## **Malmesbury History Society Trustee Annual Report 2021**
Registered Charity Number - 1193228
## **Address of Society**
39 Gastons Road Malmesbury SN16 0BD
## **Names of the trustees who manage the charity**
Anthony McAleavy Chairman 1/1/21 - 30/7/21 Michael Lewis Vice Chair, Acting Chairman (30/7/21 - 31/12/21) Christina Staff Secretary Anne Goodyer Roger Griffin Barry Dent Deborah Shipp Maria Marsh Treasurer
## **Structure and Governance**
CIO – Charitable Incorporated Company
All trustees are elected according to the constitution by the members at the yearly AGM.
## **Objectives and Activities**
## **Main Purpose of the Society**
To advance education in the history of Malmesbury and the surrounding area, by holding meetings to disseminate and promote the history of the local area in a wider historical context to the local community and the general public of all ages and to publish local history information and liaise with other local groups who have a similar aim.
## **Public Benefit**
The society exists for the public benefit. All the trustees have been made aware and reviewed the guidance on what the Charity Commission means by public benefit and believes that this has been achieved through our activities.
## **Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees**
New trustees are vetted by the current trustees and are put forward for election by the members at the AGM. A committee member may be co-opted during the year for a trial period. All new trustees are given a copy of the essential guidance on being a trustee from the government.
## **Activities Related to our Objective and Purposes**
A subgroup was set up to investigate the possibility of an archaeological investigation of
the Cloister Garden to the north of the abbey building. Two further geophysical surveys
of the Cloister Garden have taken place. They were arranged at no cost to MHS by one of
our members, archaeologist Robin Holley. The group is now in the process of navigating
the procedural rules with English Heritage before a firm plan of action can be made.
## **Meeting and Talks**
- 17 September 2020 Barry Dent The Abbey Tudor Frieze
- 19 November 2020 Charles Vernon The History of the Old Bell Hotel
- 21 January 2021 Mike Lewis The Past Dental History of Malmesbury
- 18 March 2021 Mark Horton What happened when the Romans left Cirencester
- 20 May 2021 David Witt The history of 25 Gastons Road
- 17 June 2021 Tony McAleavy Malmesbury Abbey in the 14th century
- 16 September 2021 Anne Goodyer Malmesbury Market Cross
- 18 November 2021 Gordon Williams Stop Line Green
## **Publications**
The publication of the booklets Hannah Twynnoy and The Witches of 17[th] Century Malmesbury and subsequent sales were in accordance with our Objectives and Charitable purposes.
## **Volunteer Contributions**
Volunteer time contributions: The 6 trustees met 6 times for approximately 1.5 hours each. Arranged and held meetings, talks, and events. Additional admin and planning as needed.
In addition research and presentations by members are all voluntary.
## **Summary of Achievements**
A lot has happened since the last Malmesbury History Society AGM on 21[st] March 2019. Covid has impacted upon all our lives, directly or indirectly; no-one can claim to have been unaffected. For a while normal life was suspended and we all had to re-assess interpersonal communications. Some because of clinical considerations almost withdrew from normal everyday activity. Several restrictive lockdowns took their toll on social activity across the spectrum of civic and personal life. MHS was not alone in suspending activities as people everywhere shunned mass gatherings either by law or later by personal choice.
A new word, Zoom, took a prominent place in our vocabulary. What a difference electronic communication made in business, education and on a personal level. We started holding our bi-monthly meetings on the Zoom platform and we are very grateful that our contributors agreed to participate in this temporary format. MHS is in a good position and has a membership with a depth of experience and a real interest in the history of Malmesbury and district.
## **Relationships with other organisations in the local area**
The MHS has a good working relationship with the Civic Trust and our local museum, Athelstan Museum. We hire meeting space from the museum. The Athelstan Museum is also an outlet for the sale of our publications.
## **Financial Review for 1 January 2021 to 30 December 2021**
Membership is robust again after the slight decline during the Covid 19 pandemic. At the end of the two years we had 72 members, the same as the previous period. There were 9 life members, an increase of 1 over the previous year. The committee decided to not charge a membership fee for 2020. Renewals are now due on April 1[st] . The membership year runs from April to March for everyone. It was also decided to keep the membership at £10 for the coming year but to look at this again for next year.
The society ended the year with a healthy bank balance of £6,552.61, £530.52 down on the previous period, largely due to the late year printing of the Hannah Twynnoy book and the reprinting of the Witches of Malmesbury book. The largest income was membership and publications sales, although sales were down from 2019 due to the pandemic. Our largest expenses were due to printing books and meeting expenses such as Zoom and room hires. We also are members of BAHL from whom we get our insurance cover, with 2021 and 2022 paid in the calender 2021 and an overpayment that was refunded in 2022.
After much discussion it was decided that the society should become a charity. In January 2021 the Society became a registered charity, #1193228 (as a CIO). This will help to obtain funding and grants for future projects we may wish to run such as the Cloister Excavations.
## **Reserves Policy**
The society holds £1,000 in reserve for the purpose of having the funds to cover the expenses for 18 months. This is reviewed yearly.
## **Policy on Restricted Funds**
The Society considers Restricted Funds yearly. These are grants and specific bequests to a society that are for a stated purpose.
Designated Funds are usually funds that are set aside for a specific purpose during the year, but can be used for other things at the discretion of the trustees. For 2021 the society held £600 designated for publishing publications.
|**2020 Balance**|**2020 Balance**|£7,083.13|£7,083.13|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021**||
||**Income**|**Expenses **|**Gain/Los**
**s**|
|**Abbey Geophys**||-£119.16|-£119.16|
|**Donations**|£50.00||£50.00|
|**Meetings**||-£411.88|-£411.88|
|**Membership**|£700.00||£700.00|
|**Publications**|£367.50|-£868.00|-£500.50|
|**Societies**||-£225.00|-£225.00|
|**Website**||-£23.98|-£23.98|
||**£**
**1,117.50**|**£**
**(1,648.02)**|**£**
**(530.52)**|
|**2021 Year End**
**Balance**|**£**
**6,552.61**|||
This report has been approved by the trustees on 29 October 2022.
Signed on behalf of the trustees by Christina Staff, Chair and Maria Marsh, Treasurer