## **The Duxford Radio Trust Annual Report 2020 – 2021** ## Registered Charity No. 1169780 The Trustees of the Duxford Radio Trust (DRT) present their annual report for the year 16 November 2020 to 15 November 2021. Accounts for the above period are listed separately. The Duxford Radio Trust was formed in 2016 to take over the assets and activities of the former Duxford Radio Society (DRS) and has a wholly owned subsidiary, Duxford Radio Limited (DRL), a company limited by shares. ## **1. Summary of DRT Activities November 2020 – November 2021** During the COVID-19 pandemic period the DRT trustees/DRL directors have continued to discuss and administer the affairs of the charity by suitable means, including face-to-face meetings, email, telephone and Zoom video conferencing. The year 2020-2021 was a period when the Duxford Radio Trust searched for a new storage and engineering base and a future long term public museum location, due to a change of approach by the Imperial War Museum, closing the Duxford Radio Section in July 2020, which had been successfully operated and supported by DRS/DRT/DRL members since 2009 (operating as IWM volunteers) and forcing DRT/DRL to leave the Duxford site. Arising from the forced move away from supporting IWM Duxford, the DRT constitution was subsequently revised, widened and submitted to the Charity Commission. Agreement was granted for the changes by the Charity Commission on 11 November 2020. The registered office of DRT has also been changed and is no longer that of IWM Duxford Airfield. Following an extensive search of storage locations and dialogue with other Cambridgeshire museums, positive discussions with a supportive local landowner regarding a suitable secure storage and engineering base for the DRT collection of heritage assets resulted in a formal agreement. DRT purchased quantity four-off secure 20 ft shipping containers for equipment storage plus a 32 ft vandal proof site-office container as a workshop and conservation/restoration centre. Work to remove DRT equipment from the Duxford Airfield site was planned to begin as soon as was permitted by the Government Covid-19 pandemic regulations and Health & Safety social distancing considerations. The removal of DRT equipment from IWM Duxford began in March 2021. The removal of the external radio antennas followed in May 2021, along with the removal of the AA3 MK 7 mobile air defence radar exhibit by contract low-loader lorry. The removal of the individual items of the DRT historic equipment collection, previously located in six separate buildings on the Duxford Airfield South-side site, began in June 2021 and was conducted entirely by the DRT trustees and supporters whose average age is 77 years and whose age range is 67 to 90. The DRT collection more than filled 4-off fully rack-lined 20ft shipping containers and was completed by December 2021. There remains a 40-foot shipping container full at Duxford plus various DRT items on loan to IWM in other IWM storage buildings. These will be recovered from IWM in due course as DRT storage capacity permits. Suitable venues to resume public exhibitions for the education of the public, and particularly of school children and Army/RAF Cadets in the history and technology of radio communications, are still under research, investigation, and discussion. ## **2. Reference and Administrative Information** The Trust is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and was registered with the Charity Commission on 19 October 2016. Registered Charity No. 1169780, registered in England. The Trust name can be abbreviated to DRT. ## **The DRT Trustees** Kenneth Ballard Richard Howes Brian Roberts Beryl Pope Dr. Peter Hyde Alfred Fisher Richard Pope Dr. John Moore Pauline Howes The Trust is grateful to receive the benefit of their expertise. There have been no other changes of trustees during the period of this report. Trustees are appointed by the continuing Trustees and should number between three and ten competent persons according to the needs of the Trust. During the period under review the Trust had supporters but did not have any external volunteers, only the above listed Trustees who are officers of the Trust. ## **Company secretary** Richard Howes **Registered Office** 4 Burgoynes Farm Close Impington Cambridge CB24 9ZU **Contact details** duxfordradio@gmail.com **Internet Web site** www.duxfordradio.org ## **3. DRT Objectives** The Duxford Radio Trust is a communications history and technology foundation, formed in 2016 to take over the assets of a former unincorporated organisation, (DRS), (which since 1992 had organised the operation of the volunteer radio section at the Imperial War Museums, Duxford, England). The primary role of DRT is the education of the public in communications used in military conflict and civil emergencies, and the celebration of the efficiency and effectiveness of the armed forces of the Crown by means of the management and protection of the collection of historic communications equipment, documents, and artefacts for exhibition to the public for the purposes above. The Trust conducts research into the