TORQUAY MUSEUM SOCIETY CIO
-Escablished iij 1844 as tnè Torquay ivatural Hibtory Society-
5?9 Babbacombe Ro¢id
TORQUAY
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01803 ?93975
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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 g￿nted 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 ex￿lIent 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 ne￿SSary 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