ANNUAL REPORT
2023 12024

## WHAT DOES THE BLACKHEATH SOCIETY DO? 

The Society can claim many achievements since its foundation in 1937. We work with local councils, residents, amenity groups, traders, police and national bodies - with everyone who can contribute to the enhancement of Blackheath. 

We aim to preserve and enhance for the benefit of the public the features of Blackheath of particular beauty or historical 

and architectural interest; to protect its open spaces from disfigurement or encroachment, particularly the Heath; to encourage high standards of planning and architecture in its new buildings; to promote improvements to the amenities of the area and to encourage appreciation of its character and history. 

## BLACKHEATH VILLAGE 

We work with other community organisations and local traders to enhance the Village and organise and support local events, such as talks and visits to places of local interest. 

## THE HEATH 

We work to preserve the health and enjoyment of the Heath and oppose commercial exploitation and damage from overuse. 

## TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL 

We monitor major developments that have an effect on the traffic in Blackheath. We campaign for better railway and bus services and for station improvements. 

## PLANNING AND CONSERVATION 

We encourage good modern design, while preserving our existing heritage. We scrutinise planning proposals, advise local councils and appear at public inquiries. 

## HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

## JOIN THE SOCIETY 

Keep up to date with local news and have a voice in future developments.. 

## JOIN OUR ACTIVITIES 

Whether you have expertise in our areas of interest or time to give practical help, along with other people involved in Village life. 

For general information and advice on matters concerning the activities and work of The Society apply to: 

The Secretary, The Blackheath Society, Studio 2, The Old Bakehouse, 11 Blackheath Village, London, SE3 9LA 

## HISTORY AND EDUCATION / EVENTS 

We maintain a unique archive of more than 20,000 images of Blackheath. We sponsor talks, exhibitions and publications about the history of the area, organise local walks and publish guides. 

- 020 8297 1937 

- office@blackheath.org 

- www.blackheath.org 

- BlackheathSociety 

- @BlackheathSoc 

© The Blackheath Society.  May 2024.  Nothing contained in this report may be reproduced without written consent 




## ANNUAL REPORT 

2023 / 2024 

## 3 

Chair’s Introduction 

## 4 

Neil Rhind 

## 5 

Events and Talks 

## 6 

Architecture Group 

## 7 

Planning 

## 8 

Transport 

## 9 

Archive 

## 10 - 12 

Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statements 

## 13 

Kite Day & The Village 

## 14 

Society Management and Photo Credits 

2 



CHAIR’S INTRODUCTION 


Society Chair Paul Watts 

My report starts with the sad news of the death of our President Neil Rhind MBE FSA on 10 February 2024 just after his 87th birthday, which was also the 87th anniversary of the formation of the Society. 

He was a member of our committee from 1970-1993, Chairman from 1993-1998, Vice President from 1998-2016 and President from 2016-2024. Neil’s wise counsel and advice will be missed. His knowledge and enthusiasm for local history was unparalleled. We are fortunate that his memory will live on in his work and many publications. 

Turning to the Society’s activities in 2023, we enjoyed a packed programme of more than 30 activities, including a very well attended talk, Forgotten Neighbours, on the remarkable residents of the old churchyard of St Margaret’s Lee. We also held our third Kite Day on the Heath in October. The Architecture Group goes from strength to strength and ran a full programme of events. 

In the Village, we again saw changes to local businesses with some closing, including the restaurant Copper & Ink and long-standing shoe shop Pares. The Talbot Place play area 

opened, and the project was funded by a NCIL grant from Lewisham Council and a donation form the Balcombe Charitable Trust. 

The Planning Group continued its important work and there were 700 local applications in 2023, including 364 for trees. All were looked at and we intervened in 49 cases. Major projects reviewed include the Leegate re-development which was approved after a 10-year wait. 

The campaign to re-instate direct Charing Cross train services continued but there is more work to do. We have been able to make some progress on repairs and redecoration to the station, working with the rail companies and the Railway Heritage Trust, and work should be completed by summer 2024. 

The Blackheath Joint Working Party started meeting again, under the chair of Greenwich councillors, and bids for the remaining community fund monies have been received. 

Our archive team continued to be busy and this work will be much increased in the future, as we are the beneficiaries of much of Neil Rhind’s archive which will need cataloguing and digitising over the next few years. Please do get in touch if you have relevant experience and would like to assist with this project. 

We welcomed around 80 new members in 2023 and we held several new members’ evenings to understand their interests. There are always opportunities for new and existing members to assist the Society in our many areas of activity. 

I would like to conclude with my sincere thanks to our many volunteers, to my fellow trustees, and especially to our secretary Sacha Bright for her enthusiasm and dedication to the Society during the year. 

3 



NEIL RHIND 

Our President Neil Rhind, who died last February aged 87, was simply Mr Blackheath. He devoted 55 years to your Society, was widely acknowledged as a leading local historian and writer and received many honours and accolades. 

A journalist by training and a historian by inclination, he built an enormous archive concerning the history of local buildings, assembled a complete collection of publications and created detailed records of the local amenity societies. 

Born in the same year as the founding of the Blackheath Society in 1937, he was our Chair for many years and became President in 2016. 

As Secretary of the Blackheath Preservation Trust, in the 1970s he was centrally involved in raising funds and building support to prevent the demolition of Blackheath Halls and the Conservatoire. His direct involvement also saved many other architecturally outstanding Blackheath buildings. 

He was awarded the Freedom of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in May 2017 and the Council held one minute’s silence in his memory at its first 


meeting after his death. The Greenwich Historical Society did the same at its first meeting. 

For over 50 years he gave talks and conducted many local walks. His comprehensive knowledge of the local area was unmatched, and the three volumes of his Blackheath Village and its Environs, written over a period of 40 years, are the definitive works on this outstanding area of London. 

The Society will be joining with Blackheath Halls in hosting a memorial event for Neil in the Halls in July. We also have a considerable responsibility, as the custodian of his enormous collection and output, to ensure that his work is made accessible for the future. 

His wife Elizabeth sent this message: “Very many thanks to you and the committee of the Blackheath Society for the splendid tribute to Neil in the spring Newsletter. May I also through your pages attempt to acknowledge some of the enormous quantity of condolences received from friends and neighbours. There have been so many beautiful cards and eloquent letters - a tribute in themselves to the quality of life and friendship in Blackheath which Neil so much enjoyed.” 

Neil is profoundly missed by us all and the Society sends its sincere condolences to Elizabeth and all their family. Their son Iain and daughter Alexandra pre-deceased him. 

4 



EVENTS AND TALKS 

We have continued to have a busy programme of events with many occasions for members to meet and chat. 

The Forgotten Neighbours talk at St Margaret’s Church about the interesting and varied inhabitants of the historic graveyard across the road was well attended. Highlights included dramatic readings connected to some of the churchyard residents (below) and a delightful lute performance of pieces by one resident, the royal court lutenist Daniel Bacheler. 


