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2023-07-31-accounts

Registered Charity 1086353

MINUTES OF THE AGM HELD ON SATURDAY 9[TH] SEPTEMBER AT 11am

Present: -

Patron:

Lady Silvy

Elected Trustees:

Tony Nicklin, Kim Nicklin, Andrew Frostick, Jo Ellis, Adela Forestier-Walker

WTC Nominated Trustees: Cllr Sue Fraser

Co-opted Trustees: Pauline Charlesworth, Susi Tenty, Keith Rattray, Sarah Hailstone, Tony Jackson

Members of the Public: Simon James, Jon Ellis, Alan Forestier-Walker, Penelope Christopher, Marie West, Maggie Curtis, Les Miskimmin, Ben Griffiths, Hazel Brooks. Susanne Lutherlaud, Liz Abbot, Samantha Hill, Nick Carle, Steve Adderley, Trevor Woodyatt, Derek Severn, Maxine, Severn, Janis Tarrier, Maggie Dettmar, Lorraine Airey, Christine Robbins, Pauline Knott, Vernica Kemberley, Martin Durbin, Margaret Dew, Jo Stamp, Lesley Blain, Martin Weymont, Anita Silk, Jenny Arthur.

1. WELCOME BY THE CHAIRMAN: - Tony welcomed all.

2. APOLOGIES: - None Received

3. MINUTES OF 2022 AGM: - Last years AGM minutes were approved by the Trustees and committee members at their first committee meeting following the AGM. They were then presented and agreed at this AGM

4. PRESENTATION OF OFFICERS REPORTS: -

’ a) CHAIRMAN S REPORT: -

May I thank Lady Silvy, our Patron, the Trustees, committee members and everyone else for attending today's meeting

This year 22/23 continues to be challenging, due to the uncertainty economically as well as whether we can sustain our Athenaeum solely by volunteer support. When we reopened our doors post Covid we continued with our past success, but the Covid legacy has left us with volunteer support difficulties, especially with keeping the Box Office fully open 6 days a week. We are however still very confident of the future.

As regards the business of the year: -

Sheila Toomey and Brickhill Fund Awards

We were still able to support financially our aspiring young musicians and artists. We have this year granted the following sums for furthering the education and training of: -

Received from
Brickhill Fund		 Received from the STA Fund
Harper Hudgell
Joely Hudson
Rose Whelon
Morgan Hames
Isabell Turner
Annabella Fairgrieve
Miss P A Russell
Helena Blain		 £200.00
£100.00
£200.00
£200.00		 £200.00
£100.00
£200.00
£200.00
TOTAL PAYMENTS £700.00 £700.00

Redevelopment Works

Our redevelopment of the Auditorium is still on hold because we are still exploring opportunities that may be available in outside Funding if we combine Phase VII with the Phase VIII scheme for the extensions to the backstage workshop area and dressing rooms. Work has started on part of the build, with the extension of our scenery wood store and a new ramp entrance/exit.

The Close Centre & Other Works

The CAT transfer of the Close Centre (the original Athenaeum School building) was completed in 2022, and we are now in possession of the entire freehold of both premises, including the Studios at the rear.

The cost of this next stage of our redevelopment was budgeted at £120,000 and we have been very fortunate in receiving a £60,000 grant from the Town Council. This work has started and will take the rest of this year to complete. The grant was from the Harold Dewey Will Trust funds, which are held by Solicitors for the Town Council to administer. Harold Dewey was one of the first Headmasters of our new 1901 school and he left his estate for the benefit of the people of Warminster. We have been most fortunate in this respect and thank the Town Council for their continued support of the Athenaeum and its Trustees.

The new boiler and new control system, is giving us better segregation and control over our heating system with 25% savings on our gas consumption, and a major improvement to our carbon footprint by even greater margins, because of our reduced consumption and cost. We should feel proud of our contribution to the energy saving that the planet needs, and we wil do exactly the same with our new premises.

We are now proceeding with the full amalgamation of the two buildings so that they can operate as one Centre for the Community, and is referred to as Phase X.

As Chairman of the Trustees for these past 25 years, I would like to say a big thank you to: -

Andrew who has supported me, as Vice Chairman, for that entire period. He has kept up his regular
checks of the building and the Health and Safety issues
Adela Our Booking Secretary who has looked after our STA and Brickhill Award Schemes, together
with the task of getting bookings in. Adela has also been here for 25 years .
Jo Ellis our Treasurer. Although she has only been here for the last year she has looked after our
finances very well.
Kim The Trust Secretary who has looked after all the administration as well as being the Box
Office Treasurer, and coordinator, and supported me in the same way as she has done for
these 35 years of our life together.
Susi Who has also a resident on and off for 25 years, and has a very successful dance studio at
the Ath
Keith who following a rebuild of our web site and ticketing systems, maintains our public image
electronically and sorts out any problems with ticket issues on a daily basis.
Pauline our Friends Representative. Pauline has also been at the helm for many a long year.
Tony J our Grant Researcher who looks for redevelopment funds
Sarah who has looked after our Ushers who are required for our many shows
Jules, Teilo & our super tech team servicing the stage lighting and sound so well for all our
Others events and shows
BO & Ushers who do a fantastic job, and without their daily help we would not be able to keep the Ath
open
Lorraine who makes this massive building look clean and tidy, despite the hundreds of people that
pass through the doors each week.
Luke Willmore Who took over the Diary from Adela last year and works closely with the Trustees
The WDFS for their continued support and contributions towards the Centre.
The Ath Friends for their important contributions to our restoration works, and to Martin for running the bar
so well.
Masqueraders for the fantastic shows that they put on, which are nothing less
ALPS & Oddity than highly professional, and looking forward to another fantastic year
WTC to the Town Councillor’s who continue to have the foresight to know that the Athenaeum is
special to Warminster. Thanks to Cllr’s Sue Fraser, and Jack Jones who took over from Cllr
Chris Robbins in May.

