## **THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON SOCIETY** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] DECEMBER 2023** ## **THE AIM OF THE SOCIETY** The Thomas Fowell Buxton Society became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2014. The aim or object of the organisation, set out in our governing document is: “To advance the education of the public in general on the subject of the achievements of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton philanthropist and MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1818-37 and in particular his achievement of the abolition of Slavery throughout the British Empire by Act of Parliament in 1833”. ## **THE SOCIETY’S OBJECTIVES FOR 2023** The Objectives of the Society for 2023 were to continue to educate the public in accordance with our aim by means of the following activities, but in accordance with the Government strictures on assembly during the Covid Pandemic. - a) The care of the Buxton Monument and its Information Board, erected on Bincleaves Green Weymouth. The monument and its information board provide a silent witness to Buxton’s achievements and is now a feature of the town’s heritage. - b) As far as practicable, to organise public events to foster recognition of Buxton as a philanthropist, reformer and abolitionist. - c) To keep members informed via newsletters and a website. - d) On May 15[th] 1823 Thomas Fowell Buxton taking over from William Wilberforce opened the campaign in Parliament for the abolition of slavery. 2023 was the bicentenary of this momentous occasion. The Society therefore decided that it should be commemorated by a series of special memorial services and presentations which are described herein. ## **THE SOCIETY’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023** ## **Annual General Meeting 2023** The Society’s Annual General Meeting was held on 15th March 2023. The meeting was chaired by the Mayor of Weymouth Cllr Ann Weaving. James Buxton presented the Trustees Annual Report and John Fannon presented the Treasurer’s report. In accordance with the terms of the Governing Document, one third of the Trustees must offer their resignation each year. At AGM 2023, Mr James Buxton offered his resignation as a trustee, and offered himself for re-election. 1 After the business of the meeting and a short break for refreshments, Joyce Fannon gave a presentation: “ _Breaking the Chains: the abolitionists that Thomas Fowell Buxton led in Parliament from 1823-1833”._ This was an opportunity to pay tribute to the MPs and Peers who assisted Buxton in the Parliamentary struggle. These names are even more forgotten than that of Buxton, though some of these are mentioned on the Buxton Memorial fountain which stands in Victoria Tower Gardens. ## **Memorial Services** This was followed in June by Dr Carl Whitehouse composing and leading a Memorial Service at St Mary’s Church, Weymouth. The service was followed by a detailed presentation given by Dr Whitehouse entitled “ _The Parliamentary Campaign for the Abolition of Slavery in the British Dominions 1823-1833”._ The first Society Westminster Abbey Service at the Buxton Statue in the North Quire Aisle took place in 2015. Subsequently it was held in 2016, 2018, 2019 and then there was Covidlockdown. The Memorial Service at Buxton’s Statue at Westminster Abbey was resumed after the hiatus owning to the Covid pandemic. Thirty-five members from the Buxton family and the Society attended also including many young people. It was a remarkable turnout given that the railways were on strike. The local Memorial Service was held at the Buxton Monument on Bincleaves Green on 10[th] September attended by 15 members. In the absence of a cleric this year, Joyce Fannon composed and led the service. Readers were James Buxton, Anne McKechan, Ben Buxton and Graham Perry. The service biblical readings reflected those chosen by Buxton himself as evidenced in Charles Buxton’s Memoirs of his father. ## **Anti-slavery Day** On 18[th] October, (anti-slavery day), Joyce Fannon gave another presentation on “ _The Genesis of the Anti-Slavery Society of 1823 and its role in the abolition of slavery in the British Dominions”._ Joyce Fannon gave an extra presentation which while not relevant to anti-slavery was of interest to the Society. This concerned a bracelet commemorating Buxton’s marriage which had turned up in Adelaide, South Australia. Here talk was entitled ‘ _Shades of the Past: The Buxton Adelaide Bracelet_ ’. ## **Other Activities** During 2023, two lunches and two coffee mornings were added in order to add a social element to the Society. Members and their friends found these were very enjoyable. ## **Newsletters** Five newsletters were circulated during the year to keep members informed of Society events. Each year Society members receive at least three 8-page newsletters in A5 format; in the 2023 celebratory year five were published. The newsletter format now includes a short article of 500 words on a Buxton theme further extending our educational role to our 80 members. 