We also joined Blackheath High School Alumnae for an evening to hear about the distinguished artist Jean Cooke who used to live in Blackheath. 

The series of Walk & Talk events included visits to Covent Garden, Walbrook in the City and Maidenstone Hill, Greenwich. It was revealed in this last walk that there was an underwear factory in Point Hill which allowed many of their employees to work at home, so the trend since Covid is nothing new. 

Many members enjoyed an exciting day at the Headquarters of the King’s Royal Horse 


Artillery Troop in Woolwich, where we were shown their meticulous work. The troop was impeccably turned out and enthusiastic riders and horses well- prepared for their ceremonial roles and performances. 

During the cold weather we held some Zoom meetings. One was called Follies in the Garden and the Estate, which was full of remarkable and amusing facts and illustrations. And another academically focused Zoom concerned the Death of Marlowe, which concluded after some deliberation that the event was an accident. 

The Society orchestrated the traditional events surrounding the turning on of the Christmas lights in the Village. These included Morris dancing, a vintage car show and the All Saint’s School choir who led a charming procession singing carols. Father Christmas did the honours of the countdown to switching on the lights. It was unfortunate that a passing lorry and foxes later brought down the cables to the lights on the Christmas tree, but a solution will be found. 

Thank you to all who contributed to making our events so successful. 

5 



ARCHITECTURE GROUP 


Over 100 people attended our annual lecture in May last year by Neil Bingham on Patrick Gwynne, the architect of 10 Blackheath Park (seen above) and the subject of Bingham’s new book. We enjoyed learning more about someone who designed some of the most extraordinary houses on the Cator Estate. 

In June we welcomed back Magnus Englund and Leyla Daybelge for a talk on Walter Gropius, based on their Phaidon monograph. 

This year we focused our events on the theme of reuse, retrofit and the book The Sustainable City. We visited the awardwinning Chart Street Studios, by architect Ian Chalk in July and in November we went to Cork House by Nimtim Architects. 

We saw a unique initiative in Waterloo - the offices of Feilden Fowles Architects alongside Waterloo City Farm. Its buildings are demountable and can be reused elsewhere. 

We also toured the iconic Stock Orchard Street, or straw-bale house of 2001, by Jeremy Till and Sarah Wigglesworth. In March we visited Queens, Bayswater, by Stiff & Trevillion (above right) to hear a presentation on their practice and four recent projects, all examples of regeneration and reuse. 

In October we were privileged to visit Ferry Street (below right) with its unique view 

across the river towards Greenwich. This is a self-build project from the 1970s designed by Stout and Litchfield and built by Dr Michael Barraclough and his wife Jenny. They reused many materials that were becoming available with the redevelopment of Docklands. 

For London’s Open House we offered guided tours of modern buildings on the Cator Estate, a successful tour in its third year. In April we spent an away day in Brighton, visiting an 1820s Regency Town House and the 1935 Embassy Court. We took a walk along the beach front on the way back to the station to appreciate some other buildings. 



6 



PLANNING 

Thanks to our very dedicated team of volunteers and Sacha’s work in our office, we were able to scan over 700 planning applications covering Blackheath conservation areas, including 364 for tree work, and 43 were examined in detail. 

Considerable time was also spent examining and responding to consultations by Greenwich and Lewisham councils on major policy issues. We commented extensively on the new Urban Design Guide for Greenwich and it was pleasing to see many of our comments accepted. 

We are now engaged in commenting on a new Statement of Community Involvement for Greenwich, and a very welcome Developers Charter. The controversial consultation for the equivalent Statement for Lewisham has concluded and been finalised. 

Our work on planning applications falls into three main categories: applications for building in the local conservation areas, 


trees and work on major projects proposed for the periphery of Blackheath. 

We can be very pleased with the outcome on the first category, as both councils mainly supported our comments by refusing inappropriate applications or requiring amendments and conditions, such as in Morden Road and on the insensitive proposals for an important modern property at 2 Foxes Dale. 

In terms of larger projects we had less success and here the drive for more housing units tends to overwhelm objections. We deployed considerable effort to assist in residents’ efforts to obtain improvements to the Leegate scheme, ultimately without success as the project was approved. 

Most disappointing was the outcome of a year-long battle, including very intensive liaison with local residents, to object to the construction by Greenwich Builds of seven affordable houses on Richmount Gardens in the conservation area (below left). 

It is a tribute to the quality and depth of opposition that the scheme was reduced in scale. But we felt it still involved significant harm to the conservation area and the local community. 

The scheme was approved in a very close vote, setting a poor precedent. The fate of the important William Mitchell mural in the community centre there is at this point still not clear. 

We are currently awaiting the resolution of important schemes for the Post Office in the Village, the new Bowls Club in Blackheath Park and for progress following the consultation on the future of the Blackheath station car park. 

An enhanced feature of our work is our efforts on enforcement, where resources all round are stretched. 

7 



TRANSPORT 

Over the past year we have engaged with Steve White, Managing Director of Southeastern Railway, reiterating our demand for restoration of a second off-peak direct service from Blackheath to Charing Cross and Waterloo. 

This is what the customers want and the request is supported by the fact that levels of off-peak usage have returned to prepandemic levels. 

But commuter demand remains well below these levels and this confirms the perversity of running direct services during the peak periods but not in the off- peaks when demand is strong. 

We have not yet won this second service to Charing Cross, but there is an encouraging sentence in Steve White’s latest letter to the Society in which he says: “Looking further forward ahead to our December 2024 timetable and beyond, we would like to run more direct Bexleyheath services to Charing Cross but that is dependent upon funding”. 

We will have three very minor positives for the Bexleyheath line in the June timetable: late evening services on Saturdays will run from Charing Cross instead of Cannon Street, off-peak timings of trains to London Bridge will be slightly more even and Victoria line trains will be extended to Gravesend. We will continue to press our case into next year with no let-up in pressure. 

The Society has also been working this year with Southeastern Railway, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust to fund the restoration and repainting of Blackheath Station. We are delighted to report that all the funding is now in place and work on the platforms has already started. 

The platforms are the responsibility of Network Rail, which is replacing all their badly damaged valences, and Southeastern 

will paint the front of the station, the booking office and waiting room. 

The Railway Heritage Trust has advised about the new heritage look to the station, which will be painted in dark green and cream colours, similar to those seen in the photograph below. 


The unique features of Blackheath station will also be maintained, and this iconic presentation will be fitting for our Grade 2 listed building, which will celebrate its 175th birthday soon, as it opened on 30 July 1849. 

Once the works are completed we will re-attach the weight sign at the station entrance, which the Society recently recovered after it had been stolen a few years ago. We are looking forward to seeing the results. 

8 



ARCHIVE 

This year’s archive report is overshadowed by the sad death of Neil Rhind, without whom the archive would not exist. Neil used the foundations laid by A.R. Martin, himself a gifted photographer and brilliant chronicler of Blackheath who died in 1974, to build and preserve a unique record of buildings, people, events, news reports, magazines and journalistic articles of the area. 

