CHAIR’S REPORT 2026
From where I stand it seems as though it has been quite a busy year and yet I remain unconvinced that we have made sufficient progress in developing the use of The Old School in the way we all imagined in the early days. If we going to be able to fully justify all the hard work put into developing the building then we will have to do a better job in creating leader led activities and a programme of wide appeal and community support. Despite our frequent calls for more people to be involved we continue to suffer from the modern malaise that organisations such as ours are facing , the length and breadth of the country, a lack of willingness for some people to take some responsibility and volunteer.
Having said that we do have a core of those that do make a major contribution to our work for which we are most grateful. Those volunteers are much valued and appreciated for their work , maintaining Lover Green, cleaning, decorating and maintaining the main building, running the Darling Cafe and pop-up Post Office, the Valentine Team and the general running and management of the Trust. In addition the regular hiring of the building for fitness and yoga classes gives us the type of activity and income that we are looking for. There must, however, be more and once again the call is out for people to come forward and get involved.
This year will see the start of two activities of note. The Theatre Club will begin, hopefully in April when we will be arranging broadcasts from the National Theatre. If that is successful then we will to broadcast some ballet and opera in due course. We will like to create a club atmosphere for these events so your help and ideas would be welcome.
A couple of months ago a group of 14 interested people came together with the aim of creating a Valentine Tapestry of note, depicting the early history of Valentine celebrations though the ages culminating in the Lover Valentine Post. There is great enthusiasm in this Tapestry Team and , in time it might lead to a crafting group operating from the Old School in its own right.
Each year the one event that has become our signature and most supported event is the Valentine Post. It has reached parts of the world we would never have thought possible and this year attracted more people to the Darling Cafe than ever before. The Darling Cafe has become a much loved and strong brand with a highly recognisable livery. This year we were lucky enough to find ourselves a talented young person who has considerable experience in social media. Her input to online posts has been a game changer for us and I know this is only the start. Having done some research on the topic it appears that Lover’s involvement with the Valentine card stamping goes back over 50 years. It is for that reason that we are now considering a major PR campaign to celebrate that fact for next year.
The building, as yet is unfinished. The last major phase will be the creation of a new entrance and sitting area. The Board of Trustees is wrestling with various options and although we already have planning permission the costs of around £150, 000 is proving to be difficult. At this stage we hold onto the vision of what is needed and remain committed to finding the right solution. Waiting for a kind benefactor or altruistic sponsor could be a long wait so the graft to find sufficient funds continues for the moment. It is hoped that we might be able to display plans of the current thinking for you to see at the AGM.
This year we have lost a few of our members and our deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved families and friends. It is these moments that we are reminded that nothing can be taken for granted and why it is vital that the Trust and its membership continues to grow in the years to come. Strong community organisations underpin public life in this country and it is rural communities that are often forgotten.
ENDS
Commurxty TnL%t . for th• y•ar to 31st D•c•mb•r (Recepts and pa18 F(¥mat) y IA> 310 2024 Year to 31 0. 2025 415. Membernl 1337.60 tkThtK 23.95 Rewwd SCI8$ 8422.97 FurKtrais¥wJ 6112.(K) Hre fees O.(X) (kns 607.19 Gil A#1 167.( Cthr 17085.71 Totsl recepts 4).(KI 3570.CKI 15.14 1C637.01 Ncts 2 8669.50 0.) 425.20 24491.29 4746.27 N(th 3 1347.88 470.26 59).76 1405.24 518.70 892.42 370.67 551.18 150.IX) 539.81 Elethity 1611.19 Gas 466.95 I tyoadba 609.¥2 Water rates S)1.56 Repars aTrl mainternr 184.95 MarketwYJ l adts# 103.33 Admin. l Off Costs 240.69 1554.64 o. 18(X).63 Lover Green e>perxlitwe 74.24 oitr1 Awxlry 29510.51 TIA81 payments .12424.80 S(def) for 12980.87 11510.42 44829.41 BThx 0(dI fOard 32404.61 32404.61 Bala carrd fard 43915.03 Staknert of Ass•ts and UabOlits at 31st Dec•mb•r 2025 32352.05 at bar 52.56 Pety Cash O.IK) Prfal Balance 43892.03 23. 12(KKK).(X) 27370.(X) 27370.(X) Eqwmnert aTrJ other ftxed assets 138459.41 Net assets 191285.03 NKk Gtlbs . CharFvs( 03c l th eyamtr the pmI efNJivJ 31st Dewnber 2025. To the best rf my kThledge arnj bf. arnl in aCC(Yda wilh ts ll(YmalK Given to P.T.O
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS Net Valertr's Post Pop Up Café Total 3. Refi¥b work in 2025 (xK%kted ot. 8450.37 2186.64 10637.01 3387.84 1358.43 474627 ted fuTrJs Total Lover Green Fwxj Fuxl 115.() BalarKe 11yA). 2(KX).CX) 7(KN). 15(KI.) o. o.(x) 0.) 0.) 1 (KM).(X) O.(K) 1 (KKI.CX) 2000.(Y) 2CXXI.(Y) 80(K). Y)O.CQ Tran5 13500.00 BalafKe cjf o.(x) 151N).(M) (1) Tr mmr fwvj is a 8wwvJ fixxl over 10 years to re[Aa ts rncyr at a (xxt of £10 CKX). (2) is a (rf £2(XK) over 10 years kn rep&crt ferK (3) The boler Is a skMvJ flnl 10 years rerthe ts boler at a cost of £1(KMXI (4) The Refwbithert Reserve FWKJ is WrterNJed to meet ary Wy4)eded krge experths CA)vered by ktswar. 15 t at a knl that that ts aggregate of restrKXed de&wAted reman8 atrn £10 (XX). IMI d £1500