Ottery St Mary Heritage Society (CIO: 1179598) Annual Trustees’ Report – August 2021
This will be our twenty-second Annual Report as a Society, the third as a CIO; a report not only overshadowed by the ongoing Covid-19 virus restrictions which have seriously affected the activities of our Society, but also by the sad loss of our chairman Quentin Beddall who passed away in June. His untimely death has had a marked effect on us all; we shall miss him.
Annual General Meeting 2020
Last year, we were permitted to change the format of our September AGM from a physical meeting to a simple format conducted by post. This was enthusiastically supported by members with an attendance of over 100 registrations – by far our best attended AGM.
Annual General Meeting 2021
This year we shall return to our traditional venue, the Institute, for our September AGM to comply with the requirements of our Constitution. There will be no guest speaker.
However, the Trustees are mindful of members’
possible concerns over rising infection rates and the need for social distancing, so we urge those members to again register their attendance by using the Postal Vote facility as an alternative to attending the meeting.
Members’ Monthly Meetings
The lock-down seriously affected our regular monthly members’ meetings at the Institute and the published programme of events was cancelled. However, from January to July 2021, with the co-operation of our panel of speakers, members were able to join our talks by Zoom conference call. Beginning October this year we intend to re-commence our meetings at the Institute and a full calendar of guest speakers is now published in the new Membership Card which members will receive on payment of their subscription for 2021/22.
Heritage Museum
Over the past twelve months, the Museum has remained closed whilst the Museum Project Group works on an ambitious programme of redevelopment incorporating state of the art displays, A/V and IT facilities.
Despite Covid and other delays, our brand new and modern Heritage Museum is now close to completion and Project Leaders Dr Michael Patrick and his wife Valerie, together with Curator Nigel Sadler are confident [Type text] it will be open for previews by invitation later this year.
They are to be congratulated for their dedication and hard work. Official opening to the public is now scheduled for April 2022.
Lease of the Old Town Hall
Negotiations are still under way to finalise arrangements with our landlords, the Ottery St Mary Town Council, for a 25 year lease of the Old Town Hall – soon to be established as the permanent home for our newly branded Ottery Museum.
Coleridge Anniversary Lunch
The Coleridge Anniversary Lunch was scheduled for October this year, but with Covid virus concerns still prevalent and the future uncertain, trustees have taken the decision to cancel this event for the current year.
Plans for the October 2022 Coleridge Anniversary Lunch, his 250th birthday, are planned to coincide with the grand unveiling of the Coleridge Statue at the parish church the same weekend, so there will be many visitors and much to celebrate in the town.
Trustees
Our Society continues to be managed by an enthusiastic and dedicated committee of Trustees.
Two trustees are up for re-election this year, together with an additional co-opted trustee to be voted in, so members are asked to complete the voting form enclosed with this issue of the Journal.
The Chairman’s Role
We are most grateful to Dr Michael Patrick who stepped into the role of acting chairman this year. He also hosted the Zoom meetings for Trustees and Members whilst continuing to steer the Museum Management Team, negotiate with the Town Council and specify, procure for, and develop, the museum facilities. He has agreed to stand for Chairman for the 2021-2022 year to enable museum reopening and general continuity, then handing over in September 2022 as he will be leaving Ottery for another part of Devon.
Thank You
Our sincere appreciation to you all for the support and enthusiasm you have shown in the past year and for your untiring efforts in the furtherance of the Society’s aims.