I would just like to say to Sue how sorry we are that Cordens has had to close, and thank her for being our emergency key holder.

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In Conclusion

This year and the past 25 years have been challenging for any Chairmanship, and all of our Trustees and Management Committee. We have been a strong team and I know that the Trust will continue to provide Warminster with that something special feeling, that we have at the Athenaeum Centre for the Community.

We are extremely grateful to all of our Resident Groups who have been in rehearsals for many months, and also the touring companies that keep coming back year after year. Hopefully we will see our Christmas Panto by Oddity, and some super shows from Masqueraders and ALPS this year.

This is the point where I sadly have to inform you all that Kim and myself are not going to seek re-election, we are both going to retire. I can only thank you all for sharing with us some fabulous memories. I know that the old and new Trustees will continue to see the Ath grow and survive for a long time to come.

b) TREASURE’S REPORT: -

The attached accounts are only draft as our Auditor is away on holiday.

Looking at the salient points which are vastly different from last year….

Incoming

Outgoing

Final bank balance of £138,252.00 is split as follows:-

Current account £16,753.00

ST & BH Music £19,025.00 Savings account £102,474.00 (Including £7,000 reserve)

This leaves us with just under £95,500 ringfenced for ongoing projects.

The accounts were Proposed as correct by - Keith Rattray, Seconded by - Andrew Frostick - All in Favour

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c) SECRETARY’S REORT: -

Although Tony has welcomed you all, I would also like to say thank you for attending today. This really isn’t a secretary’s report, but a chance for me to say a few thank you’s. Firstly to my fellow Trustees: -

Andrew – one of the founding Trustees, has been here for the last 25 years. He has extensive knowledge of the history of the Ath. He also knows this building inside out, every nook and cranny. He is here almost on a daily basis, not sure when he sees his lovely wife Gaynor!!! He has been so supportive to both Tony and I, and he doesn’t get much recognition for everything that he does.

Adela – has also been here since the beginning, again as a founding Trustee. Alan thinks he’s a widower, as Adela spends most of her time at the Ath, being on the committee, and also involved with ALPS Group. She again doesn’t get much recognition for all that she does behind the scenes. She definitely keeps us on the right path. She again has been so supportive to both Tony and I. A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH

To all of our coopted Trustees, Keith Rattray, Pauline Charlesworth , Susi (many thanks for decorating the stage beautifully), Tony Jackson, Sarah Halistone , our management committee Jo, Ben, Jules, Jon, Jack and Sue . Thank you to you all, and to all of our past members over this last 25 years, too many to mention. Thank you to Lady Silvy for continuing to be our Patron.

And to you….box office, ushers our volunteers. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know you and to work alongside you, you all do a fantastic job and I have loved every minute. Without your input this building could not remain open. It cannot be run by just a few people, it takes all of us together as a team to run it. A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU

Lastly I would also like to say a huge thank you to my husband who has been at the helm for 25 years whilst running two businesses, being a town councillor, being mayor twice, being a member of Warminster Chamber of Commerce, then becoming President, and all through this, he has not let the Ath down. Thank you.

5. ALL TRUSTEES STOOD DOWN - Tony Jackson took over the meeting to elect the Five Trustees.

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: - Andrew Frostick and Adela Forestier-Walker stood again.

Proposed by – Steve Adderley - Seconded by Susi Tenty – Voted en-bloc

Tony Jackson then asked for nominees for the 3 remaining places - We heard a brief introduction from 4 volunteers:

Simon James Proposed by – Sue Fraser - Seconded by Alan Forestier-Walker Jon Ellis Proposed by – Alan Forestier-Walker - Seconded by Maggie Dettmar Steve Adderley Proposed by – Martin Durbin - Seconded by Tony Nicklin Jenny Arthur Proposed by – Trevor Woodyatt - Seconded by Samantha Hall

The Votes were as follows: Simon James 26, Jon Ellis 26, Steve Adderley 25, Jenny Arthur 26 thereby Steve was out voted.

Andrew Frostick then took over the meeting - Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the newly elected Athenaeum Trustees, I would to thank our presiding officer for overseeing the safe transfer of the building to the new committee.

As we turn the page and start a new chapter in the history of this wonderful building, we cannot help by but be thankful to each and every person, some sadly no longer with us, who has championed our cause for the last twenty five years, kept the doors open and the rain out.

Our gratitude to the work undertaken by Kim and Tony knows no bounds and history will look most kindly on their impeccable stewardship of the Trust.

It goes without saying that Kim and Tony have been the beating heart of the Athenaeum since we reformed and we wish them all the very best for the years to come.

Now is the moment for us all to take the baton and carry on the amazing journey of this amazing building. Steady as she goes, perhaps not in a new direction, but onwards and upwards to ever greater things.

The meeting then ended

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