Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Reference and Administration
Registered Name: The Cinema Organ Society Charity Number: 1189263 Registered Address: c/o 7 Larch Way Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7UG
Charity Trustees:
| Simon Gledhill | Chairman |
|---|---|
| Malcolm Phillips | General Secretary |
| Stephen Nicholson | Treasurer |
| Damon Cox Resigned 14/09/2024 |
Southern District Secretary |
| Simon Field | Sales Officer |
| Nigel Laflin | Archivist |
| John Leeming | |
| David Lowe | |
| Robert Pearsall | |
| David Schuster Elected 14/09/2024 |
Southern District Secretary |
| Richard Stephenson | Northern District Secretary |
| David Warner | |
| Gordon Whitehouse | Midlands & Wales District Secretary |
Structure, governance and management
Constitution: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Governing Document: CIO Association Constitution dated 30/04/2020 Trustee selection: Elected by Members of the CIO to serve for a 3 year period.
All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits in return for duties carried out on behalf of the charity.
Objectives
The objects of the CIO are:
Advancement of the arts by the promotion of public education in, and appreciation of music, with special reference to theatre/cinema organ music, in particular by:
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a) acquiring, maintaining and enhancing theatre organs;
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b) building, maintaining and making available, for the benefit of the public, an archive of printed and recorded material on the history of the theatre organ, its technical design and construction, and its music;
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c) holding concerts, silent film presentations, conventions, workshops, and talks focusing on the history, musical use, and playing of the theatre organ; and
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d) providing financial assistance to young people aged 25 or less wishing to attend a convention or workshop who would otherwise be unable to do so, by contributing to the cost of registration and/or travel.
Activities for the Year
The Trustees of the Cinema Organ Society have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when carrying out their duties and activities during the year.
The Cinema Organ Society activities are based around the three regions, each of which has one of the Society’s theatre organs. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions, there was a fall in audience numbers, which are now returning to pre-Covid levels.
The Society’s Ian Sutherland Award is presented periodically to young organists who demonstrate outstanding talent and potential. This year, the award has been given to Declan Poole. A special concert will be held in 2025. The Society provided sponsorship to Aaron Hawthorne, the previous award holder, to help him produce his first CD.
Earlier in the year, the Northern District recorded Nicholas Martin at the Saltaire Wurlitzer, and the resulting CD has sold very well.
Our Annual General Meeting in September was held at Fentham Hall, which is home to our Midlands & Wales District Compton organ. This year, the meeting was better attended, and following the formal business, members were entertained by four organists.
On Thursday 24th October, Strange Wonders, Aaron Hawthorne and COS Northern District collaborated on a live performance of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This was a new collaboration bringing theatrical elements to the events - including theming, set dressing, performers, a bar and interval activity as well as additional promotion through local advertising, increased PR and social media campaigns. The pilot was proposed to increase audience engagement with the organ and give an experience that would encourage a new audience to attend events in the future. The event has been viewed as a massive success with 146 audience members, an increase of nearly 100 from previous film screenings. The feedback from the audience and people involved was extremely positive. It is planned to try something similar as part of Bradford City of Culture 2025.
The Society continued to provide sponsorship to the Regent Street Cinema in London. The Compton cinema organ there was installed in 1936. It is one of only three such instruments in London remaining in its original location. The sponsorship allows the organ to be played at the
Matinee Classics programme each month, by a team of organists. Again, most of the audience have not previously heard a cinema organ, bringing it to a new younger generation.
Sponsorship of these events are made possible by legacies.
Organ Maintenance
Regular maintenance work has taken place on the three society organs. The Saltaire Wurlitzer has had work done on the Chinese gong and the sleigh bells. A new spotlight has been acquired for use at Saltaire, following failure of the old unit.
Renovation work on the Compton Organ in St. John Vianney church at Clayhall, Ilford has commenced with the organ parts removed from the chambers. The ceilings have been strengthened, and the chambers decorated to facilitate future organ maintenance and tuning.
All the organ components are being fully restored, and preparations are being made to move the console from the balcony area to the main part of the church.
Archives
The society received a large number of recordings from our late vice-president John Smallwood. These are currently being digitised.
Membership
As at December 2024, membership of the society stood at 478. As well as supporting the Society with membership subscriptions, members make generous donations which enable the Society to maintain the organs and provide additional funding for public events. Members also give time as volunteers at public events, and with maintenance and archive work.
Financial review
The Society’s principal sources of funding are the membership subscriptions and donations which include the use of the organs for private practice. The Society is grateful for the generous legacies which have been received, which offset the losses on public concerts, and allow continued maintenance of the organs.
As of 31[st] December 2024, the Society had a healthy bank balance which will allow it to progress its charitable objects over the next year.
Approved by the Trustees at their meeting on 31[st] May 2025.
S Gledhill, Chairman
M Phillips, General Secretary
THE CINEMA ORGAN SOCIETY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
Year end 31st December 2024
Registered Charity No 1189263INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
| Registered Charity No 1189263 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming Resources Activity for generating funds Subscription renewals Donations Legacies Investment interest Gift aid Total incoming resources unrestricted funds ACCOUNT |
|||
| 21228 | |||
| 9412 | |||
| 13566 | |||
| 26699 | |||
| 4093 | |||
| 4027 | |||
| 79025 |
Resources expended
Expenditure incurred in generating activity funds Publishing and distribution of printed journals Events sponsorship Insurance Repair/renewals/tuning/small equipment Administration Organ project subsidy Total resources expended Net outgoing resources
30149 7273 750 5352 5539 2913 37076 89052 (10027)
The Cinema Organ Society
Registered Charity number 1189263
Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2024
| Fixed Assets | |
|---|---|
| Tangible Assets Cinema organs and related equipment Investment Asset Schroeder Unit Trust |
110,443 100,000 |
| 210,443 | |
| Current Assets | |
| Debtors and prepayments Cash at Banks and in hand Total current assets |
799 360,227 |
| 361,026 | |
| Creditors amounts due within twelve months |
|
| - | |
| Net Current Assets | 361,026 |
| Net Assets | 571,469 |
| Funds of the Charity | |
| Accumulated funds b/f at 1st January 2024 | 581,496 |
| Loss for the year Balance at 31st December 2024 |
(10,027) |
| 571,469 |
Independent Examiners Report
Report to the trustees. CINEMA ORGAN SOCIETY On accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 Charity no 1189263
I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
Responsibilities and basis of the report
The Trustees of the Charity are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, and my role is to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’ statement
I Have completed my examination and confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material aspect the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charity Act.
The accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 do accord with the accounting records kept by the Cinema Organ Society.
I have no concerns and have not found any matters to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Sue Bickerstaffe Mrs C S Bickerstaffe Bickerstaffe Accounting Services 11 Fairhaven Skelmersdale WN8 6RQ 16/06/2025