causes, needs, evolution, history of application and technical implementation of all types of communications used in military conflict and civil emergencies. The Trust collects, conserves, restores, records, maintains in working order (where practicable), a reference collection of historic equipment, technologies, documents, and other artefacts related to communications in military conflict and civil emergencies The Trust fulfils its public education obligations by using its equipment and document collection together with the accumulated knowledge and experience of the trustees and supporters to provide the materials for public exhibitions of historic radio communications, navigation, and radar artefacts. The Trust fulfils its public education obligations by supporting independent work of other third parties in research, documentation, collection, conservation, and restoration of historic communications artefacts by proving support and information from its internal document and human knowledge base. The Trust normally also fulfils its public education obligations by publishing (via DRL) a four-monthly journal containing articles on specific historic equipment or communication related techniques. Copies of the Duxford Radio Journal are held in Cambridge University Library. During 2020-2021 only one issue was completed and distributed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and local communications difficulties already reported. A monthly newsletter continued to be circulated to supporters by email. In the past the Trust has fulfilled its public education obligations by owning and operating a licensed permanent exhibition radio transmitting station at Duxford. The radio station is currently closed down and inoperative, however the registered radio call signs have been retained by DRT for future use. The DRT collection of Allied communications equipment consists, in many cases, of complete working communications systems, (as opposed to the more common museum approach of a fragmented collection of individual objects obtained by receipt of random donations). The DRT collection is believed to rank in absolute size in the UK, only behind that of the RAF, IWM and Royal Signals. However, the unique DRT feature is not just the historical and technical significance, but the specialist ability of displaying operational historic radar equipment. The Trust has a wholly owned subsidiary, Duxford Radio Limited (DRL), formed on the advice of the Charity Commission, to conduct any activities which, under UK charity law, are not considered wholly and exclusively for the public benefit. DRL is company number 10762055, registered in England, a company limited by Shares. The activities include the ownership and operation of the permanent special exhibition Amateur Radio communications station and equipment, liaising with supporters who provide financial donations to DRT/DRL, publishing the historical/technical publication titled _Duxford Radio_ and any trading activities necessary on behalf of the DRT parent charity etc. The limited company name can be abbreviated to DRL. The DRL Directors are Ken Ballard, Richard Howes, and John Moore. The Company Secretary is Richard Howes. The Health and Safety Manager for both DRT and DRL is Ken Ballard and the Treasurer for both is John Moore. The Supporter Liaison Secretary and Data Controller is Brian Roberts. ## **Summary of objectives contained in the revised DRT Constitution V8a dated 21 October 2020** ## The objects of the CIO:- The advancement of education of the general public, in the history of communications in military conflict and civil emergencies, and the consequent development of the technologies, equipment and techniques as applied to the related fields of activity of radio communications, line communications, radio navigation, radar (the process of radio detection and ranging, transponding etc.) and other forms of communications and communications technology as appropriate by means of: (a) the research, documentation, collection, conservation, restoration, preservation, and storage of various items of electrical, mechanical, electronic, optical, and other military and non-military equipment employing various technologies together with related documents, images and ephemera, in order that they be exhibited and demonstrated to the general public in permanent and/or temporary exhibitions at selected locations in the United Kingdom. (b) providing specialist technical knowledge, information, equipment, engineering services, other artefacts and the services of interpretation, explanation, and display, to support national, regional, and local exhibitions and other similar activities, in order to create, establish and maintain a museum or other historic communications exhibits and/or displays open to the general public. (c) providing specialist technical knowledge, information, equipment, artefacts, historic documentation, exhibitions, and support relating to communications as required to: - The public - Schools and educational establishments - Collectors, restorers, conservators, and users of historic communications equipment - History societies and other groups - Museums - Other public and private events and venues, permanent or temporary ## **4. Summary of Activities, Performance and Public Benefit** The Trust was formed on 15 November 2015 and became a registered charity on 19 October 2016. During the period under review, the trust has been in an emergency survival mode in order to locate, equip and provision suitable storage facilities for the heritage assets of historic electronic equipment in its care and to arrange future public exhibition facilities. For several years, the trust has shared curatorial staff, trustees, and loan equipment with the Signals Museum RAF Henlow (known as SMH). In the short term, selected items of DRT exhibition equipment have been transported to SMH Building 104 RAF Henlow for public display and interaction. ## **5. Donations Received** Various donations of funds have been received from private individuals in the UK for the express purpose of supporting, maintaining, and storing the DRT equipment collections. Various other nonrestricted financial donations and donations of storage racking, equipment, documents, and electronic, and electro-mechanical components have been received from private individuals and from organisations in the electronics industry. The Trust is most grateful for these donations. ## **5. Heritage Assets** The collection of historic communications equipment and documents owned by the Trust, which currently date from the approximate period 1916 – 2005 is considered by the Trustees to qualify to be treated as Heritage Assets. Throughout this reporting period the Trustees have continued to research, catalogue, and assess the present-day market value of these heritage assets in accordance with SORP FRS102. This process was arrested by the pandemic but is approximately 95% complete and the value of the items catalogued to date is estimated in the range £125,000 to £168,000. The individual value of such items is estimated by researching the average selling price achieved at public auction and public on-line auction and by applying the knowledge, experience, and judgement of the Trustees as to the historical significance, scarcity, desirability, and condition of each item. ## **6. Other Information** The Trust has reviewed and continued with the same banking facilities which were created in 20162017. New operating policies and risk assessments will be generated appropriate to the changed circumstances and separate locations of DRT/DRL engineering and exhibition facilities. The trust has registered with HMRC for the Gift Aid system. The Trust has continued to operate the wholly owned subsidiary company, Duxford Radio Limited (DRL), for any activities which are not considered by the Charity Commission to be wholly and exclusively for the public benefit. DRL is registered with HMRC for corporation tax and with the Information Commissioners Office to hold personal data on supporting individuals for approved purposes. DRT maintains a public Internet web site www.duxfordradio.org to communicate information to the general public about the history, application, and technology of communications in military conflict and civil emergencies. DRL has continued to publish on behalf of The Trust a historical-technical journal entitled _Duxford Radio_ . This publication has reached issue 88 and is archived in the Cambridge University Library. ## **7. Statement of Conformance to Public Benefit Requirements** The Trustees have had regard for the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission from time to time and contained within documents PB1, PB2 and PB3 and have acted accordingly. The Trust has supported the general public and individuals with historical and technical information both direct and via its publications and web site and at the Signals Museum RAF Henlow. ## **8. Additional Information** The Trustees and Directors are most grateful for the activity, support and assistance given by the former IWM registered volunteers, supporters, donors, and correspondents of the former IWM Duxford Radio Section. **No DRT Trustee or DRL Director received any personal benefit or remuneration or expenses from the Trust or the DRL Company during the period of this report.** The DRT Trustees 2020-2021 report 27-08-2022 **Date:** 16/11/2021 **Time:** 17:20:15 **Page:** 1 **Duxford Radio Trust Balance Sheet** **From:** Month 12, October 2021 **To:** Month 12, October 2021 ## **Chart of Accounts:** Default Layout of Accounts [PARTIAL] |**Period**
**Fixed Assets**
Plant and Machinery
0.00
Office Equipment
0.00
Furniture and Fixtures
81.24
81.24
**Current Assets**
Deposits and Cash
33.11
Bank Account
0.00
33.11
**Current Liabilities**
Bank Account
592.71
592.71
**Current Assets less Current Liabilities:**
(559.60)
**Total Assets less Current Liabilities:**
(478.36)
**Long Term Liabilities**
Creditors : Long Term
0.00
0.00
**Total Assets less Total Liabilities:**
(478.36)
**Capital & Reserves**
Reserves
0.00
(559.60)
P & L Account
(559.60)|**Year to Date**
12,083.00
73.52
1,061.88
13,218.40
55.12
3,103.33
3,158.45
0.00
0.00
3,158.45
16,376.85
(1,000.00)
(1,000.00)
17,376.85
14,124.38
2,190.59
16,314.97| |---|---|