Ascott Martyrs Educational Trust: AGM 10[th] July 2026
Chair’s report 2025-6
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For various reasons some of the projects to which the Trust was committed have taken longer to conclude than was initially anticipated, but all projects are now complete and all financial commitments met, with the exception of a grant to the Wychwoods Local History Society. This grant will support them in developing their existing website to enable and encourage greater access to the history of the Wychwoods and its people. It will also meet the costs associated with archiving AMET’s hard copy and digital Archive and making it accessible.
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Although occasional talks continue to be given on the subject of the Ascott Martyrs, two being delivered in 2025/6 the fees for which have been donated to the Wychwoods Local History Society. Currently only one talk is booked to take place in Thame in 2027.
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Beverley McCombs’ book continues to be available online and print copies are on sale in the Ascott village shop and Burford Tolsey Museum shops. Booklets about the Commemorative Textile (hanging in the Church), and a village trail on the theme of the Martyrs, are available in the Church and stocks will be maintained by the WHLS. The annual cricket match for the Martyrs’ Trophy is now established in the cricket club calendar.
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The profile of the Ascott Martyrs has been further raised and given more permanent status by the naming on roads on a new housing estate in Chipping Norton using the 5 surnames shared by the Martyrs.
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At the Extraordinary Annual General Meeting held on 20[th] February 2025 the Trustees agreed that the objects of the Trust could in future be taken forward
by the Wychwoods Local History Society and it was further agreed that once projects currently underway were complete the Trust would be closed. This point having now been reached I recommend to the meeting that we now undertake the steps necessary to close the Trust.
Carol Anderson 7 July 2026