Elstree and Borehamwood Museum Annual Report March 2024 – March 2025
Contents:
| tents: | |
|---|---|
| 1. Charity Information | 2 |
| 2. A Message from the Chairman | 3 |
| 3. A Review of the Year | 3 |
| 4. Exhibitions | 5 |
| 5. Events | |
| 6. Schools | 6 |
| 7. Friends and Volunteers | 6 |
| 8. Trustees | 6 |
| 9. Collections | 7 |
| 10. Finance | 8 |
Charity Information
Charity Trustees
Clive Butchins (Chair) Elaine Butchins Simon Gee (V.C. and Secretary) Pat Strack John Cartledge Norman Shuker Ken Freedman
Museum Manager
Dave Armitage
Museum Officer (Hertsmere Borough Council)
Ruth Stratton
Principal Address: 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1EB
Website: www.elstree-museum.org.uk
Registered Number: 1157770
Principal Activities and Objectives: The charitable objects are to advance education for public benefit, in particular in the subject of Elstree and Borehamwood, its history and heritage.
A Message from the Chairman
I am very pleased to report that the Elstree & Borehamwood Museum passed yet another successful year with effective outreach and popular exhibitions created by our resourceful team. It has also been a busy time cataloguing many more acquisitions to be added to our comprehensive archive of donated material relevant to the history of Elstree & Borehamwood and its Film and TV heritage. I am very proud of all those who have dedicated many weeks and months to this work and all the other jobs that enable the Museum to run smoothly. It is a pleasure to welcome Mike Goldwater, our new Newsletter Editor, to the team.
WE are always pleased to welcome new volunteers as there are always more jobs to be done, so if you have an interest in local history and some time to spare, do please get in touch with our museum manager who does an amazing job with his limited number of enthusiastic co-workers.
This year (2025) we have been notified of the economic value to the town of what we do – a truly amazing figure. Bristol University examines our volunteer figures and informs us that for the year of this report the estimated social and economic impact the museum is providing to the local community/economy is around £47,000.
Our Christmas Party, held by kind permission of Ann and Norman Shuker at their home, continues to prove popular among our volunteers and provides an opportunity to recognise outstanding individual contributions to the success of our endeavours.
We still await from our landlords an acceptable draft lease that it would be legal and advantageous for us to sign.
Review of the Year
Sadly we lost three of our friends and volunteers in 2024.
Irene White – August 2024
Paul Welsh – September 2024
Betty Chandler – October 2024
Also, Bill O’ Neill who was a great friend of the Museum. Bill’s autobiography Bow Bells to Borehamwood can be purchased from the Museum shop. Bill was instrumental in setting up Boreham Wood Football Club.
All are much missed.
Spring 2024
Hertsmere Borough Council celebrated its 50[th] Year:
This year we celebrated the creation of the Borough of Hertsmere from the combination of a number of local councils in 1974. The HERTSMERE related items in the foyer case at 96. Museum had a small display of Council
Lease:
Progress with settling the issue with the Lease came to a standstill with the retirement of the Church Warden and Main Trustee of the property/ Landlord, Tim Warr and the discovery that subletting is not permitted under the covenant. Nothing can move forward until these issues can be resolved.
Summer 2024
Taking Stock:
The merchandise stock was reassessed and the popular Elstree Confidential book was reprinted and copies of this and MGM British Hollywood were ordered. Reliable sellers, the clapperboard keyrings and pens, were also restocked. We also took stock of two new publications:
The Winn Everitt Story by Avril Chick
This is the story of the much-loved local GP in Elstree, who is still remembered by many in this area. The book includes Winn's talks to local groups, and newspaper reports on her life.
In conjunction with the summer exhibition on local schools, Six of the Best , Simon Gee liaised with Alan Martin, who was writing a book on Borehamwood Grammar School. Alan offered the book for sale at the Museum. It is based on his personal memories of life and times at the School in the late 50s and early 60s. A fascinating look back at a time when everything seemed to be so full of promise and change.
Elstree Screen Heritage:
Paul Welsh and Bob Redman from Elstree Screen Heritage (ESH) announced they were winding down. Due to ill health, Paul took the difficult decision to cease writing his newspaper columns. ESH has long been affiliated with the Museum and wished to remain as an advisory body. The Museum is now the repository for local film and television heritage.
