TORQUAY MUSEUM SOCIETY CIO -Escablished iij 1844 as tnè Torquay ivatural Hibtory Society- 5?9 Babbacombe Ro¢id TORQUAY TQI IHG OciEf 01803 ?93975 ua n)u E-mail.. menibe SOCIETY STRUCTURE & MANAGEMENT 202312024 David Norman (President} David J Wills (Vice-Presidentl Simon Crabtree (Treasurer} Maggi Douglas-Dunbar (Secretary) Christine Meredith (Trustee) Ann Shaw (Trustee} Suzann6 Thomas (Trustee) Andrew Underhay (Trustee)
Torquay Museum Society {formerly Torquay NatuTrl History Society) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United Kingdom and can claim continuous existence since 1844. We are now approaching our ninth year as a distinct entity from Torquay Museum, but remain a partner organization with a separate constitution. Since registration in March 2015 we have been gnted the status of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), as defined and conferred by the Charity Commission. Our Reserves Policy is available to all members and is reviewed annually. It serves to strengthen our resilience against reductions in income and considers our contractual liabilities and potential financial threats. Presently, the value of reserves Ihe trustees have agreed to keep (which may encompass a number of months fixed costs) is £10,000. Our Trustees currently represent around two hundred members. We continue to take this responsibility very seriously and staunchly represent our Membership and its interests to the best of our expertise. As a charitable organisation we are fully dedicated and committed to promoting a broad understsnding of history, natural environment and cultural heritage. Our primary geographiG focus is upon Devon within the UK, but it also encompasses the ever-more highly interrelated world far beyond. To this end we organise an extensive Annual Lecture Programme and provide regular voluntary support and financial help lowards the work of the Museum itself. Preparation of the rnain lecture programme {norninally from October to April) had, in previous years, required paid-for support from employed museum staff. However, we have now fully transitioned to a purely volunteer-based system, with considerable ongoing benefit to our operational costs. These lectures attract both high-profile extemal speakers and local personalities with in4epth and often unique regional knowledge. They are generally well-attended and have often approached full capacity. Some have also been broadcast live on zoom, internationally on occasion. Our fvture programme plan conlinues the recent change to include some Saturday afternoon lectures alongside the more 'traditional' Tuesday and Wednesday morning events. This is aimed at widening the lecture attendan demographic to include more families and working individuals not normally able to attend our weekday lectures. We are also giving opportunities for member feedback at 'open forum, sessions and will be conducting occasional guided tours of the museum storeroom.
As ever, we have run Tuesday morning 'Conversazione' sessions during the April-september 'summer' months, involving more informal and interactive talks and discussion around a wide variety of topics. Conversaziones ('conversations'> complement our lecture programme and continue a tradition dating back to our early days as a learned society. Held prirnarily in the upstairs Forbes-Julian committee room, they give members an informal opportunity to socialize and discuss topics of interest. These often turn into more formal talks given in Pengelly within a future lecture programme. Alongside its 'leamed' lecture role, Torquay Museum Society is also dedicated to the financial and operational support of the Museum itself, in return for the use of its facilities. The piimary asset to which we have extensive access outside the sumrner 'exhibition' months is the excellent Pengelly lecture theatre. As a valuable asset of the museum for both exhibitions and evenls, maximum utilization of Pengelly for income-generation throughout each year is paramount. The society has again contributed directly to that efficient use of Pengelly for an extended Summer 2024 exhibition by switching the hosting of our first six weeks of Winter 2024 leclures to the Home (formerly Riviera Life) Church's hall next door. That venue works reasonably well, although the church hall's smaller capacity requires ticketed entry to limit attendee numbers. The audio and video projection facilrties also perform adequately, but cannot be expected to compete with those in Pengelly. We also incur the extra cost of hall hire. Our Thanks go to the Home Church for their excellent support during our 'off-site' lectures and, of course, to all members for putting up wth the inconvenience of having to walk round. To continue supporting the museum, we may have the occasional need for some 'flexibility' in our future planning but will always ensure that the rnembership continues to get its exlIent value for money over the course of the lecture programme. The Society is custodian of an extensive and unique library and book collection for our members. This is also a key resource for specialist researchers from far afield, as well as for local people interested in exploring aspects of our local heritage. We had earlier commenced further work around the detailed cataloguing of the book collection, based upon initial work performed a few years ago, and other activities related to preserving and restoring the physical condition of some items. However, that early work revealed a major issue around the presence of mould on the Local Studies library books and shelving. We have subsequently obtained detailed professional advice as to the necessary remedial action (which may cost upward of £20k to fully treal!). Enquiries regarding possible grant funding for this are being undertaken.
