieval gold and emerald ring {Thornton), an early medieval (8thC }silver pin head (Leckhamptstead), an early medieval gold necklace bead Icharndon), a post medieval silver dress hook (Longwick-cum-llmerl and an early medieval pieced gold coin (Bisham). Grants to the Museum Patrons Refurbishment of Galleries Picasso and Masters of Print exhibition £30,000.00 £ 7.500.00 Friends Coins and Treasure Refurbishment of Galleries Coin, Silver pin head, Necklace Refurbishment of Galleries New Museum Leaflet 800.00 £11,800.00 555.00 £ 5,700.00 £ 3.000.00 Total £59,355.00 Membership At 31 March 2022 total paid up individual membership of the Friends and Patrons amounted to 178 Friends and 84 Patrons (2020 = 179 Friends and 93 Patrons). There were also two Honorary Life Patrons and we welcomed a new Life Patron this year. In addition to the individual members there were five institutional members. The Committee recognises the need to bolster its respective memberships.
Annual Meeting The Annual meeting was held jointly with the Patrons at the Museum on Saturday, 27th November 2021. The President, Sir Henry Aubrey-Flelcher, opened the meeting. The Chairman, Kate Eckett, then introduced the Annual Report following which the annual accounts were formally approved. Elections took place. Mr David Fulton was appointed as Independent Examiner. The Meeting was followed by guided tours of the new Discover Bucks Galleries given by the Keepers. Officers and Committee Members Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher continued as President. The full elected commitlee at 31 March 2022 comprised The Earl Howe, Acting Chainnan" Mr John Galbraith, Honorary Treasurer., Miss Pam Russell, Honorary Secretary; Mrs Doreen Holmes, Membership Secretary., Committee member, Mr Stephen Mulcahy. In accordance with Article 17 of the Constitution there were two ex officio members of the Committee, The Earl Howe representing the Patron membership with Mrs Kate Eckett as Patron Secretary. Meetings of the Committee The Committee met twice over Zoom. Much of each meeting was taken up by oral reports from the Chairman, the Patrons. Chairman and the Museum Director. Discussions were held about the renovation of the Discover Bucks galleries and the financing of the project. Financial reports and discussions of possible allocations also featured in all two meetings. Patrons The Annual Patrons Meeting was held jointly with the Friends at the Museum on Saturday, 27th November 2021. The Meeting was followed by guided tours of the new Discover Bucks Galleries which were given by the Keepers. Volunteers Volunteers again could not help the keepers at Hallon due to Covid-19 regulations and only retumed mid-April 2022. Due to staff shortages at the Museum and hygiene restrictions, volunteers helped steward the summer Dinosaur exhibition (to which 3,500 visitors came), the summer programme of activities, a Georgian Christmas event and the Off the Wall Art Fair. Newsletters Two issues were prepared by the edilor. Pam Russell and distributed to all Friends and Patrons. June 2022
FRIENDS AND PATRONS OF BUCKIN UNTY WJSEUM Txal Palrons Instrtuiw 2558. 12850.( 150. I2).1J Income from e¥ents Off the Wa+1 Art klarket 2537.49 2537.49 2114.81 16336.IXJ 16338.( 1497.e 1497. 2757.19 36%M 09 15810 00 Co•t ol wènts Adminintratkn and AGkl costs Cfffthe Wdl Arl Mafkei Newsletter printing BAN Subscriptionlln5urance pa¥m6nts io mvseum 620.33 10704.50 389.27 470.cl 1370.(Tr) 202.18 10704.50 297.88 452 00 1485. 470.00 1370.tsj Ffiènds 218S5.(h) 375CKI.C 218SS. 375CQ. 8422S.96 8A0 10 72BBQ ln Ntsi Receyts IPayThts) -36585.01 -36585.01 .70853.04 Cash lunds 41 l$1 Apn"1. 2021 244815.22 244815.22 315868.28 Cash Ivnds at 3151 Marth. 2022 ?t23n 21 208230 21 24*A1522
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