His unparalleled three volumes “Blackheath Village & Environs,” begun in the 1970s will be familiar to most members. He was working on the 4th when he died 50 years later, The 30 years between successive volumes (number 3 was promised for 1994 and it appeared in 2024) was the source of much comment and humour, not least by Neil, which he shrugged off characteristically, saying it was nearly 99% finished. 


He was a perfectionist, never satisfied that his work was complete, always conscious that updating was required, and with an eagle eye for factual error or grievous typographical misprints. He was mortified that “anschluss” was misspelt in one of his publications. Not just a perfectionist, Neil was a workaholic. 

Few are familiar with his “Blackheath Names - an index of Blackheath people and their 

addresses from 1691 to 1940” which is a compilation of 54,000 names. Many may have forgotten his “Blackheath Art & Music: the centenary of the Blackheath Concert Hall 1895-1995” for which he listed all the performers and the dates of their appearance since its opening night - a mere 3,764 items. 

Even fewer will know of the list he compiled of 450 or so Blackheath donors to the Distressed Irish Clergy Fund in 1836, the list of members of the Blackheath Golf Club from 1766 to 1923 and the one of the New Cross Turnpike Trustees from the 18th century. 

Neil’s compilations were not just mere abstract Blackheath collections but they became the factual basis of numerous walks, talks and lectures that he gave on the area he loved so much. At the last count, he conducted more than 90 walks and talks, displaying not only his erudition but his humorous and occasionally caustic wit. He also contributed regularly to local magazines, with 140 articles identified so far. 

So where does this leave the archive? Without Neil, no archive would exist. We will continue to do his life’s work justice by making his research available to all, and we have made a decent stab at this so far. 

At the latest count, we have over 50,000 items on the website - magazines he collected, articles he wrote, images he took himself or bought from eBay, films of his talks - particularly six short films of the interview by Julian Watson on his life works. 

As has often been reported, the process of cataloguing, scanning and digitising is a slow one, but we will continue to make sure that the results of his works become increasingly accessible on www.blackheatharchive.org, the sister website to the Society’s main site at www.blackheath.org. Neil’s work, like Martin’s, will never be forgotten. 

9 



TREASURER’S REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 

The The Society’s results on unrestricted funds showed income and endowments of £61,828 (2022: £62,437) and expenditure of £63,803 (2022: £59,062), giving a small net deficit on unrestricted funds of £1,975 for the year (2022: surplus of £3,375). 

This is in line with our budget strategy to aim to more or less break even on normal activities during any year. 

The gains/losses on revaluation of fixed assets are unrealised and relate to the movement in the Equities Investment Fund for Charities (Charifund) which showed a loss of £3,949 (2022: loss £9,913). 

There was no change to the valuation of Tranquil Hall in 2023, after a 2022 gain of £20,000. Restricted funds consist of the balance of the Blackheath Joint Working Party Community Fund of £24,840 and £1,081 remaining for the Talbot Place play area. 

The Charifund investments, included in fixed assets, were held at £164,106 (£168,055 in 2022) and generated income for the year of £9,778 (£9,492 in 2022). 

We continued to hold a property investment asset, the freehold of Tranquil Hall in Blackheath Village, which was revalued in 2022 and continues to be held at £410,000 in the accounts (2022: £410,000). 

It is rented to Heath House, a local preparatory school. 

The Society’s total funds were £628,281 at 31 December 2023 (2022: £644,730) and we remain in a strong financial position. 

The Society’s annual income is derived from members’ subscriptions, donations, 

investment income and rental income received from Tranquil Hall. The aim is to ensure annual running costs are controlled carefully and are met from annual income and that budgets are set accordingly. 

Expenditure on additional projects and activities is generally funded by reserves, donations, or specific gifts for projects. 

Membership saw an increase to 969 households (889 in 2022). The membership fee remained at £20 per year for 2023, unchanged since 2018. 

The Society continued much of its work to provide in person Walk and Talks and other events for members. All money received to support these projects and the relevant expenditure is shown under our unrestricted funds in the accounts. 

Our activities include those of the Architecture Group, which hosted a number of well-attended and well-received events. 

For special projects, external grants and donations are sought and raised wherever possible, but always in conjunction with the use of the Society’s own designated funds. 

The Society’s Trustees regularly review our requirements for reserves in the light of the main risks to the organisation. 

It is considered vital to hold sufficient unrestricted financial reserves to protect the Society from the risk of insolvency and from serious disruption to its work, and to enable it to mount any major campaign thought appropriate. 

The Trustees therefore consider that the reserves held were at an appropriate level at 31 December 2023. 

10 



## STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 

|INCOME AND<br>ENDOWMENTS FROM:<br>Donations and legacies<br>Charitable activities<br>Investment income<br>Donation from predecessor<br>Charity<br>Fees and supplies<br>**Total income**<br>EXPENDITURE ON:<br>Charitable activities<br>**Total expenditure**<br>Gains/losses on<br>investment assets<br>Gains/losses on<br>revaluation of fixed assets<br>for charity’s own use<br>Net (expenditure)/income<br>Gross transfers between<br>funds<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>RECONCILIATION<br>OF FUNDS<br>**Total funds brought forward**<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**608,326**<br>**602,060**<br>13,195<br>8,233<br>40,400<br>-<br>-<br>**61,828**<br>(63,803)<br>(63,803)<br>-<br>(3,949)<br>(5,924)<br>(342)<br>**(6,266)**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**(£)**|**36,404**<br>**26,221**<br>2,735<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**2,735**<br>(13,260)<br>(13,260)<br>-<br>-<br>(10,525)<br>342<br>**(10,183)**<br>**Restricted**<br>**(£)**|**644,730**<br>**628,281**<br>15,930<br>8,233<br>40,400<br>-<br>-<br>**64,563**<br>(77,063)<br>(77,063)<br>-<br>(3,949)<br>(16,449)<br>-<br>**(16,449)**<br>**Total 31**<br>**December**<br>**2023 (£)**|-<br>644,730<br>43,771<br>8,921<br>39,525<br>631,463<br>1,120<br>724,800<br>(90,157)<br>(90,157)<br>20,000<br>(9,913)<br>644,730<br>-<br>644,730<br>Total  31<br>December<br>2022 (£)|
|---|---|---|---|---|



11 



BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 

Registration number 1196292 

|FIXED ASSETS<br>Investments<br>CURRENT ASSETS<br>Stocks<br>Debtors<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>Creditors: amounts<br>falling due within one year<br>Net current assets<br>Total assets less current<br>liabilities<br>Creditors: amounts<br>falling due after more<br>than one year<br>**Net assets**<br>THE FUNDS OF<br>THE CHARITY:<br>Restricted income funds<br>Restricted funds<br>Unrestricted income funds<br>Unrestricted funds<br>TOTAL FUNDS|7,121<br>7,411<br>**82,486**<br>**97,018**<br>(42,159)<br>54,859<br>628,965<br>574,106<br>**(684)**<br>**628,281**<br>**602,060**<br>**628,281**<br>**2023 (£)**<br>**26,221**|8,328<br>9,935<br>**70,441**<br>**88,704**<br>(21,112)<br>67,592<br>645,647<br>578,055<br>**(917)**<br>**644,730**<br>**608,326**<br>**644,730**<br>2022 (£)<br>**36,404**|
|---|---|---|



12 



KITE DAY 

A near perfect combination of sunshine and just enough wind made the 2023 Blackheath Society Kite Day, held in October, probably the best since it was relaunched in its current format in 2021, after a gap of many years. 

