Charity No. 1185397
Chairman’s Annual Report 2025
(For the Accountng year 1 August 2024 untl 31 July 2025)
Welcome to our AGM
The time period covered by this report is from 1 August 2024 through to 31 July 2025. This is the period of our financial year and is the reporting period required by the Charities Commission. In complying with the Charities Act 2006 and Charities Commission’s guidance this report contains a review of the main activities undertaken by the Society to further the charitable purposes for the public benefit during the year.
We are reporting as The Glass Society and in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Commission are loosely tied to holding an AGM in February each year. Due to the availability of committee members and Trustees, this year’s AGM is being held in March. Since attendances online by Zoom exceed those for in-person events, having the AGM in the winter months is possibly a fortunate corollary. As we are currently six months into the next reporting period, the report necessarily contains references to the present year. Indeed, part of the AGM reflects elections of new Trustees.
In order to avoid any undue repetition on the night I have chosen to encapsulate any points raised at last year’s AGM within this message.
In accordance with the Rules of the Society there shall be a Committee which shall consist of the Trustees and up to 8 ordinary members (who shall be elected at the AGM).
The Committee shall comprise the following posts which must be held by Trustees: Chairman (who is also Chairman of the Trustees), Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Grants Secretary.
The Executive Committee shall also include the following posts which need not be held by Trustees: Secretary, Events Secretary, Editor of Publications and Website Manager.
Additional posts (which may or may not be Committee posts) are Online Meetings Manager, Visits Manager and Social Media Manager)
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The Trustees
We currently have 7 Trustees (S Cottle, I Page, B Clarke, J Peake, B Wilcock, D Hepburn, D Willars).
In accordance with the Constitution 1/3rd (or the nearest number to 1/3rd) must step down. Those stepping down are David Willars and Donald Hepburn and wish to stand for reelection.
The Executive Committee
Committee meetings have been held online, by Zoom, over the course of the last year. All committee members are connected by email, so interchange of information can take place easily and quickly.
Our Accounts
Our treasurer has presented consolidated accounts and his annual commentary is enclosed. The 2024/2025 accounts have been examined and approved.
Our banking affairs, including any savings, have been aligned to The Glass Society, although old accounts are still live to assist with the collection of legacy payments.
On behalf of the Society, I should particularly draw attention to the significant contribution as Treasurer and Membership Secretary of Maurice Wimpory who sadly passed away earlier this year. Our condolences go out to his widow, Pauline.
Charitable Giving
The Glass Society made several awards over the year, but more importantly discussions progressed in several key areas. Mindful of the level of reserves, that we felt were excessive for a society of our size, with the approval of the membership at last year’s AGM we have now finalised a Grants Policy which is aimed at assisting would be applicants as well as acting as a framework for us to evaluate requests. We have also now formulated a Reserves Policy, as approved by the membership at last year’s AGM, intended to act as a guide in steering our reserves towards a more reasoned level.
Grants in this financial year have been made towards awards at the International Glass Biennale and Stourbridge Glass Museum. The Etling Glass project is still ongoing. Further applications for grants have been received and are under consideration at the present time. We are grateful to Donald Hepburn for managing the grants process.
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Events
Zoom talks continue to be the main point of contact with our membership, even though that contact is virtual. The broad variety of talks is still noteworthy with subjects ranging from the National Glass Centre collection in Sunderland, Manchester glass and that related to Wales to glass resembling rock crystal during the late 17[th] century, Etling glass of the 20[th] century and that of the period of Art Deco. We are grateful to all the speakers at our meetings and the organisation behind the scenes, overseen by Anne Lutyens-Stobbs, in setting up these events.
The success of the Zoom talks must be viewed against the declining interest in attending events, particularly at the Art Workers Guild (AWG) in London. An ever-ageing membership together with the relative ease of attending a Zoom event are contributory factors. Given the long-standing relationship with the AWG, coupled with a reluctance to sever that contact we are looking to hold at least one or two key events a year at the AWG. These would not necessarily be transmitted live on Zoom, but would hopefully be recorded for onward transmission. The lack of a simultaneous Zoom transmission would also eliminate several technical difficulties, which although not insurmountable, remove the pleasure of attending in person. Our resolve to hold meetings outside London remains and potential venues have been discussed.
