## The Lee Old Church Trust ## Chair’s Report for 2024 2024 began actively for the Trust with a Spring Clean in March. This is always a convivial affair, and many useful tasks of maintenance were completed. On 1[st] June, we had another superb evening with John Barr, who illustrated the life of the genius Lionel Bart by performing songs from his works, with the help of a very talented accompanist, Richard Bates, and a few props. This was an astonishing tribute, and really appreciated by a packed house. We attempted a Zoom AGM on 4[th] July, not knowing that it would be General Election day when we fixed the date… the same problem of a lack of members meant an adjournment as happened last year. It really was a problem, and the need to amend our Constitution’s rules to deal with it was emphasised. We resumed the AGM in November immediately after the Autumn working party at The Old Church, and completed the passing of a resolution to amend the specific rule concerning the numbers required. I am delighted to say that the position now means that we need either 10 members, or 10% of members, whichever is the greatest, to be quorate. A good morning’s work; a clean-up and a much needed change all achieved. The attendance at the next event was another sell-out: Stefan Bednarczyk came in early October, with a medley of witty comic songs drawn from his renowned one-man shows. Noel Coward, Flanders and Swann, Jake Thackeray and Tom Lehrer were brought to life in an astonishing virtuoso performance of extraordinary energy and passion. In November we had a very different event; a talk from Paul Jennings on the important work of the River Chess Association. This was simultaneously very heartening, yet also deeply worrying; otters are living in the Chess, water voles are on the increase, the beautiful grayling has returned and a previously absent, rare stone fly, discovered living in it. Why worrying? Sewage is a constant threat as Thames Water has failed to maintain its infrastructure, meaning sewage has been discharged into the Chess far too frequently, and in excessive volume. There is the threat of abstraction resuming at worrying levels. A brilliant lecture, and we all left knowing far more about a local environmental jewel. We welcomed the Fayrfax Consort, as popular as ever, in early December. Yet again, a brilliant mix of favourites, with the introduction of novel pieces, delighted an appreciative audience. They never fail us, and the enthusiastic audience participation in some carols got us all into the Christmas spirit. So much for the cultural and fund-raising; the other aspect of the Trust’s looking after the fabric of the building. Work is still outstanding; the roof of the outbuilding needs to be replaced (happening in Spring 2025), and the use of the oak doors at the West end of the church awaits final approval. We hope that the action required to enable us to carry out this work will be completed very soon. Financially, again, thanks to the excellent work by our Treasurer, our reserves are wellmaintained and we try to obtain the maximum returns available from them. Despite increasing electricity costs, we have found ways to mitigate the extra costs. My grateful thanks to all my fellow Trustees, and we welcomed Alex Carleton-Smith and Dougal Hildreth as new appointments in 2024. Paul Apicella stepped down after many years of involvement as a trustee. Paul has been exceptional in organising publicity, co-ordinating guest performers, and shaping and filling our programs of events, as well as supporting in many other ways. I am truly indebted to him for his contribution. Kerry Musgrave also stepped down after a long stretch as a trustee. Again her contribution has been significant, and her thoughtful insights at trustees meetings invaluable, and I am grateful for her support. If anyone would like to get involved as a trustee, please contact me, as we are always hoping to recruit new members with IT, practical and financial skills to become members of our team of trustees. Finally, the building continues to provide a wonderful venue as a consecrated church, with weddings, and other services, including the 1[st] and 3[rd] Sunday 08:00 Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer. We have a full program settled for 2025, starting with the AGM on 23.3.25. The Lee Old Church Trust (Reg15TrredCknrity 1182744) Ineome and Ex enditure Account for the Period Endirt December 31 2024 Income 2024 2023 Friends. Subscriptions Old Church Boxe5 Donations ReclaiTn of Tax on covenants and Gift Aid Fund Raising Events- Gross Income Less Associated Expenses 1ftte￿t on Building Society and Savings Accounts 1,925.00 16.00 272.00 407.03 1,720.00 60.27 745.00 4,090.10 .2,079.14 4,167.40 2,010.96 -2,238.03 5,560.24 1,929.37 2.774.00 Total R¢¢eipts 10,191.23 7.739.82 enditu Lighting & Heating Structure & Fabri¢ Equipm¢nt Postage, Printin& & Stationery Bank Charges Insurance Churchyard Expenses 630.27 118.80 157.08 13.82 0.19 4.51 836.49 975.46 0.00 114.36 257.00 0.51 884.50 1.045.00 Total Payments 2,661.16 3.276.83 Surplus l Deficit of Ineome over Expenditure 7,530.07 4.462.99 Bala trLeet 95 at December 31 2024 A$$eis 2024 2023 Current Account Deposit Accounts Silverware 1.746.31 155,1?7.08 1,250.00 158.123.39 984.93 148.358.39 149,343.32 resented b Aecumuloted Fund Balance at Isi January Surplus l Deficit of Income over Expenditure Silverware noi included in previous balat)¢e sheet5 149.343.32 7,530.07 1,250.00 158.123.39 144.880.33 4,462.99 149.-143.32 R.A. Fowler Treasurer Dale 22. January 2025 Note5'. silverwa￿ donated many years ago noi previously in¢luded in accounts