An estimated 2,000 people came to enjoy the day, admire the giant demonstration kites, fly their own and picnic in the sunshine. This looks set to become a favourite annual event and planning is already under way for Sunday October 13 this year, weather permitting. 

The Kent Kite Flyers, an enthusiasts’ group from the coast, once again provided a spectacle of giant kites, including flying teddies and an astronaut, as well as selling kites from their stand and helping novices to fly them. Ballast bags to anchor the kites were donated by J Hearnden Skip Hire. 

The Mir family kindly provided small paper kites for the children. Dr Azhar Mir demonstrated some traditional Asian kite fighting and the tricky manoeuvre of capturing a balloon with a kite. 

Children from Grinling Gibbons Primary School,Deptford, once again delighted us with their steelpan band and we all appreciated their enthusiasm and musical talent, as well as the support of their teachers and parents. We hope to see them again this year. 

Free rides at Botton’s Family Funfair were generously provided as a thank you to the musicians after their performance and, as ever, the Society is grateful to Jimmy Botton and his family for their help and support. We are also grateful for the help from our numerous volunteers at this event. 

The Talbot Place natural play area for under-fives, a volunteer project endorsed by the Blackheath Society, was also launched on Kite Day, with bubbles, pavement chalks and refreshments. The groundwork was completed with the help of grants 

from Lewisham Council and the Balcombe Charitable Trust. 


## THE VILLAGE 

Blackheath has welcomed plenty of new independent stores in the past year. 

We now have a fishmongers, Rockpool, and a revived Blackheath Butchers, which this year is celebrating its 100 years on a single use site in the Village. 

We welcomed the new Cafe East and Panas on Montpelier Vale, Buzz Cafe at the train station and Prosecco on Royal Parade. 

Lark is offering clothes and gifts on Montpelier Vale and, tucked away on Brigade Street, is Treowe design and interiors. 

Of course there have also been some closures, particularly the Copper & Ink restaurant, However, the Barclays Bank site is due to re-open as a beauty clinic and we are waiting to see who is taking over Pares Shoes. 

Supporting our local shops and restaurants is key to maintaining a vibrant Village and we hope all our members will continue to enjoy what they have to offer. 

13 



SOCIETY MANAGEMENT 

## PRESIDENT 

Neil Rhind MBE  (2016 to 10 February 2024) 

## TRUSTEES 

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR TREASURER Paul Watts Dame Helen Reeves Andrew Westbrook FCA John Bartram Nicola Peers Ana Sutherland Allan Griffin John Schofield David Walker Sarah Mansfield Howard Shields Liz Wright Nick Patton Diane Summers 

## SECRETARY 

Sacha Bright 

The Blackheath Society. A Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registered Charity number 1196292. 

## PHOTO CREDITS 

We would like to thank Thomas 

Sutherland, son of Society trustee Ana, for his photograph of Blackheath seen on the front and back covers this year. His portfolio of aerial drone images can be seen on www.thomasfranciscosut. wixsite.com/ts-drone-photography. 

We would also like to thank Jonathan Causer for his photograph of Neil Rhind on page 4. The station photograph on page 8 came from the Railway Heritage Trust. All the other photographs were taken by our Trustees or came from the Society’s own archive. 

The annual report was produced by John Bartram and designed by Pippa Stanton. 


Tranquil Vale seen in a 1905 archive photograph 

14 



Charity registration number.. 1196292
The Blackheath Society
Annual Report Financial 5tatement5
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Fleld Sullivah LIMlted
9 Hare & Billet ftoad
B13ckheath
tondo
SE3 ORB

The Blackheath Soclety
Contents {continuedl
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees, Report
2to5
Independent Examiner'5 Report
Statement ol Financial Activities
7t08
Balance Sheet
Notes to the FinancS3l Statements
IOto20

The Blackheath Soclety
Reference and Administrative Details
Tru%tees
Paul Watts
Dame Helen Reeves
Andrew Westbrook
John Bartxam
Allan Griffin
Sarah Man51ield
Nicholas Patton
Nicola Peers
John Scholield
Howafd Shields
Dlane Summers
Ana Sutherland
David Walker
Ellzabeth Wright
Sacha Brlghl
Secretary
Chalr
Paul Watts
Vl¢e- Chair
Dame Helen Reeve5
Treasurer
Andrew Westbrook
President
Nell Rhind (died 10 February 20241
Vlce-presldents
David Quarmbv
Tony Aldous
Lord Stone of BlackheBth
Charlty ReB15tratlon Number
1196292
Prlnclpal Oillce
The Old Bakehouse
11 Blackheath Vlllage
Blackheath
London
SE3 9LA
Independent Examlner
Field Sullivan Llrnited
9 Hare & Billet Road
Blackheath
London
SE3 ORB
Page I