2 Our Society is promoting organisations that combat modern slavery in the Newsletters. In each edition of the Newsletter a short article has featured different organisations and charities aiming to combat modern slavery. ## **Presentations to outside organisations** Our Society education team of three people gave 5 presentations to outside organisations during the year, earning fees for Society funds of £192.50 and reaching an audience of 120 people. ## **Home Leone** In October 2022, the Society put out an appeal for donations for the Home Leone Charity. Donations were received in late 2022 and in the six months of 2023. The charity focuses on re-housing slum dwellers in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Buxton’s connection to that country is well-known. £5000 was donated and the money was put towards the completion in Destiny Village of a care home for orphaned disabled children. The name on the plaque attached to the building is to be _The Thomas Fowell Buxton Home._ ## **CARE OF THE BUXTON MONUMENT** The Buxton Monument, erected in 2017 on Bincleaves Green by the Society, together with its National Lottery funded information Board educates the passing public every day, especially in the tourist season. The Thomas Fowell Buxton Society owns the Monument and has a 50-year lease on the public land on which it stands. The Society therefore has a duty of care to maintain the Monument and take out public liability insurance. During 2023, the Monument needed no extra maintenance. Albion Stone who supplied the Portland stone with which the monument has been built, advise letting the monument ‘weather’ for a few years before cleaning and re-waxing. Minor work was carried out by members of the Society to remove weeds from the gravel path around the monument. ## **OUR EDUCATIONAL ROLE** The aim of the Society is to educate the public regarding the achievements of Thomas Fowell Buxton. To this end we are always delighted to lend assistance to organisations that can help achieve this even when Buxton only mentioned in a wider context. We list below, the organisations assisted this way during 2023. 1. After seeking our help in obtaining an Arts Council England grant and providing information and useful contacts, the Epping Forest District Museum was able to mount its exhibition, _Greater in Spirit, Larger in Outlook,_ which ran from 23[rd] September until 22[nd] December 2023. The exhibition explored the world culture collections from Saffron Walden and Epping Forest District Museum, Waltham Abbey, Essex. Some of the items had a Buxton family connection. Society members in the South East attended the exhibition. 100 of our Society leaflets were provided for the exhibition. 2. We provided information to Dr Alison Dow, who recently gave a presentation on Thomas Fowell Buxton to the Norwich Society in Norfolk on 29[th] February 2024. 3. Information was sent to Frances Jones-Davies for a presentation to The Broughton Breakfast Club, Hampshire, which was booked for mid-February 2024. 3 4. Information was sent to The Reform Club in London for their planned exhibition on Thomas Fowell Buxton and Slavery again beginning on 27[th] February 2024 and continuing for a period of six months. 5. Information was provided for Hazel Philipps, a London Westminster Guide. Her area of interest was the significance of the Buxton Fountain in Victoria Tower Gardens and also in Buxton’s chairing of the Aborigines Committee 1836-37 and co-founding the Aborigines Protection Society. Armed with the information, Hazel took a group of Australians to visit the Buxton Fountain in Victoria Tower Gardens. So our Society has helped promote Buxton initiatives in Essex, Hampshire, London and Norfolk. ## **MEMBERSHIP** The current supporter list stands at 80, and of these 34 are life members and 46 are ordinary members. Many members have now taken up the option of paying membership dues by standing order. ## **FINANCES** Annex A to this document shows the financial report. A summary is given below. Our income for the year 2023 was £7432.48 and expenditure was £5316.44 Our major expenditure was £590.18 for public liability insurance for the Monument, which is unfortunately rising steadily each year well above inflation. Our closing balance for our main account on 31[st] December 2023 was £7369.11 comprising: Main Account £ 6677.11 Home Leone Account £ 692.00 The Paypal account held £39.58 at the end of the year. The Society’s net assets at the end of 2023 therefore stand at £6677.11 + £ 39.58 = £6716.69 ## **THE SOCIETY’S PLANS FOR 2024** - a) To continue the care and maintenance of the Monument - b) To continue to give presentations to local groups on request - c) To continue to provide 3 newsletters per year and maintain the website - d) To seek new members - e) To prepare a calendar of events for members The Trustees and Committee consider that while the Society was inaugurated to educate the public on the achievements of Thomas Fowell Buxton, we should also offer social events for our members. In 2024 we have already held a lunch at Upwey Wishing Well on 12[th] February and intend to hold a second lunch in late summer. We are seeking volunteers for organising coffee mornings at their homes. 