The Torquay Museum Society is widely recognized as a cultural hub, a learned society and an institution with a substantial pedigree in multiple disciplines. Some of these fields are reflected in the structure of the annual lecture programme, with Irustees each covering arrangements for subjects best suited to their skills, knowledge and interests. We warmly welcome the aclive participation of members in the creation and operation of groups dedicated to diverse areas of study. The operational work of the Torquay Museum Society is largely driven by its board of Trustees. We invite any members who wish to actively support this very rewarding work to consider fotwarding themselves for service as Trustees, for which a few additional places are currently possible. We have wannly welcomed Suzanne Thomas to the trustee team this year, entrusting her with the renewed preparation of a quarterly newsletter. Trustee Maggi Douglas-Dunbar has taken on the not inconsiderable role of preparing the missing annual "Transactions. reports stalled by Covid. Finally, our deepest thanks go to trustee Ann Shaw, who is stepping down at this AGM but will continue her vital work at the 'front of house, prior to our lecture meetings. We build on the historic work of William Pengelly, our most famous past member and a co-founder, in 1844, of the original Torquay Natural History Society {TNHS) from which the TMS draws its foundation. Pengelly led pioneering excavations at Kents Cavem between 1865 and 1880. Torquay Museum now holds these scientifically and culturally invaluable finds as an outstanding Designated Status Collection. As its direct descendent, the TMS is privileged to uphold the traditions and precepts of Ihe TNHS. Torquay Museum Society stands ready to support the Torquay Museum itself as we strive together to face the challenges and take the opportunities open to us in the difficult conditions of the 'post£OVlD' period. Recent and ongoing societal changes demand our Vigilan in conlinuing to meet the requirements of our members while staying twe to the values imbued since our foundation. The Society looks fopNard to the future with determinalion to adapt to changing times where neSSary and to continue the excellent work of the past 180 years. On behalf of TMS Trustees David Geoffrey Nonnan Presiden( Torquay Museum Society Dated: 12" November 2024 ISIJ
Torquay Museum Society- 1161126 RECElWtS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT YEAR TO 30- SEPTEMBER 2024 RECEIPTS 3010912024 3010912023 Membership Subscriptions Lecture Fee Income Fund Raising Income Donations Misc. Income 7,120 4,604 118 500 7,060 4,348 90 90 169 Total Incorne PAYMENTS Staff Costs Speaker Costs Lecture Promotion Costs Payments to Support TMT 'Transartion5° Costs TMS Projects Equipment Membership Mailing Costs Rental Payment toTMT {% of Subs) Programme Printing Costs Newsletter Costs Photo-copying etc Costs Phonellnternet Costs Publications Insurance Accountant's Fees Donation Miscellaneous 3,144 834 2,868 2.900 1.380 300 474 108 49 1,725 531 77 1,765 1.433 17 18 41 50 70 1,744 600 250 118 1,695 180 Total Payments Surplus/Deflclt of Receipts over Payments 611 Bank and Cash Brought Forward 12,621 11.502 Bank and Cash Carried Fonyard 13,232 12,62L
Torquay Musgum Soclety-1161126 Statement of Assets and Llabillties AS AT 30th SEPTEMBER 2024 30 September 2024 30 September 2023 Cash Funds Cash at bank Cash in hand 13.207 25 12,598 25 13,232 12,621 Other Assets H8rilag8 as5815 (bcoks) 25,000 25,000 Notes: Total membership numbe Annual members Life members 142 66 193 208 The trustees confirm, in accordance witb the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations2011 that at the year end the CIO did not have ally outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured Oll the Sets of the CIO. Approved by the Trustees on 8 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by Simon Crabtree, TMS Treasurer
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Torquay Museum Society Charity {CIO) number 1161126 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Torquay Museum Society for the period ended 30th September 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {1he Acr). I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Charfvs accounts carried out under seclion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no malerial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: (l) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Chaiity as required by section 130 of the Act., or (2) The accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should bo drawn in this report in order to enable a proper u ers ding of the accounts to be reached. lan Barrett FCA FCIE Barretts Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers 22 Union Street Newton Abbot TQ12 2JS Dated: 19th November 2024