The Blackheath Societv
Trustees, Report
Yrustee's Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
Chalr'5 report
My report starts with the sad news ol the death of our President. Neil Rhind MBI FSA on 10 February 2024.
just after his 87th birthday and the 87th anniversary ()f the formation of the 5ocip.ty. A Iiill tribute to Neil has
been publislied in our Spring 2024 newsletter and there will be a celebration of his life at an event 3t
Blackheath Halls in the 5uminef. He wa5 a member of the Soclety'5 commlttee from 1970-1993, Cl)alrman
from 1993-1998, VSce President from 1998-2016 and President Irom 2016-2024. Neil's wlse counsel and advice
will be mi55ed. He made an immense conti"ibution to the Blackheath and Greenwich are.as and h15 knowlpdge
and enthusiasm for local hlstory was unparalleled. We are fortunate that hls memory will live on In his work
and many publications.
Turning to the Society's activities in 2023, we enjoyed a packed programme ol over 30 actlvlties Includlng a
very well attended talk "Forgotten Neighbours" on the remarkable resldents of the Old Churchyard of Sl
Margaret's Lee. We also held our third Klte Day on the Heath in Octob£r. The architecÈure group goes from
strength to strength and ran a lull programme of event5.
In the Vlllage, we again saw changes to local businesses with some closinB, including ihe restaurant Copper
and Ink and long-standing shoe shop Pzies. We welco￿le new bu5it7e55e5 and run regular features in our
new51etter on them. The Talbot Place play are8 opened, and the 5oclety worked with the Friends of the
Blackheath Play Area and local councillors on the project whlch was funded by a NCIL grani from Lewlshatn
Council and a donation form the Balcombe Char*table Trust.
The planning group, whiih has ten volunteers who examine issues of planning policy and scrutiiiise all
applications in Ok*r area, continued its imporlant work. There were 700 local planning applic3tion5 in 2023
(including 264 lor tree51, all were looked at and we intervened In 49 cases, Malor prolecis reviewed include the
Leegate re-development whlch was approved after a 10 year wait.
The Society unfortunately lost the Goldei) Elephant trophy in the annual cricket match agalnst the Greenwlch
Society in a delayed fixture in early September.
The campaign to re-instate direct Charing Cross train seNices continLJed, with a modest success with an hourly
Charing Cross off-peak service belng leinstated from May 2023, but there is more work to do. We have bepn
able to make some progress on repairs and redecoration to the Station, working with the rall companle5 and
the Railway Heritage Trust and work should be complet£d by Summer 2024.
The Blackheath Jolnt Worklng Party has started meetlng again, under the chair of Greenwlch coiincillors and
bids for the remaining community fund monies have be@n received. The annual Heath clean-up day in October
working with Inembers, loctl couhclllors, èlld other volunteers was another great success.
Ou¥ archive team conlinued to be busy digitising much Inaterial and t>enefited from the donatlon of further
collectlons during the year, this work will be much increased the fijture as we are the beneliciarles ol much
of Neil Rhlnd's archive which wlll need cataloguing and digltising over the neKt few years
please do get in
touch if you hav@ relevant @xperienc@ and would like to as5I5t with th15 project.
We continued to attract new people and welcomed around SO new members in 2023. We held several new
members, eveiiings to understand interests and there are alway5 opportunltles for both new and existing
Inembers to asslst the Society in it5 many area5 of activity.
I would like to conclude with my sincere thiinks to our many volunteers, to my fellow Trustees, and especially
to our secretary S3cha Bright lor her enthusiasm and dedicatlon to the Society during the year.
Page 2

The Blackheath Societv
Trustees, Report Icontlnued)
Flnantlal revlew
The Society's iesults on unre5trlcted funds. belore gains or1055es on investment assets, was a delicit ol £1,975
12022.. surplu5 of £3,375).
The Society's annual income, m31nly from membership fees and investment income, covers routine oflice and
other overheads, Expenditure on additlonal projects and actlvitle5 is generally funded by reserves or from
donatiotss and other 5OtJrces.
Membership sbw an increase to 969 hou5eholds12022'. 8891 The membership fee remalns at £20 per annum
lor ?022 and has been unchaMBed Since 2018.
The Equities Investment Fund lor Charltles Icharilundl Investments included within Ilxed assèts was held at
£164,106 12022.. £J68,0551. The Charilund Investments Benerated incorne for the year of £9,778 12022..
£9,492).
We continued to hold a property inve5tMe¢7t asset, the freehold Df Tranquil Ha11 in Blackheath Village, which
was revalued in 2022 and contlnue5 to be held at £410,000 in ihe accounts12022.' £410,000) and is rented to
Heath House, a local Preparatory School.
The Societvs lotal funds were £628,281 at 31 December 202312022.. £644,730) and we remaln In a strong
linanclkl position.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees regulaily revlew the Society's requlrements lor reserves In the light ol the main rlsks to the
organisation.
The annual Income ol the Soclety is derlved from members, subscriptions, donatlons, investment income and
Irom the rental income received on Tranquil Hall.
The Trustees 3lm to ensure that annual rLinnlng costs are controlled carefully and are met from annual Income,
nd iliat bLidBels aye Set accordbngly. In the case ol special projecls, external grants and donations are sought
and raised wherever PDssible, but always in conjunction with the use of the Societ¢5 own designated fund5.
The posslbility always exlsts that a sltuatlon might arlse where the Trustees would feel it rlght to Incur
significant professionèl and other costs to meet the objects ol the Society, r.or these reasons, It Is considered
vital to hold sufficient unrestricted financial ieserves to be drawn tsn in periods of emergency and cash-flow
dilli¢ulty to protect the Society from the risk of insolvency and from serious disruption to It5 work, and to
enable it to mount any major campaign thought appropriate.
The Trustee5 therefore consider thal the reserves held are at an appropriate level at 31 December 2023.
Appolntmeht. recruitment. and electlon of Trustees
Management Committee member5 ITrusteesl are appointed in a£¢ordance wlth the Soclety's Rules, and
comprise not les5 than 10 and not more than 15 members who may be elected at a geneyal meeting or
co-opted by the Management Commltlee, All members ol the SoElety are eligible to stand foi appointment,
and otlier than the Chair (whose Inaximum term Is two consecutive leims of threo yearsl. one-third of all
Trustee5 must retirè from ollice at e3ch AGM but may stand for re-appointment. Copies ol the Rules are
available from the Secretary.
Page 3

The Blackheath Society
Trustees, Report Icontinuedl
Publlc Beneflt
The Trustees conlirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Cotnmtssion'5 general
guidance on public benofit when reviewing the charity's objectives and activitie5 and in the planning ol future
actlvitie5. IÈ is the judgement of the Trustees thht actlvitie5 in pursuit of the above abjectives lully me&t the
publlc bene(It test, which they have kept in mind in plani)Ing programme5 for the charity. In dellvering services
and in the appointment of staff, volunteer5 and ti-ustees the charity operate5 a strict policy ol no
discrimination on any ground5.
Rlsk Management
The Trustees regularly review the major rlsks to whlch the Society Is exposed. Where 8ppropriate, systems or
procedures have been established to mitigate the rSsks that tlie Society faces. Intern31 control risks are
minlmised by the operation ol procedures for the authorisation of all transactions and proje¢ts, ènd throijgh
the use of a risk register that is revlewed regularly by the Trustees.
Investment Pollcy
The Trustees adopt a prudent policy and surplus funds are currently held In bank deposlt accounts, invested In
Charifund units. The Charifund income for the year was £9,778 representing a yleld of 5.95%12022.. 5.67%) on
a closing valuation of £164,106.
Trustees and ofllceis
The trustees and oFllcer5 Serving during the year and slnce the year &nd were a5 follows..
Trustees..
Paul Watts
Dame Helen Reeves
Andrew Westbrook
John Bartram
Allan Grllfin
Sarah Mansfield
Nichola5 Patton
Nicola Peers
John Schofield
oward Shield5
Oiane Surnrners
Aha Sutherland
Davld Walker
Ellzabeth Wiight
Chair..
Paul Watts
Vice- Chair..
Dame Holen Reeves
Secretary..
Sacha Bright
Page 4