Thank you all
‘Floreat Ottregia’
THE TRUSTEES Ottery St Mary Heritage Society
OTTERY ST MARY HERITAGE SOCIETY CIO Registered CIO Charity No 1179598
ACCOUNTS for the year ending 30[th] April 2021
1. General Purposes Fund (Barclays Account)
| INCOME RECEIPTS (£) | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum Donations & Grants (See Note 7.1) | 10,015.00 | 735.00 | |
| Subscriptions | 1,635.00 | 2,115.00 | |
| Stock Sales | 452.66 | 12.86 | |
| Meetings Receipts | |||
| Raffle, Visitors & Refreshments | 000.00 | 217.45 | |
| Events. Coleridge Anniversary Lunch | |||
| (cancelled due to Covid) | 000.00 | 1,459.50 | |
| Petty Cash | 175.00 | 360.00 | |
| Inland Revenue Charities | 000.00 | 278.75 | |
| Flagstone Investments interest | 2,000.00 | 19,000.00 | |
| Business Loyalty Receipt |
10.03 | 28.00 | |
| Closure of Nat West account | 2,610.52 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 125.00 | 3,058.32 | |
| Cambridge & Counties Account Transfer in | 39,821.87 | 20,000.00 | |
| Refund on water bill (Overpaid) | 000.00 | 143.06 | |
| Total Income | 56,845.08 | 47,432.94 | |
| DIRECT EXPENDITURE (£) | |||
| Museum Costs (See section 3 for 2021) | 20,302.28 | ||
| Railway Costs | 000.00 | 792.40 | |
| Events and Visits (Coleridge Lunch etc) | 0,000.00 | 1,412.25 | |
| Sales Stock Purchases & Adverts | 00.00 | 86.00 | |
| Meetings Hall Hire |
000.00 | ||
| Cost of Speakers |
245.00 | ||
| Zoom costs |
71.95 | 316,95 | 645.00 |
| Storeroom rental (Old Toilets) | 52.00 | 52,00 | |
| Journal Printing costs | 238.00 | 327.00 | |
| Stationary, Printing, Postage, Room Hire | 554.24 | 415.37 | |
| Printing New Publications | 000.00 | 000.00 | |
| Capital Purchases | 000.00 | 476.40 | |
| Insurance | 250.43 | 250.43 | |
| Blue Plaque Scheme | 204.00 | 00.00 | |
| Web Site Costs | 71.84 | 43.06 | |
| Equipment maintenance | 62.99 | ||
| Coleridge Memorial Statue Donation |
5,000.00 | ||
| Rent of store rooms from Town Council | 104.00 | ||
| Miscellaneous (Including bank charges) | 433.56 | 1,147.42 |
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| DIRECT EXPENDITURE CONTINUED £ | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Transfers Petty Cash to bank |
125.00 | 360.00 |
| To Cambridge & Counties Bank & Barclays 0,000.00 | 20,000.00 | |
| To Museum Account | 49,211.02 | 5,000.00 |
| To Flagstone Investments (See below at 5.) 00,000.00 | 000,000.00 | |
| Total Expenditure |
56,624.01 | 51,309.61 |
| NET Receipts for the period |
221.07 | -3,876.67 |
| OPENING BALANCES |
27,461.27 | 31.337.94 |
| CLOSING BALANCES |
27,682.34 | 24,288.62 |
| 2. Amenities Section Account Nat West Accounts (Accounts closed) | 2. Amenities Section Account Nat West Accounts (Accounts closed) | 2. Amenities Section Account Nat West Accounts (Accounts closed) |
|---|---|---|
| INCOME RECEIPTS (£) | 2021 | 2020 |
| Interest | 5.56 | 4.33 |
| Total Income | 5.56 | 4.33 |
| DIRECT EXPENDITURE (£) | ||
| Seat Provision & Repairs | 000.00 | 000.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 000.00 | 000.00 |
| Net Receipts for the period | 5.56 | [-107.19] |
| OPENING BALANCES | 2.604.96 | 2,712.15 |
| CLOSING BALANCES | 2,610.52 | 2,604.96 |
| £2610.52 transferred to Barclays Main account |
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3. Barclays Museum Account (Opened 5[th] February 2020)
| FUND RECEIPTS (£) | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial deposit from Barclays A/C 0000 | 5,000 | |
| Grant transfer from Current A/C 10,000.00 | 300 | |
| Transfer from Cambridge & | ||
| Counties A/C | 39,000.00 | 20,000 |
| Refund from Barclays | 6 | |
| Credit for purchase | 50.00 | |
| Amazon Refund | 159.99 | |
| Bank loyalty rewards | 1.03 | |
| Donations |
95.00 | |
| Receipts for period | 49,306.02 | 25,306.00 |
| DIRECT EXPEDITURE (£) | ||
| Equipment, displays & internet 29,197.84 | ||
| Electric EDF |
3,364.45 | |
| Water | 79.25 | |
| Bank Charges | 102.75 | |
| Total Expenditure |
32,744.29 | 5252.42 |
| Net receipts for the period | 16,561.73 | |
| OPENING BALANCE | 20,053.58 | 0,000.00 |
| CLOSING BALANCE | 36,615.31 | 20,053.58 |
| 4. | Cambridge & Counties Bank 120 Day Notice Business Saving |