4 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The Governance and Management of the Society comprises: 1. The Honorary President. Since the formation of the Society, the current Mayor of Weymouth is considered to be de facto Honorary President and all incumbents so far have been delighted to accept this office. The President will preside over the Annual General Meeting and if diary permits will attend the various functions of the Society. 2. The Trustees. At present there are three trustees which is the minimum as required by law. Members of the society may volunteer to be a trustee. The process of appointing Trustees is set out in the governing document. 3. A committee which has no formal standing but meets regularly to advise the Trustees on the management of the society. Any member of the Society may attend these meetings which are held approximately every 2 months. ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** At AGM 2023 the Trustees were 1. Mr James Buxton 2. Mrs Joyce Fannon 3. Mrs Anne McKechan 4. Miss Anne Viccars-Barber 5. Mrs Frances Jones-Davies 6. Dr John Fannon who acts as Treasurer and Web master. Dr Fannon also coordinated the annual programme of events. In June 2023 our new business account was set up by Barclays Bank, and the Society was told that only 3 trustees would be allowed if we were to benefit with zero bank charges. Therefore Mr James Buxton, Mrs Joyce Fannon and Mrs Frances Jones-Davies volunteered to resign. The Society therefore decided to formally recognise a new level of Governance which will call the ‘Council’ . The three trustees would be permanent members of the Council. Other members of the Council will be elected at the AGM. The changes will be incorporated into the Society’s governing document and lodged with the Charity Commission. At committee meetings the Chair is taken by rotation amongst the attendees. This custom will be maintained as the Committee is relabelled as a Council. At each AGM, one third of the trustees need to resign in accordance with the Governing Document. ## **WEBSITE** www.thomasfowellbuxton.org.uk ## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER** 1158648 **BANKERS** Barclays Bank Plc, Leicester LE87 2BB 5 ANNEXA Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For ihe perlod from 01-J3n-£_' 31-Dec-23 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcted funds ¢otht nq•re8t Restricted funds Endtswmeni funds Total fund5 La5tyeai tothe n•arest£ thenearestÉ tothe nearest£ tothe nearesi£ Al Recei Memtsership 319 319 195 28 431 65 195 28 431 65 Events Books B3ogeslMerchanthse Home Leone Donations Le Am3LOn Smile Easy Fundraisin HMRC Postage FrotTr Pa 200 546 4,381 50U 4,381 3.615 19 10 1,472 IA72 alAcct Sub total(Gross income for ARI 7A32 TA32 &544 A2 Asset and invesknent Sales, See table Sub toial Totalre¢eipr¥ 1,432 1,432 A3Pa ent5 SgQ 179 91 105 S90 179 Website PDslagÉ Room hire 113 105 38 491 Home Leone To Paypal 4,316 4,316 Performers Other EApen$e$ Slationery 35 35 Sub toral 5,31fi 5,31fj 1,528 A4 Asset and investsnent purchases, (set table) Sub toral Toralpayments 5,316.QQ 5,316.0 Net of tpcelptsl(paymems) l116. 1116. 4.015 A5 Tran5f•r5 b•tw••n funds A6 Cash fvnds last year end Cash fvnds this year end 5,253.00 7,369.00 5,253.IX 7,369.011 3,055 i.oio ANNEXA Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund5 to nearest£ Restricted funils nearest£ Endowment fund5 toHearest£ CHi•gorl•s D•tsiis B1 Cash fijnds MaiTrAccouTrt ,fj Hcffie LeoneAccount 692 Toral cash funds 7,369 iagr•t ba*nce$ recew èrto )ayn*nt& Unrestricted funds to nearest£ Restricted funds to nearest£ Endowment funds tone&rest£ 'Details paypii ACC* B2 Oth•r mon•tsry ••$•ts J9 towh D•tails C05tlagtionall C￿TTent¥a￿e iopDonaii B3 Investment assets Fund towh $¥etbebnqB D•¢4i15 Cost{optionall cultentya￿e B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund towhKti rfr￿le Atnountdue all When d￿e Details Treasurers Exwses B5 Liabilibes 6374 stAdhelms 18 Ortober2022 50.62 SigRed by one or two Iru5tees Dn behalf Df all the Iwst&85 S￿natUre Print Name Date of roval JOHN A FANNON 0510312024