The Blackheath Society
Trustees, Report {continued)
Trea5urer'.
Andrew Westbrook
Pre51dent:
Neil Rhlnd Idled 10 February 20241
Vlce-Presldent5'.
David Quafmbv
Tony Aldou5
Lord Stone of 813ckheath
statement of YIu5tees' Re5ponslbllltle5
The trustees aro responsible for preparing the tfU5tees' report and the financial statement5 in accordance wbth
the United Klngdom Accounting Standards (Llnited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practlcel and
applicable law and rogulatlon5.
The law appllcable to charStlES requires the trustees to prepare financial statements lor each Ilnancial year
whlch give a true and fair view of the 5t3te ol affairs ol the charity and ol the incomin8 resources and
application ol resources ol the charlty lor that period. In preparing these linanclal statements, the trustee5 are
required to-.
select suitable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstenÈly',
observe the methods and prSn¢lples in the Char?tie5 SORP..
make judgements and estimate5 that are r@ason8ble and piudellt;
state whether applicable accountlng standards have been followed, subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the financial statement5.' and
prepare the financial st3tement5 on the going concern basls unless it is Inappwopriate to presume that the
charity will contillue In business.
The trustees are responslble IDr keeplng propel accounting record5 that iJi5c105e wlth reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position ol the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statement5 comply
with the Charities Acl 2011, the ChBrities IAccounts and Reports1 Regulations 2(X)8, and the provlsions of the
conslltutlon. The trustee5 are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking
reasonable Steps lor the prevention and detection ol fraud and other irre8ularitles.
Approved by the trustees of the charlty on.
and slgned on its behalf by..
PM/,L(ty
Paul Watts
Chair and trustee
Page 5

The Blackheath Soclety
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Blackheath Societv
I report to the charity truslee5 on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the charlty lor the year ended 31
December 2023 whsch comprise the Statement of Financial Actlvltles. the Balance Sheet and related notes.
This report 15 made solely to the charitls trustees, as a body, In accordance wlth section 145 OF the Charitles
Act 2011. My work has be&n undertaken so that I might state to the chariiws tru5toes those matters l am
required to state to them in this report and for no other purpos@. To the fullest extent permltted by law, I do
i)ot accept or assume responslblllty to anyone other than the charlty and thp charity'.5 tru5tee5 as a body, lor
my work, for th15 ieport, or lor the opinlons I have formed.
Responslbllltles and basls of report
As the charity trustees of The Blackheath Society you are re5pon5ible for the preparatioTh of the accounts In
3ccordaThce with the requirements ol tlie Charities Act 20111'ihe Act'l.
I report in respect of my examsnation ol the The Blackheath 5oclety 's accounts carried out under section 145
of the 2011 Act and in carryinB Out my ex3min3tion I have followed all the appllcable Directions given by the
Charlly Commls51on under section 14515llbl of the Act.
An Sndependeiit eKamination does not involve gathe¥ing 311 the evidence that would be required in 3n audit
and consequently doe5 not cover all the matters that an auditor conslder% in giving their opiniorn on the
financial statements. The plannlng and conduct of an audit goes beyond the Ilmited assurance that an
Independent examination can provide. Consequently l express no opinion as to whether the linancl31
statemersls present a 'true and lair, view and my report 15 limited to those specific matters set out in the
independent eKaminels statement.
Independeht examinerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentlon in cot)nection
with the examination glvlnB me cause to believe that in any materlal respect..
1. 3ccounting records were not kept in respect ol The Blackheath Society as requSred by section 130 01 the
Act,. or
2. the flnancial Statements do not accord with those recoi"d5,' or
3. the financial statement5 do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and
content of accounts Set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any
requiremeiit that the accounts glve a 'true and fatr vtew, which is not a matter consldered as part of a
independent examination.
I have no concerns and kiave come acros5 tio other matters in connection with the examinatton to which
attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understaiiding ol tlie accounts lo be
reached.
Tim Sullivan FCA
Field Sullivan Chartered Accountants
9 Hare & Lllllet Road
Blackheatli
Londo
SE3 ORB
Date.. /¢1
Page 6

The Blackheath Suclety
Statemènt tsl Flnanclal Actlvllles fortheyear Ended 31 DEcember 1023
Unreslrlcted
31 D%ceTDbtrZ023
UtrtStikt¢d
31 De¢¢mber2ty1Z
NDte
and Cndowmentsliom..
15.93U
8.233
B.233
8.921
39.525
599.8
1.120
39.S2S
Do￿l￿onI￿an}￿E{Ip(￿55ul chailty
31.$99
Tot3lltKome
61.828
6d.563
662.301
62,499
724,8
ExperwJltur20n'.
163,8031
13,2601
77￿53
15Y.U621
>1.(651
163,B031
177.0631
Gallis/l￿se5 on knve5knnenl a55pI5
Galn511055e5 on leva￿JatIon of f4KeJa$5¢1S
20.000
19.000
13,9491
13.9491
613,326
5.ODU
3J.404
614,730
Grrt$41IAnslÈis bolw6￿7 Ivnds
13411
342
Nel rnLWLynenl In Ivnd5
16.2661
60E.326
.40q
6q4.730
608.326
36.404
64A,730
20
G02,D60
608.326
36,404
644.730
PaEe 7

The Blackhehih Svclelv
Statement of Flnanclal A(tivltie5 fov theyear Ended 31 December 202J Icontlnuedl
All01t￿ chaYify'* adlvitiÈsd¢rlvefioTn rvntinvinsopeialin5thiln8the &bovetivope[bJs,
7helun& bieakdown low 2022 Isshowoln not¢20.
fa8È8

The Blackheath society
IReEiStratlon number: 1196292}
Balance Sheet a5 at 31 December 2023
2023
2022
Note
Flxed assets
Inve5tmen*s
14
574,106
578.055
Current assets
Stocks
Debtors
Cash at bank aTrd In hand
15
7,121
7,411
82.486
8,328
9,935
70,441
16
17
97,018
88,704
Credltors: Amounts falllng due wlthln one year
18
142,1591
121.1121
Net current assets
54,859
67.592
Total asset5 less current Ilabllitleg
628.965
645,647
Credltors: Amounts falllng due after more than one Year
19
16841
19171
Net assets
628,281
644,730
Funds of the charitv..
Restrlcted Income fund5
Restilcted funds
26,221
36.404
Unrestrlcted Income funds
Unrestricted lund5
602,060
608.326
Total funds
20
628,281
644.730
The financial statetnent5 on pages 7 to 20 were approved by the trustees, and authortsed lor issue on
and slgned on their behalf by..
Pdtil Watts
Trustee
Andrew Westbrook
Truslee
The notes on page5 10 to 20 form an Integral part ol these financial statements.
Page 9

