Chairman’s Report 2020-21
With the arrival of Covid in the UK early in 2020 bringing with it a number of Lockdowns and other restrictions, we took the difficult decision, along with other Village groups, to suspend all our activities as of mid-March 2020. The Edward Birkbeck is currently located within the Grounds of a Residential Home and we felt that we could not put their residents and staff at any additional risk and, indeed many of our own Volunteers are of an older age group and also fall into the ‘at risk’ category. As of the date of writing in September 2021, and following consultation with Home’s Management, we’re now making plans for a few limited Work Parties until the Winter weather means that it becomes too cold and damp to work in the Boat Shelter and we have to suspend again until Spring 2022 – when hopefully we’ll be back at full strength with both restoration work and fundraising activities once the weather improves.
Therefore, unfortunately our only fundraising for more than12 months has been from Plant Table sales. Charity Collection Buckets remain in place around the village but, again, these venues have also had substantial periods of closure.
Our restoration project was, however, unexpectedly brought to the fore in February 2021 when local newspapers and TV reported the exposure of long-since buried timbers on the beach at nearby Hemsby following severe winter storm Darcy, though they were very quickly covered once again due to the effects of wind and weather on this constantly shifting coastline. The timbers are thought to be the wreck of The Unity, which sunk in 1899 in the midst of a SW gale and to which the Edward Birkbeck with her brave Lifeboatmen was launched at 5.40am on 8th November, rescuing 5 crew members and bringing them safely to shore. The full record of the Edward Birkbeck’s Service History is available on our website and it is also reflected on Plaques in Fisherman’s Corner in our village Parish Church.
Sadly for us, in February 2021, our current Treasurer announced her intention to resign from her role as soon as we are able to find a replacement as she would be moving out of the village. A new Treasurer is being actively sought and will be appointed to take over once a full handover can take place.
Hopefully, 2022 will see more progress both with the restoration of the Edward Birkbeck and our long-term plans to create a Heritage Centre as her permanent home. ‘The Winterton Story’ – a focal point for both Winterton ‘The Winter Town - Fishing and the Sea’ and our close neighbour Somerton ‘The Summer Town’ – Farming. It will help to tell present and future generations of the importance of the sea to Winterton – not only through the fishing industry (now all but gone) but also of the development of the Lifeboat service from the early days of the Beach Companies. The base of the last RNLI Lifeboat House, where the Edward Birkbeck was housed until its closure in 1925, is still visible and in remarkably good condition and would help to form part of the story too. It would also be planned to reflect on the part Winterton people played in 2 World Wars and to bring the story right up to the 21st Century with the importance of the holiday industry to the Village.
BEVERLEY KAY, Chairman
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Date Description Amount Expenses Donations Fund Raising Total Balance
13.3.20 Balance b/f 1925.73 1925.73
14.30 Came & Co -722.37 -722.37 -722.37 1203.36
21.50 Amazon 5.00 5.00 5.00 1208.36
16.60 123 Reg -14.39 -14.39 -14.39 1193.97
26.90 Cash deposit 106.00 106.00 106.00 1299.97
26.90 Cheque deposit 25.00 25.00 25.00 1324.97
7.10 123 Reg -19.19 -19.19 -19.19 1305.78
2.11 Jubb 50.00 50.00 50.00 1355.78
13.11 Wix.com -111.75 -111.75 -111.75 1244.03
21.10 GYBC Lottery -20.00 -20.00 -20.00 1224.03
Summary 1224.03 -887.70 75.00 111.00 -701.70
Income
Bank interest 0.34
Donations 75.00
Fund raising 111.00
186.34
Expenses
General -887.70
Net income/expenses -701.36
Opening balance 7526.25
Add net income/expenses -701.36
Closing balance 6824.89
Current a/c 1224.03
Savings a/c 5531.64
Petty cash 69.22 6824.89
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