# The Thomas Brassey Society A N N U A L R E P O R T The ‘Jenny Lind’ locomotive, used by Brassey on the Crimea railway Registered Charity No 1195546 ## A Message from our Patron **Chairman’s Report** This report and financial statement covers a 12 month period from April 2023 to the end of March 2024. The format and content follow the guidelines issued by the Charity Commission for a CIO (charitable incorporated organisation). While thinking along these lines ( _pardon the pun_ !) it might be worth reminding ourselves of the objects of our society as stated in clause 3 of our Constitution: “ _To advance the education of the public in the historic significance of the life and works of Thomas Brassey in particular but not exclusively by providing and assisting in the provision of educational materials, activities and events open to the general public on the topic of Thomas Brassey and the field of railway engineering more generally.”_ By the time you finish reading this Annual Report I hope you will agree with me that the committee has worked hard to fulfil these objects over the past 12 months. Before describing the progress we have made, I must pay tribute to the committee members and thank them for shouldering a considerable workload. Many thanks also to those, behind the scenes, who maintain our website, social media platforms and do a fabulous job to produce a bi-monthly newsletter. Much of the aforementioned workload has, of course, been in pursuit of the proposed statue of Thomas Brassey outside Chester railway station. The design competition was conducted in two stages; the first being an open invitation to a wide range of sculptors. Nine tenders were received and after careful scrutiny, these were reduced to a shortlist of two. Both in their different ways were extremely promising bids and following much deliberation amongst ourselves and with our sponsors we decided to appoint Andrew Edwards. His attention to detail and collaborative approach to the design will, we trust, result in a statue that we can be very proud of. In July and August 2023 we had our stall at Making Tracks 3 in Chester Cathedral. Once again this was an invaluable opportunity to acquaint people with Thomas Brassey and his phenomenal achievements. Thank you once again to all those members who helped out by manning the stall so willingly. On 1st August we also helped to celebrate The 175th anniversary of the official opening of Chester station in 1848. We were pleased to work in partnership with Transport for Wales and several community rail user groups. The event was very well attended and attracted some welcome television coverage! Requests for lectures and talks continue to come thick and fast. Peter Bolt has had to cut back on such things so other committee members have stepped forward to share the workload and my thanks go to them and to Gillian Bolt, for ensuring that this important aspect of our charitable objects is maintained. We have also tried to organise a number of outings for our members, such as to the Churnet Valley Railway and the Llangollen Railway. More such trips will be in the pipeline as soon as possible. Finally, ‘work in progress’ includes information panels about Thomas Brassey at stations on the Llangollen Railway and a display in Chester Town Hall where Brassey has been chosen to be one of a small number of great Cestrians. Looking beyond our shores, our Vice-Chairman, Richard Coackley is actively supporting those in south-east France who are trying to save one of Thomas Brassey’s historic railway bridges and plans were made for a visit there in Spring 2024. If you have any queries about this report or the activities of the Society please contact us by email : tbsoc@ hotmail.com. ## Stephen Langtree MBE **Trustees Annual Report for the period** **Start date: 6 April 2023 End date: 5 April 2024** ## **Section A Reference and administration details** Charity name: The Thomas Brassey Society Registered Charity No: 1195546 Charity’s principal address: 12a Fornalls Green Lane, Meols, Wirral CH47 9RJ **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Trustee name Office Dates acted (if not for whole year)** John Stephen Scott Langtree MBE Chairman Richard James Coackley CBE Vice Chairman Peter Charles Bolt Secretary David Bebb (dec’d 17 May 2024) Treasurer Up to 21 January 2024 Keith James Stoops Treasurer From 22 January 2024 David John Hooley Membership Secretary Peter William Cocker Minutes Secretary John Parton Whittingham Committee member Jean Fortune Researcher Ian Walker Excursions Co-ordinator John Violet Committee Member From 15 February 2024 **Description of the charity’s Trusts** **Section B Structure, governance and management** Type of governing document: CIO — Association (Registered 18 August 2021) How the charity is constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustee selection methods: After registration, by co-option and then subsequently at Annual General Meetings of the Society’s members. **Section C Objectives and activities Summary of the objects of** To advance the education of the public in the historic significance of the **the charity set out in its** life and works of Thomas Brassey in particular but not exclusively by **governing document** providing and assisting in the provision of educational materials, activities and events open to the general public on the topic of Thomas Brassey and the field of railway engineering more generally. **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit).** Giving talks and lectures to conferences, other societies and organisations on all aspects of the life and works of Thomas Brassey. Raising awareness of Thomas Brassey by installing interpretation panels and information plaques at key locations. Educating the public about Thomas Brassey at public exhibitions by face-to-face contact and by the distribution of literature. Providing a 60 minute film for the public about Thomas Brassey by a Society member. /continued over /Section C continued Preparing and distributing literature about Thomas Brassey and his achievements through various outlets and events. Producing and circulating bi-monthly digital newsletters to members and other interested parties. Keeping an up to date Society web-site and Facebook account, accessible to the general public. Membership of the Society has peaked at 127 during the reporting period. This includes three honorary members: our patron, Pete Waterman OBE, Doug Haynes and Jo Decker. ## **Note** : In undertaking the work of the Society the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance. ## **Section D Achievements and Performance** ## **Annual General Meeting** The Society held a very successful second AGM under its new Constitution as a registered charity on 15 April 2023. After dealing with business and the election of officers, members were treated to a talk entitled “ _When I met Thomas Brassey_ ” by Mac Steels who had worked on the M6 road construction project next to the Shap railway during his early career and been introduced to Thomas Brassey as the railway builder by his employer! ## **Making Tracks 3** During August 2023, the Society’s Patron Pete Waterman brought the third version of his ‘Making Tracks’ model railway exhibition to Chester Cathedral. Based on the Milton Keynes section of the West Coast main line, the exhibition attracted a considerable audience during the month. The Society again provided a stand to promote public understanding of Thomas Brassey’s life and works which was staffed continuously by committee and other members of the Society, on every exhibition day. Maquettes of possible ideas for the statue were on display and visitors’ preferences were recorded. |||| |---|---|---| |||**Members’ Outings**| |||Visits to the Churnet Valley Railway and the Llangollen
Railway were enjoyed by members during the year thus
supporting heritage railway societies and lines that had
been built by Thomas Brassey.
Another outing was to the Williamson Art Gallery in
Birkenhead which holds a full length portrait of Thomas,
presented to Birkenhead Council in the late 1800’s by
Lord Brassey, the eldest son. This proved very interest-
ing as the picture showed Thomas Brassey in his forties
although it had been painted after his death. Sadly the
painting is kept in the store rooms as the frame needs
attention.
Our sculptor, Andy Edwards, joined us on the visit and
also brought his first proposed designs for us to look at.
**Progress on the Statue project**
Since his appointment as sculptor, we
have had regular meetings with Andy
to firm up on design ideas.
We have also held additional meetings
on site at Chester Station, with staff
from Cheshire West & Chester’s Plan-
ning Department and also staff from
Highways to resolve issues around the
siting of the statue and plinth outside the Station.
**Talks**
Members of the Society continued to give talks to meet-
First design idea?| |Members on the chain link bridge in
Llangollen||| |Members at the Williamson Art Gallery
Peter Bolt explaining TTBS’ aims to
Wirral’s Mayor||ings of other societies and interest groups, helping to
inform the general public about the life and works of
Thomas Brassey and to spread the word of his achieve-
ments. A considerable amount of voluntary donations
have been raised during the process.
**Wirral History & Heritage Fair, Port Sunlight**
TTBS Committee members took the display stand to the
Wirral History & Heritage Fair in Port Sunlight in March.
The event was very well attended with organisers
estimating over 1000 members of the public coming
through the doors.