The Blackheath Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
I Charltv 5tatU5
The charity is domiclled in England and Wales.
The address ol its registered olliee is..
The Old Bakel)ouse
11 Blackheath Vlllage
Blackheath
The Charitable Incorporated Organisatlon ICIOI was incorporated on 27 October 2021 and took over the
buslness ol the Blackheath Society from l January 2022.
2 Accountlt)g pollcles
Statement of Compliance
The financial 5tatement5 have been prepared in accordance wlth Accounting and Reporting by Charltie5'.
St3tement ol Recommended Practice applicable to charittes pYepar¢n8 their accounts in accordance with the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective l January 20191
(charitie5 SORP IFRS 1021 Second edition October 20191, the Financial Reportlng 5tanclard applieable In the
UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charitles Act 2011.
Basls of preparatlon
The Blackheath Society meet5 the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts Iflnancial
sÈatementsl have been prepared under the hlstorical c05t conventlon wSth Items recognised at cosl or
transaction value unless otherwise stated in the re.levant notel51 to these accounts.
Golng concern
The trustees consider that there are no materlal uncertaintle5 about the charity'5 aLklllty to contlnue a5 a going
coniern.
Judgements and key souree5 of estimation uncertainty
In the appllcatSon ol the charity's accounting polici@s, the trvstees are required to make judgemenls, estlmates
and assumptions about the carrylng amout)t of assets and liabilitie5 that are not readily apparent from other
sources. The @stimate5 and associat&d assumptions are based on hlstorical experlence and other factors that
are considered to be relevant. Actual results may diffe¥ from these estimate5.
The estlmates and underlyln8 aS5umptlons are reviewed on an ongoing b3sls. Revisions to accountlng
estimates are recognised in the periods In whlch the estimate 15 rev15ed where revisions affect5 only that
perlod. or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revisions affects both current and future
peilods.
Income and endowments
Voluntary income including donations, gilt5. legacies and grants that provide core funding or are ol a general
nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the incoine, It 19 p¥ob3blt that the Income wlll be
recelved and the an)ount can be measured with suflicient reliability.
Page 10

The Blackheath Soclety
Note5 to the Flnancial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued}
Don&tion5 and le9ucies
Donations alld legaiies are recognised on a recelvable basls when receipt is probable and the amount can be
reliably measured.
Defvrred income
Deferred income represents amount5 recelved lor luture periods and is released to incom4FFg resources in the
period lor which. it has been received. Such income 15 only deferred when.,
Tlie donor specifie5 that the grant or do￿at10Th must only be used In future accounting perlods,. or
- The donor has imposed condition5 which miist be met before the charity ha5 uncond5tional entitlement.
Expenditure
All expenditure Is recogn15ed once there is a le8al or constructive oblig8tion to that expenditure, it is probable
settlement 15 requlred and the amount Can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable
expenditure heading tliat aggregate 51milar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attribLJted to
parlicu13Y headlngs they have been allocated on a ba51s conslstent witli the use ol resources, with central 5t3lf
costs allocated on the ba515 of time spent. and depreciatlon charges allocated on the portion of the asset's us&.
Other support C05t5 are allocated based on the sp¥ead of staff costs.
Churitoble uctlvltles
Charitable expendlture compr15e5 those costs incurred by the charity in the dellvery ol its activsties and
5@Yvices lor Its benoficiarle5. 1t includes both costs that can be allocated dlrectly to such activltles and those
costs of an indirect nature necessary 10 Support them.
Support tosts
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categorie5 on a basis
conslstent wlth the use ol resource5. for example, allocatlng property C05ts by floor areas, or per capita. Stall
costs by the tlme Spent and other costs by iheir u5a8e.
Taxatlon
The charity 15 consldered to pass the tests set out Paragraph I Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and
therefore It meets the delinltlon of a chaFltable company for UK corporatlon tax purposes. Accordingly, the
charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of Income or capltal gain5 received wiLhSn calegories
coVe￿ed by Chapter a Pa￿t 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation ol CharBeable
Galns Acl 1992, to the extent that such Income or gains are applled excluslvely to charitable purposes.
Depretlatlon and amortSsatlon
Depreciation is piovided on tangible fixed assets so as lo write oll the cost oi valuation. le55 any estlmated
residual value. over their expected uselul economic life as follows..
Asset class
Fu¥niture and equipment
Oepreclatlon method and rate
15YJ Straight line basis
Page 11

The Blackheath Soclety
Notes to the Flnanclal Statements for the Year Ended 310ecember 2023 (continued)
Investment propertles
Investment property is carrled at fair value, derlved from the current market prlce5 lor comparable real estate
determlned annually by external valuer5. The valuers use obSe￿able market prices, adjusted il nece55ary for
difference in the nature. location or condition of the specilic 2sspt. Change5 in laii valve are reco8nised in
prtsfit or1055.
Flxed asset Investmettts
FiKed asset investmpntS, Other than programme related investments, are included at market value at the
balance Sheet date. Realised galns and losses on investments are caltulated as th@ diflerence belween sales
proceeds and their market value at the staTt ol the year, or their subsequent eost. and are charged or c.redited
to the Statement of Flnancbal Activities in the period of dlsp05è1.
Unreallsed galns and 1055es represent the movement in market values du¥inB the year and are credited or
charged to the Stateinent of Financial Activities bhsed on the market value at the year end.
Stock
Stock is valued at the lower ol cost and estimated selling price le5S C05t5 to complete and sell, after due regard
for ob501ete and slow moving stocks. C05t 15 determined uslng the lirst-ln, flr5t-out IFIFOI.
Trade debtors
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers lor merchandlse stsld or servlces performed In the ordlnary
course of bu5ine55.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are Subsequently measured at amortised
cost usi1)8 Ihe effective ¢nterest method. less provision for impairment. A provlsSon for the impaiimenl of trade
debtors is established when there is ob1￿ctive evidence that the charity will FTrot be able to collect 3113rnounts
due according lo the original tEfm5 of the ieceivables.
Cash and cash equlvalents
Cash and cash equivalents compr15e cash on hand and call dep051ts, and other short-torm hlghly liquSd
investments that are readily convertible to a ktlown amount of cash and are subject to an Inslgnilic3nt iisk of
change value.
Fund structure
Unrestricsed income fund5 èKe general funds that are available lor use at the trustees discretion in fijrtherance
of the objective5 of the charity.
Restricted income funds are those donated lor use in a particula¥ area or for 5pecillc purposes, the use of
which is restrltted to that area or p￿rPOSe.
Page 12

The Blackheath Society
Note5 to the Flnanclal Statement5 forthe Year Ended 31 December 2023 Icontinuedl
3 Income frorn don3tlon5 and legacies
Unrestrlcted
fund5
Re5trlcEed
lunds
Total
2023
Total
2022
Donations and legacies.,
Donation5
163
2,435
2,598
305
LB Lewisham
soo
LBL BE3con
1,000
20.900
8,500
12.218
348
Chr15tmas liglits
Balcombe Char'itable Trust
Anhua1 sub5cripllons
Life subscriptions
300
300
12,729
303
12.729
303
13,195
2,735
15,930
43,771
4 Income from tharltable actlvltles
Unrestrlcted
Iuhds
Total
2023
Total
2022
Event income
5,581
2,652
5.581
2.652
4,669
4.252
Sale ol publlcations and card5
8,233
8.233
8,921
5 Investment Income
Unrestrlcted
lunds
Total
2023
Total
2022
Bank interest and dividends
Income Irorr Investment propertie5
10,400
30,000
10,400
30,000
9,525
30,000
40,400
40,400
39,525
Page 13