Lift:
Most of the summer, the lift at 96 was out of action due to a major fault. This resulted in steep reduction of visitors and retirement of some of the volunteers such as Joan Dorrington, Christine Hoy and Pat Stillwell.
96 Buildings Manager:
In July, the Building Manager of 96 Shenley Road, Peter Windsor, left for pastures new. Beth Hobday took up the reigns and her first job was to sort out the lift issue.
Autumn 2024
September was a month of highs and lows.
The month began with the sudden and sad death of Paul Welsh on the 4[th] . Paul was a Museum Trustee, personal friend and had achieved much in his life, most notably instigating a campaign to save Elstree Studios in 1988.
Here he is being filmed by a TV Crew in the ruins of Elstree Studios
Later in the month, Dave Armitage celebrated his 80[th] birthday. A party was held at Schopwick on Friday 20[th] September attended by Friends and Volunteers. John Woolston entertained with renditions of Happy Birthday on the piano and the sun shone.
Winter 2024
Paul’s Legacy:
Paul Welsh bequeathed most of his private collection to the Museum and the mammoth task began of clearing his house and packing up boxes. Paul had lived in the same house in Cleveland Crescent since his birth in one of the bedrooms, so there was a lot of life accumulation! Sterling work by his executor and family and with help from Bob Redman, 50 archive boxes were safely transported into Museum storage.
With not having enough storage in the Stanborough Avenue store, a unit in Safe Store had to be hired. This is at considerable cost to the Museum.
Tribute to Paul Welsh in 96 Café
On Friday 6[th] December Dave, Bob Redman (Elstree Screen Heritage) and Hannah Oliver (HBC) put up Paul Welsh’s photo-memorial in the foyer café at 96.
This has been positively received by members of the public and volunteers of the museum.
The Armistice Parade happened in November, with Derek Allen laying the wreath for the museum and Clive Butchins laying one for the Rotary.
Reel Cinema exhibition:
Cllr Ozarow and Dan Salter from the Town Council invited Ruth and Dave to advise on a proposed temporary film and television exhibition in the Foyer of the Reel Cinema, which opened on the Christmas Lights Switch-on afternoon, 1[st] December.
Christmas Party 2024:
Held on Friday 13th December 2024 at Schopwick Place in Elstree again this year. The AGM happened first and then was followed by the Christmas Party.
Christmas Cards:
Thanks to John Woolston, who designed and printed a new range of Christmas cards at his own expense .
Reminiscence meetings: Going Down the Village
These continued throughout the year on themes such as Going Down the Cinema, Old Photos, Best and Worst Holidays and Old Fashioned Medicines. The last meeting held on the 3rd December was centred on old-fashioned Christmases and was called "Long Gone Restaurants and Traditional Christmas Food".
Exhibitions
April – September: Six of the Best:
This mainly focussed on six local schools but with the aid of an interactive map, included all the other schools in Borehamwood and Elstree. There were also photos and archive film footage showing on the TV screen and an accompanying booklet had QR Codes for all the other schools, where more information could be found. The new Our History pages on the website featured all the schools eae) eee from the map.
Thanks to all our volunteers but particularly Tony Deswarte for the creation of the interactive map, John Woolston who spent hours putting together video footage and Simon Gee who got to grips with the QR codes.
Dave and Simon were filmed to publicise the exhibition. This can be found on You Tube under the ‘Hertsmere Museums’ link.
November – July: Up, Up and Away!
Elstree Aerodrome celebrated its 90[th] anniversary this year. To commemorate this, the Museum worked with some new volunteers to present the Up Up and Away! exhibition.
Grant Peerless, author of ‘ Elstree Aerodrome 90 Years in Pictures ’ joined the exhibition team as advisor, research student Anoushka and her Mum, Hetal, also joined as panel text writers.
Star of the show though was pilot Alan Kirtley’s
reproduction of the Tipsy Nipper 2 which used to fly from Elstree as a training plane. Small enough to fit in the Museum space but with the flight simulation software installed by Dave, visitors can fly out of Elstree, further afield and back again.
Alan introduced certificates for all who managed a successful circuit with a safe landing.