Publications: Glass Matters & The Journal
Once again, it can be reported that Glass Matters continues to be a pleasing fixture of our society and remains the point of contact that many members have with us. It continues to amaze and please me that our members contribute such a wide variety of articles and deep learned knowledge. The opportunity for collectors and historians of glass to publish their work given by the Journal is an essential element of the Society’s aims.
My thanks go to the editor, Brian Clarke and his sub-editors and proof-readers for producing our excellent publications and to all the contributors who make them the cornerstone of the society.
New Website
I am delighted to say that the new website was launched in November 2025. It is a fantastic advertisement for the Glass Society and features several new features which were not previously available to members. This up-to-date interactive website, now managed by Sally Haden as our Website Manager, is highly comparable with those of other international societies, organisations, and academic institutions. I am very proud of our ability not only to have updated the website but to have brought the society’s profile into the 21st century. The website designers, Diagonal Design, have done an amazing job and I hope the membership are very pleased with the result. It is our intention that through this attractive advertisement for the society that we will recruit new international members and will draw on a younger audience familiar with the benefits that current technology can produce. Your contributions to and use of the website will be vital. We are especially seeking more images to consider adding to the gallery section. While I have been involved in this project, my thanks go
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particularly to Gaby Marcon and Ian Page their commitment to organising the development of the website, to Donald Hepburn for his invaluable help and especially to Sally Haden for her enthusiasm to its improvement and management. To all the other individuals who have made contributions, I am indebted.
Social Media
The Society has entered the modern era of communication and promotion under the dedicated supervision of Adam Calow, who now manages our social media presence. Through his guidance, we have successfully launched the Society’s Instagram account, a move that is already yielding benefits for our digital outreach. By leveraging this visual platform, Adam has transformed our announcement process into a steady stream of information, ensuring that news and events associated with the world of glass reach the wider community with greater frequency and impact than before.
The Future
This is my third AGM as Chairman and I am delighted to have led the society through various changes including the recruitment of new members and officers to the ‘management team’. This is your society and we need constantly to refresh and augment the collective skills of the Trustees and the team. I am proud that we are a friendly society, united by a common passion, but our momentum is dependent upon our members stepping up and helping in whatever capacity you can. Please get in touch with us if you would like to help.
Simon Cottle
Chairman, The Glass Society
19 March 2026
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| GLASS SOCIETY ACCOUNTS | Year to 31 July 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| INCOME Members' subscriptions & Donations Gift Aid Tax reclaim Investment Income Sales of publications. Overseas Meeting Meetings National & Regional Bank charge refund Total incoming resources in the year EXPENSES Administration expenses Committee expenses Post & Office Supplies Website, Domain & Insurance Currency Loss Bank Fees Website Development Expenditure applied to charity functions: Glass Matters Publishing & Distribution GS Journal Literature Scanning Meetings National & Regional Overseas Meeting Grants Sponsor Donation Education |
11036.10 3060.97 2870.65 82.00 0.00 80.00 0.00 |
|
| 17129.72 | 17129.72 | |
| (1,233.30) (431.45) 0.00 (51.00) (15,000.00) |
||
| (16,715.75) | (16,715.75) | |
| (6,637.20) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (6,133.24) |
||
| (12,770.44) | (12,770.44) | |
| Surplus/(Deficit) of Income over expenses | -12356.47 | -12356.47 |
| Balances brought forward 1 August | 100032.03 | |
| 87675.56 | ||
| BALANCES@ 31 July | 26832.66 0 67138.55 (2,465.75) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
|
| Bank Accounts NSI Investments Savings Accounts Subs & Donations in advance Cash Float Meetings in advance Other |
TOTAL ASSETS 91505.46 91505.46