The Blackheath Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
6 Other Income
RestrlttÈd
funds
Total
202Y
Yotal
2022
Transfer from predecessor charlty
Fees and supplles
631,463
1,120
632,583
7 Expendlture on charltable acllvltles
Unrestricted
fundg
General
Re5trlcted
funds
Tolal
2023
Total
2022
Note
Event expen5e5
Christmas lights
Cliiistm35 cards
2,650
7,419
5.841
10,069
5,841
690
9,550
20,401
937
690
Rent and service charge
Books
10,515
1,208
3.155
10,515
1.208
3,155
9,723
1,066
2,690
7,201
24,047
14.542
New51etter and annual report
Rubbish birbs on the Heath
Staff costs
io
25,310
20,275
25,310
20,275
Support costs
63,803
13,260
77,063
90,157
Page 14

The Blackheath Socletv
Notes to the Financial Statement5 for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 {contlnued)
B Analysis of support costs
Support Costs
Total
2023
Total
2022
Insiiriince
1,524
269
297
Offlce expenses
Donations
774
2,OOD
86
Bank Charges
Other charges
staff training
Compijter soFtware and malntenance
Prlnting, post38e and teleplione
Sundrles
92
loo
42
322
3,040
698
3,000
1,125
567
483
AGM costs
Independent examlnatlon
Bookkeeplng
Legal and professlonal
364
300
2,364
2,125
6.900
2,298
2,050
3,997
20,275
14,542
9 Trustee5 femuneratlon and expenses
No trustee5, nor any pe¥50n5 connected wlth them, have recelvEd any remuneration from the charity during
the year.
10 Staff costs
The ag8Yegate payroll costs were as follow5..
2023
2022
staff tosts durlng the year were..
Wages and Salaries
Pension costs
21,708
3,602
20,633
3,414
25,310
24.047
No employee retelved emoluments ol more Ihan £60,000 du¥ln8 the year
Pa6e 15

The Blackheath Socletv
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 Icontlnuedl
11 Taxatlon
The charity is a registered charlly and Is therefore exempt from taxation.
12 Related party traiisacllons
The donation ol E2,000 was a contribution to a book being published by Ana Sutherland.
13 Tanglble flxed assets
Furnlture and
equipment
Total
At l January 2023
2,082
2,082
At 31 December 2023
2,082
2,082
Dèpreclatlon
At l Jant+ary 2023
2.082
2,082
At 31 December 2023
2.082
2.082
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
14 Flxed asset Investments
2023
2022
IMve5tment properties
Other inv&stments
410,000
164,106
410,000
168,055
574,106
578,055
Page 16

The Blackheath Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 {continuedl
Investment propertles
Investment
propertles
Cost OK Valuatlon
At l January 2023
410,000
At 31 December 2023
410,000
Provlslon
At 31 Decembei 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
410,000
At 31 December 2022
410,000
The freehold property, I'ranquil H311, was bequeathed to the Society in 1975 and 15 held a5 investment
ploperty. The ori8lllal value of the property on acquisition was £12,500. The property W35 revalued by Baxter
philips on 31 Decembe¥ 2022 at £410,000 as market value. and agreed on as a suitable valuation at 31
DecembeK 2023 by the truslees.
other Investments
Un115ted
Investmentg
Total
Cost or Valuètio
At l January 2023
Revaluatlon
168.055
13,9491
168,055
13,9491
At 31 December 2023
164,106
164.106
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
164.106
164,106
At 31 December 2022
168,055
168,055
other Investments at 31 December 2023 comprise 11.436 unit5 of M&G Investments Charifund unit5.
Page 17

The Blackheath Soclety
Notes to the Financial Statement5 for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 lcontinuedl
15 Stock
2023
2022
Stocks
7,121
8,328
16 Debtors
2023
2022
Piepayments
Other debtor5
97
7,411
9.838
7,411
9,935
17 Cash and cash equlvalents
2023
2022
Cash on hand
io
Cash at bank
82,476
70,441
82,486
70,441
18 C¥edltors'. amounts falling due wiihln one yea
2023
2022
Othe¥ credltors
30,130
2,524
9,505
7,500
4,038
9,574
Accruals
Deferred Income
42,159
21,112
19 C¥editor5- amounts falllng due after one year
2023
2022
Deferred income
684
917
Page 18

The Blackheath Soclety
Notes to the Flnan¢lal Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
20 Funds
Balan￿ at
31
December
2023
Balance at
l January
2023
Other
recognlsed
galn5lllos5e51
Incoming
re50urce5
Resources
expended
Yransfers
Uniestrlcted funds
Geneial Funds
608,326
61,828
163.8031
13421
13.9491
602.060
Re5trlcted fund5
OnBlackheath
2,435
3(X)
24,840
300
Chr15tma5 Llghts
Talbot Place
5,499
8,500
15,8411
17.4191
342
1,081
36,404
2,735
113,2601
342
26,221
Total funds
644,730
64,563
177.0631
13,9491
628,281
Balance at
27
October
2021
Balance at
31
Other
ro£ogni5ed December
Transfers galns/llos5e51
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
2022
Unrestrlcted lunds
General funds
599,864
62,437
159,0621
15,0001
10,087
608,326
Restrlcted funds
OnBlacklieath
31,599
19.1941
120,4011
22.405
Christmas lights
Platinum Jubilee Beaco
Event
20,900
5.000
5,499
1,000
500
11,0001
15001
Klte day
Yalbot Place
8,500
8.500
31,599
30,900
131,0951
5,000
36,404
Total funds
631,463
93,337
190.1571
10,087
644,730
Page 19

The Blackheath Socletv
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 310ecember 2023 (continued)
The specillt purpose5 for which the funds are to be applied are as follows..
OnBlackheath - thoso amount5 repiesent moThies receSved from the on Blackheath festlvals In 2018 and earlier
to be used on communtiy projects on the heath that have been propospd by tho Blackheath Joint Worklng
Party.
Christma5 Li8ht5- to arran8e'Lllatkheath Xmas Lights. lor the vi1138e.
Talbot Place- to be used foi the Talbot Pla£e play area.
21 Analysls of net assels betweèn funds
Unrestrlcted
fund5
General
Total funds at
31 December
2023
Restrlcted
funds
Fixed asset investments
574,106
70,797
142,1591
16841
574,106
97,018
142,1591
16841
Current assets
26,221
Creditors over l year
Total net assets
602,060
26,221
628,281
Uhrestrlcted
funds
General
Total fund5 at
31 December
2022
Restrlcted
funds
Flxed asset Investments
578.055
52,300
121.1121
19171
578.055
88,704
121,1121
19171
Current assets
36,404
Creditors over l year
Total net assets
608,326
36,404
644,730
Page 20