The exhibition was formally opened with a private view on the evening of Monday 4[th] November.
Mayor Cllr Richard Butler and Cllr Dan Ozarow look on as Museum Trustee, Norman Shuker navigates a circuit.
Events
FRIENDS EVENING:
On the 16[th] September 2024, the Friends of the Museum enjoyed an evening talk with Lesley Davies. She explained in depth the history of the schools of Elstree and Borehamwood from the pre-Victorian school in Elstree in 1814, all the way up to the outbreak of the Second World War. Including 1949 when Furzehill School burnt down.
Lesley's research was the driving force behind the Museum’s exhibition Six of the Best
TALKS / PRESENTATIONS:
Presentation to the Rotary Club
Held at the Manor; Dave did a condensed talk about the growth of Borehamwood since 1936.
SCHOOLS VISITS
October 2024 was a busy month for school visits.
Kenilworth School primary group visited in conjunction with the Library.
Cowley Hill School had two classes visit in one week with 56 children attending in all.
In November 2024, Summerswood School visited.
2025 began with a visit from Woodlands School in February.
VISITOR / VOLUNTEER NUMBERS
Visitor Numbers:
March 2024 to March 2025: 2,040 Outreach: 462
Visitor figures are affected by the lift being out of action for most of June and July and the fact the QR codes seem to be more successful on the website for people finding out more information.
Volunteer Hours:
March 2024 to March 2025: 4,139.5
Trustees
The AGM took place at Schopwick Place on Friday 13[th] December 2024.
Following the loss of Paul Welsh and Betty Chandler, this meant there were only five Trustees on the board. Therefore it was decided that two more would be instated.
Ken Freedman was first nominated, seconded and elected by the members of the AGM.
John Cartledge was then nominated, seconded and elected by the members of the AGM.
Norman Shuker stood down and was re-elected by the members of the AGM.
Simon Gee stood down and was re-elected by the members of the AGM.
Therefore, the Trustee board at 13[th] December 2024 stands as:
Clive Butchins: Chair Elaine Butchins: Vice Chair and Secretary Pat Strack Norman Shuker Simon Gee Ken Freedman John Cartledge
Collections
The Modes cataloguing and documentation team continue to work most Fridays. Following the large donation of Paul Welsh items in October, the team has been mostly focussed on working through these. First stage is to sort through the boxes and put items into rough categories. The next stage will be to do a more intense search into more defined categories ready for accessioning.
Here are some photos of the team hard at work.
Finance
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025 CONTENTS
Charity information
Trustees report
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements
Elstree & Borehamwood Museum Charity information
Charity Trustees
Clive Butchins John Cartledge Ken Freedman Norman Shuker Pat Strack Elaine Butchins Simon Gee
Museum Curator
Dave Armitage
Finance
Dave Armitage & Ken Freedman
Museum Officer Hertsmere Borough Council Ruth Stratton
Principal Address
96 Shenley Road Borehamwood Herts WD6 1EB
Website www.elstree.museum.org.uk
Registered Number
1157770
Principal address and objectives
The charitable objects are to advance education for the public benefit in particular in the subject of Elstree and Borehamwood its history and heritage
Registered number 1157770
ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD MUSEUM
TRUSTEES REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025
| ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD MUSEUM Notes To the Financial statements Year For the year ended 31st March 2025ending 31.3.25 2.Income from grants General grants 10550 3.DONATIONS & GRANTS Donations & gifts 295 The above relates to unrestricted funds 4.EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Exhibitions 4342 Insurance 1580 IT & Equipment expense 325 Premises & associated costs 4250 Friends expenses 32 Printing,postage & stationery 678 Annual fees 216 Royalties 0 Consumables 50 Catering 266 Other 282 12021 5.DEBTORS Prepayments 1210 6.CREDITORSAmounts falling due in one year Deferred income 2838 |
Year ending 31.3.25 10550 |
Year ending 31.3.24 |
|---|---|---|
| 10550 | ||
| 295 | 95 | |
| 2346 1490 14 4250 200 363 336 5 263 187 104 |
||
| 12021 | 9558 | |
| 1210 | 1210 | |
| 2838 |
7.PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES & CHARGES
| Premises costs 83646 Exhibition removal costs 1000 84646 |
79396 1000 |
|---|---|
| 80396 |
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025 INCOME FROM: Grants Donations & gifts Shop sales profit Friends Interest received Schools & presentations Storage TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE ON Charitable ctivities TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME Balance as at 1st April 2024 BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD |
Year Year ending ending 31.3.25 31.3.24 10550 10550 295 95 541 622 542 450 824 831 378 296 0 150 |
|---|---|
| 13130 12994 |
|
| 15512 9558 |
|
| 15512 9558 |
|
| -2382 3436 17285 13849 |
|
| 14903 17285 |
| ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD MUSEUM | ||
|---|---|---|
| DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES | ||
| FOR YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025 | Year | Year |
| ending | ending | |
| 31.03.25 | 31.03.24 | |
| INCOME FROM | ||
| Shop sales | 1052 | 780 |
| Gross profit | 541 | 622 |
| OTHER INCOME | ||
| Grants | 10550 | 10550 |
| Donations & presentations | 295 | 95 |
| Friends subscriptions | 574 | 450 |
| Schools & presentations | 378 | 296 |
| Storage | 0 | 150 |
| Bank interest received | 824 | 831 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 13162 | 12994 |
| EXPENDITURE ON CHARiTABLE ACTIVITIES | ||
| Temporary exhibitions design & print | 4342 | 2346 |
| Storage | 2891 | 0 |
| Insurance | 1580 | 1490 |
| IT & equipment costs | 325 | 14 |
| Premises & associated costs | 4250 | 4250 |
| Printing,postage & stationery | 678 | 363 |
| OTHER EXPENSES | ||
| Annual subscriptions & renewals | 216 | 336 |
| Friends Expenses | 32 | 200 |
| Consumables | 50 | 263 |
| Royalties | 0 | 5 |
| Sundry | 282 | 104 |
| Catering | 266 | 187 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME Balance as at 1st April 2024 BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD |
14912 9558 |
|---|---|
| -1750 3436 |
|
| 17285 13849 |
|
| 15535 17285 |
| ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD MUSEUM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| REGISTERED NUMBER 1157770 | |||
| BALANCE SHEET | |||
| AS AT 31st MARCH 2025 | Notes 31.03.25 | 31.03.24 | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Computer | 499 | 499 | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Stocks | 4285 | 944 | |
| Debtors | 1210 | 1210 | |
| Cash at bank & in hand | 96215 | 97666 | |
| 102,209 | 100,319 |
||
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due in one year | 2838 | 2638 | |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 99371 | 97681 | |
| Provision for liabilities | 84646 | 80396 | |
| NET ASSETS | 14725 | 17285 | |
| REPRESENTED BY: | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 14725 | 17285 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 14725 | 17285 | |
| These financial statements were approved | by the trustees | ||
| on 19th December 2025 | |||
| and signed on their behalf by | |||
| Clive Butchins | Norman Shuker |
ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD MUSEUM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31s MARCH 2025
1.Accounting Policies
Basis of preparation
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities statement of recommended Practice(applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the in the UK and Republic of Ireland FRS 102 issued on October 2019 Charities SDRP(FRS 102) the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and republic of Ireland the financial repoerting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and with the charities act 2011.
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.
Recognition of income
Income is included in the statement of Financial activities when the charity becomes entitled to the resources .It is more likley than not the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the general income recopnition criteria are met.
INCOME FROM MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
Membership subscriptions received in the nature of a gift are recognised in donations. Membership subscriptions which gives a member the right to buy services or other benefits are recognised as in come from charitable activities.
INCOME FROM INTEREST
This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and amount receivable can be measured reliably.This is normally on notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
VOLUNTEER HELP
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees annual report.
STOCKS
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value.
DEBTORS
Trade and other debtors are recognised at a settlement amount due after any
discounts offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts.
CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid cash deposits held in bank accounts.
CREDITORS
Liabilities are recognised when it is more likely than not that there is a legal or costructive obligation commiting the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
LEGACY
The museum has received a legacy from the estate of Mr.Paul Welsh who was a trustee of the charity. £90000 of the legacy was received in the following financial year and it is espected that a furthe £20000 to £25000 will be received.