A great deal of interest was shown with donations being
made and new members signing up. Wirral’s Mayor also
visited the stand and showed great interest.| Members of the Society continued to give talks to meetings of other societies and interest groups, helping to inform the general public about the life and works of Thomas Brassey and to spread the word of his achievements. A considerable amount of voluntary donations have been raised during the process. Members at the Williamson Art Gallery ## **Wirral History & Heritage Fair, Port Sunlight** TTBS Committee members took the display stand to the Wirral History & Heritage Fair in Port Sunlight in March. The event was very well attended with organisers estimating over 1000 members of the public coming through the doors. A great deal of interest was shown with donations being made and new members signing up. Wirral’s Mayor also visited the stand and showed great interest. Peter Bolt explaining TTBS’ aims to Wirral’s Mayor ## / _Section D continued_ ## **FUNDRAISING FOR THE STATUE** £105,000 £96,384 Fundraising for the statue continued throughout the year with a target of £105,000. Having paid an initial payment for the maquettes from the two sculptors, the sum was still some way short of what was needed to complete the statue and its installation so further fund raising will be needed to ensure completion. Celebrating 175 years of Chester Station with a cake and our new TTBS polo shirts. Richard Coackley gave a talk about Thomas Brassey and members of the public were invited to join us. Committee Member John Whittingham also attended the 175th Events, dressed as Thomas Brassey, greatly adding to the historic feel of the event. ## **Treasurer’s Statue Fund Summary** **Summary of Account Funds and Other Income Streams** Statue Funds (funds available for the statue project) Society bank account £47,191 Less cash held in general a/c - £6,807 Funds available for statue £40,384 Outstanding Pledges: Couch Charitable Trust £10,000 Total funds available for statue £90,384 Already spent on 2 maquettes £ 6,000 Total funds achieved £96,384 In respect of the general operation and administration of the Society, the Trustees have: - held monthly and minuted meetings throughout the year in person including regular reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary - produced a bi-monthly newsletter for Society members - maintained our membership over the year - maintained a Society web-site, providing information about Thomas Brassey and his achievements, about the Society and its operation, about its Privacy Policy and links to other relevant information and continued to post on our Facebook account - all accessible to the general public. **www.thomasbrasseysociety.org** Section E Financial review Tho Thoma$ Soc Receipts and payments accounts Forthè ptrrfod from 119S548 ri1202S SAw12024 Section A Receipts and payments Unr88td¢t8d d8 En¢iowmgnt fundx ttsth• n•ar•Kt£ Totsl fund¥ lunds toth•a•aroKt£ La*t ￿•r tr+th• thq r*dr•*t£ Al R•¢èl mem￿r5h1 SubBcn iona DDnabO Private Fund￿ 159 178 159 178 279 p￿•Trt SUA¥ tot•1 (G￿&$ incom& forAR) 1*702 20M2 68 an Sub toial TotslrK•lpts 702 tnts Adrnini9trAtiOTr Fundraiain 122 61 174 t74 Events ettesx2 1.118 10 Sub totsl A4 A888t antt Inv08tm8nt Sub total Tot•ipayments 6,866 Neiof receIp¢￿{PayMOnts) AS Trnn8for8 botsvfran lund8 A6 Cash fund8 last yoar end Cash fuftds Ihls yegr end 13.806 2T.086 52.181 1."DonalbXS- Private. indudes all4onalbJn¥ Irorn wYattrindi¥iduaL4. 2.'DOn￿1￿S- Other Indudesall donatiorA trom otherorwnl￿IQrts. 8thi8b89 ¢Xtru 3. Fundrai9ing Indude9 sathof bmks 4. Event$ indudes rec4ipts fortheAGM othwfvnL#￿ns. S. D&posts pa￿ tymemberg aitgndlng the CNèt e AdminiStr8ticn includesthè Annutyi tyWform•nt&niw thesC(iety￿￿le and printing ¢cth. 7. Fundr$i¥iw indude¥th$ aftnual payment totho FUnd￿lS1n¥ Re9ulator. 8. Promotion Iwts indude kwk publithing. 9. Events Indude payments S)rth&AGM and otherfvncbons. Vi8itftsnded ty membern&itaThliw.._.... 10. Two one off payments of£30W each to Ihe shorursw PToduts a moquotte. NOTE.. Att0￿￿$ wb1￿1¢9 hdep8rthnt8i•min•kn. 00(￿)0CcXx R1 ocu￿ntS ISSI 0000001 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unfe8trlctad funds to rwm$tE Rg¥trl¢¢èd funds n￿r•I1£ Endowrnent fundA to nMr¥•t£ 81 Ca$h funds Cash held in bank current account 47.191 Total cash lunds 47.191 unrost￿ti•d funds to n•W•6t£ R••tri¢t•d fund8 to n•a¥tttÈ End4)wm•nt fund8 to ￿￿￿0¢£ Fundto *thl¢h eo¥tloplloMIi Cumihtvl￿* cost10p￿0￿4II B4 Ass•ts rotaln•d for the charfty's own u Fundto*thlch knunt du• 8S Llabllltles C4sh held for ¢rL￿tvtBrt I po￿ in by one or N¥¢tr￿te88Qrt bthall 01811 tha trusteey Siqn8lu¥e Prfnt Name Dale of Kath SIOQ 30106r24 ## **Section F Other optional information** None **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**
Peter Charles Bolt
Secretary
Chairman
JohnStephenScott Langtree
13 July 2024||| |---|---|---| |||**Society Name**
|**Society Name**