|---|---|
| Account (Opened on 11th March 2016) (Closed on 8th February 2021) | |
| FUND RECEIPTS (£) 2021 2020 |
|
| Transfer from Flagstone a/c *39,821.87 20,000.00 | |
| Net interest (Estimated) *Interest Included 1,009.06 | |
| Total income 39,821.87 21,009.16 | |
| WITHDRAWALS | |
| Transferred to Museum a/c 39,000.00 20,000.00 | |
| Transfer to Barclays main account 821.87 | |
| Total receipt for period 39,821.87 1,009.16 | |
| CLOSING BALANCE 39,821.87 |
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5. Flagstone Investment Management
| FUND RECEIPTS (£) | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Investments: | ||
| Notice account 95 days | 85,000.00 | 95,000.00 |
| Notice account 90 days | 80,000.00 | 70,000.00 |
| 18 months term account | 85,000.00 | 85,000.00 |
| Balance held in abeyance | 1,303.74 | 1,193.45 |
| Interest accrued | 1,588.78 | 2,101.78 |
| Total portfolio value |
252,892.52 | 253,295.23 |
| Transfers | ||
| Funds to Cambridge & Counties | 00,000.00 | 20,000.00 |
6. Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 30th April 2021
| MONETARY ASSETS (£) | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| General Purpose Funds | ||
| Barclays Current a/c |
* 5114,04 | 27,461.27 |
| Cheque not presented * | - 50.00 | |
| New balance |
5064.04 | |
| Barclays Business Saving a/c | 0,000.00 | 0,000.00 |
| Cash | 175.00 | 237.00 |
“Ring Fenced” Funds
Flagstone Investment Man. 252,892.52 253,295.23 Barclays Museum Account 36,615.31 20,053.58 Total Monetary Assets 294,746.87 343,103.48
Notes : (1) Nat West Accounts CLOSED (2) Cambridge & Counties Account CLOSED (3) Flagstone Investment Management (Bequest for Museum)
OTHER ASSETS (Value at cost)
Due to the extensive refurbishment of the Museum many extra items have been purchased. If details are required a list is available on request.
Books : The Collected Letters of Coleridge £395 (Nov 2001) + Coleridge’s Father £840
LIABILITIES – There are no known liabilities
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7. NOTES TO ACCOUNTS 2021
7.1 GRANTS AND DONATIONS
As you will be aware we applied for a grant to the Heritage Lottery Fund under their “First World War” Then and Now” programme and were delighted to be awarded £5,200. This has allowed us to achieve our long held objective of publishing a Memorial Volume to commemorate the men from Ottery St Mary and district who made the ultimate sacrifice in the conflict. The book “Ottery’s Sacrifice 1914-1921” is now available from the ‘Curious Otter Book Shop’ in Ottery and at the meetings of the Society held each month. The Committee has authorised the launch of volume 2 of the Great War Project which will be on the people that had survived or contributed to the war effort at home.
7.2 THE AMENITIES SECTION
When the Ottery St Mary Amenities Society was absorbed into the Heritage Society, it was agreed that the financial assets of the Amenities Society would continue to be used in the furtherance of its stated objectives, “to provide and maintain public amenities for the people of Ottery St Mary”.
This year we have not had to provide any repairs or renovations to existing seats.
7.3 THE MUSEUM FUND
At the 2006 Annual General Meeting, it was agreed that we should set up a Heritage Centre Fund into which people and organisations could donate monies for the express purpose of financing a permanent Heritage Centre/Museum for Ottery St Mary. These funds are now held by Flagstone Investment Management. The present fund continues to be invested and the current figures are set out in section 6. The Barclays Museum Account was opened in order to manage the day to day income and expenditure.
Many of the donations shown above were received from members and included two bequests from deceased members. Our sincerest thanks to all those who have given so generously.
We have recently managed to obtain 2 Grants totalling £18,000 which have been allocated to the Museum Account to help with the refurbishment and the re-opening of the Museum.
C.Roy Clark Hon Treasurer
David Roberts External Examiner
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