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Bernstein in Chichester: Trustee report
Registered Office: Highlands, Poplar Hill, Shillingstone, Dorset DT11 0SE
Prepared 19th January 2026
Trustee Annual Report
Reporting period up to 5th April 2025
Background: Bernstein in Chichester was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and entered the Register of Charities on 4th October 2017.
The objects of the CIO were to advance the public education in, and appreciation of, the arts and culture within the City of Chichester and Chichester District, through the celebration of the work and life of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) and his close links with Chichester by way of concerts, recitals, workshops, reviews, talks, film shows and exhibitions.
Bernstein in Chichester’s festival programme launched with its first event on 27th March 2018 (Bernstein Triple Bill screening at Chichester Cinema at New Park) and continued throughout the year, culminating in a performance on 27th November 2018 of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in Chichester Cathedral with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop and the joint choirs of Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury cathedrals.
Following the success of the Bernstein in Chichester Festival events that took place throughout 2018 a decision was made by the trustees to continue its efforts to establish a permanent memorial to Leonard Bernstein and the Chichester Psalms within the vicinity of the Cathedral and in a location that will be of interest and intrigue to the public and visitors to the city.
In April 2024 we were delighted to receive confirmation of the plaque to be unveiled on the wall between the Prebendal Wall and the Cathedral. The event would become part of the 950th anniversary celebrations of Chichester Cathedral in 2025.
Planning permissions were duly sought and a draft of the plaque design was made by the stone mason Rob Jolly and submitted to the cathedral for final approval. Canon Vanessa Baron has been our contact between herself and Dean Stephen’s office.
Bernstein in Chichester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission No.: 1174988
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Bernstein in Chichester: Trustee report
Also during this process Richard Meynell was co-opted to Bernstein in Chichester as a trustee. Richard is an architect of over 40 year’s experience during which time he served as the architect to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester Cathedral for the Cathedral Close for 30 years. He has guided us for several years with incredible knowledge and expertise on approaching this project with the Cathedral and has also introduced Bernstein in Chichester to expert stonemason Rob Jolly so we were delighted he agreed to be co-opted.
Now that we were under way with the plaque approval we resumed our budget planning and fundraising commenced. We already had funds enough to purchase an appropriate piece of Portland stone as guided by Rob Jolley. Rob needed to ‘get ahead’ on carving the plaque which was completed by the end of 2024, and therefore in January 2025 it had been arranged to meet on site at the Cathedral to discuss the plaque location. Those present included: Dame Patricia Routledge, all trustees of Bernstein in Chichester, Dean Stephen, Canon Vanessa Baron and text artist Polly Meynell who would be designing a simple textile for the unveiling of the plaque.
The date of the unveiling was set for May 17th 2025. As well as the 950th anniversary of the Cathedral 2025 is the 60th anniversary of Chichester Psalms so that evening the Cathedral Choir will also be performing the Psalms in an anniversary concert. Alexander Bernstein was invited to unveil the plaque. We have been keeping in touch with him to keep him updated on the plaque approval, design and the plans for the unveiling.
We were lucky to kickstart our fundraising with 2 generous donations from the Pallant House Trust and the Dame Patricia Routledge Foundation. We also approached the old chorister’s network and received individual donations. In March 2025 we received another generous donation from the Bowerman Trust which ensured coverage of the overall budget. Also during the spring the Cathedral had appointed a new permanent dean and on his arrival Dean Edward Dowler immediately added his support to the project.
During this reporting period we report an income to the funds of £2,985 with expenditure at £3,300. With year balance from previous reporting period of £2,865.01 the total unrestricted funds in Bernstein in Chichester’s accounts stand at £2,550.01
ENDS.
Written by: Emma-Jane Wyatt
Approved by trustees: Alan Thurlow, David Nason
Bernstein in Chichester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission No.: 1174988
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Bernstein in Chichester: Trustee report
Bernstein in Chichester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission No.: 1174988
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forth• perfod from Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlct•d funds to IIK• rnormt Endowment funds to th £ Restrlct•d funds Total funds La•1 ye•r to th• nwmt £ lo thtr nw•*t £ A1 Recel ts Jnalk)ns 2.965 2.985 Sub total (Gross income forAR) 2.985 2.985 A2 A8s•t and Inv••tmont •al•s, saa lablo . Sub total Total rec•lpts 2.985 3.985 A3Pa 8nt• Event and 8que co816 bsfte c¢xi8 315 2.985 3.300 24 Sub total 315 2.985 3.31x1 A4 As••t and Invo•tm•nt purchams, {••• tabl•l Sub total Totalpayments 315 2.985 3.300 24 Net ofrncelpts/(payments) A5 Transfor¥ botWo•n fund8 A6 Cash fund• last year end Cash lunds thls year end 315 315 24 2.915 2.915 2.939 2.600 2.600 2.915 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrastri¢t¢d Reslri¢led funds funds to nbar•it £ Endowment funds to r•arMt £ Caleqortes Details to Mar••t t B1 Cash funds 2.600 Total cash fuNIs 2.600 CCXX R1 accounts ISS)
Unrnstrfct8d funds R•StrIct funds Endowfflent funds tts n••r••t £ De11il% lo n•ar•Jl £ to n•ar••t £ Fwyl lo whlch a•••t C¢t {W10n> CAwr•rt val LVI(rnl 83 Investment a••ots to whl¢h ••••t CAr•rt valuD DetAII B4 A888ts retalned for tho ¢harlty'8 1)wn uso FuThJ lo wNth Il•billty r•ll•• Detalls Ilvicrnll (Wlfmll B5 Liabilllies Svjnad by one or IvK• trusloas on beh8W ol 811 the Iru8t088 Synature Prnt Name Datè of prOV&} A£1 CCXX R2 atyJJunl• ISS) OW12WJ25
Bernstein in Chichester Bank AprQS Out Balance Opening balance 6 April 24 2.865,01 Recelpts Income 2.985,00 Payments Costs 3.300,00 Closing balance5 April 2025 2.985,00 3.300,00 2.550,01 Per bank statement at 5 Aprll 25 2.550,01 Dlfference Date Reconcllln8dlfference CASH (Quarterly) In Out Balance Openlng balance Idatel 50,00 Recelpts Income Transfer from bank Payments Costs Closing balance Idatel 50,00 Percash held 50.00 Difference