|**Society Name**
|**Society Name**
|**No (if any)**|| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||

**The Thomas Brassey Society**|||||| |||
**Receipts andpayments accounts**|||||| ||Note|**For the period**
**from**||Period start date|**To**|Period end date|| |||||6 April 2023||5 April 2024|| ||||||||| |**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||||| |||**Unrestricted**
**funds**||**Restricted**
**funds**|**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**|**Last year**| |||**to the nearest £**||**to the nearest £**|**to the nearest £**|**to the nearest £**|**to the nearest £**| |**A1 Receipts**|||||||| |MembershipSubscriptions||**1,220**||**-**|**-**|**_1,220_**|**1,220**| |||||**-**|**-**|**_-_**|| |Donations||||**-**|**-**|**_-_**|| |Private|1|**12,509**||**-**|**-**|**_12,509_**|**12,509**| |Other|2|**14,223**||**-**|**-**|**_14,223_**|**14,223**| |Fundraising|3|**279**||**-**|**-**|**_279_**|**279**| |Events|4|**1,075**||**-**|**-**|**_1,075_**|**1,075**| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_||**29,306**||**-**|**-**|**_29,306_**|**29,306**| ||||||||| |**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**|||||||| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |**_Sub total_**||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||||| |**_Total receipts_**||**29,306**||**-**|**-**|**_29,306_**|**29,306**| ||||||||| |**A3 Payments**|||||||| |
Administration|5|**_51_**||**-**|**-**|**_51_**|**51**| |Fundraising|6|**_50_**||**-**|**-**|**_50_**|**50**| |Promotion costs|7|**_1,001_**||**-**|**-**|**_1,001_**|**1,001**| |Events|8|**_1,118_**||**-**|**-**|**_1,118_**|**1,118**| |||||||**_-_**|**-**| |||||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |**_Sub total_**||**_2,220_**||**_-_**|**_-_**|**_2,220_**|**_2,220_**| ||||||||| |**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|||||||| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|| |**_Sub total_**||**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||||| |**_Totalpayments_**||**2,220**||**-**|**-**|**2,220**|**2,220**| ||||||||| |**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**||**27,086**||**-**|**-**|**27,086**|**27,086**| |**A5 Transfers between funds**|9|**2,000**||**-**|**-**|**2,000**|**-**| |**A6 Cash funds last year end**||**9,259**||**-**|**-**|**9,259**|**-**| |**_Cash funds thisyear end_**||**38,345**||**-**|**-**|**38,345**|**27,086**| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| |**Notes**|||||||| |1. “Donations - Private” includes all donations fro||mprivate individuals.|||||| |2. “Donations - Other” includes all donations from||other organisations, societies or trusts.|||||| |3. Fundraisingincludes sales of books.|||||||| |4. Events includes receipts for the AGM and othe||r functions.|||||| |5. Administration includes the annual cost for maintainingthe Societywebsite andprinting|||||costs.||| |6. Fundraisingincludes the annualpayment to the FundraisingRegulator.|||||||| |7. Promotion costs include bookpublishing.|||||||| |8. Events includepayments for the AGM and other functions.|||||||| |9. Restricted fund of £2,000 transferred to “unrestricted” with the agreement of the donor.|||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| |NOTE: Accounts subject to independent examination.|||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|||||||| |**Categories**||**Details**|||**Unrestricted**
**funds**|**Restricted**
**funds**|**Endowment**
**funds**| ||||||**to nearest £**|**to nearest £**|**to nearest £**| |**B1 Cash funds**||Cash held in bank current account|||**38,345**||**-**| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||||| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| |||**_Total cash funds_**|||**38,345**|**-**|**-**| |||(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|||OK|OK|OK| ||||||**Unrestricted**
**funds**|**Restricted**
**funds**|**Endowment**
**funds**| |||**Details**|||**to nearest £**|**to nearest £**|**to nearest £**| |**B2 Other monetary assets**|||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||||| |||**Details**|||**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**|**Cost (optional)**|**Current value**
**(optional)**| |**B3 Investment assets**||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| ||||||||| |||**Details**|||**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**|**Cost (optional)**|**Current value**
**(optional)**| |**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| |||||||**-**|**-**| ||||||||| |||**Details**|||**Fund to which**
**liability relates**|**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**When due**
**(optional)**| |**B5 Liabilities**||Supply and installation of Interpretation
Panel|||Unrestricted|**3,380**|| |||||||**-**|| |||||||**-**|| |||||||**-**|| ||||||||| |Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees||Signature|||Print Name||Date of
approval| ||||||Keith Stoops||05/04/24
| |||||||||