Charity number: 232476
QUEKETT IAICROSCOPICAL CLUB
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

UEKETh MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page
Legal and administrative infomiation
Annual Report of Ihe Committee
2-10
IndepeThJent examinerfs report
11
Receipts arKI Payments
12
ststement of Assets and Liabilities
13

UEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2
Statu8
The goveming docurrEnt of the charity is the Constitution arKI Rules of the Quekett
Microscopical Club (as amended 2007).
Trustses
Mr Philip Greaves
Dr Christopher Thomas
Mr Paul Smith (to August 2024)
Mr John Gregory (from November 2024)
Mr Robert Ratford
Mrs Lisa Ashby
Mr Peter Wyn-Jones
Profe&8or Teren￿ Hope
Mr Alex Cunningham
Dr Frank Leaver (from April 2025)
Professor Davmd Fumess (from April 2025)
Mr Jonathon Palmer {from April 2025}
Mr Kirit Gordhandas (from March 2024)
Secretary
Mrs Lisa Ashby
Charlty number
232476
Business address
31 West Pa
Mottingham
London
SE9 4RZ
Independent examin•rfs Bradshaw Johnson
Croft Chambers
11 Bancroft
Hitchin
Herts
SG5 1JQ
Page 1

uEKE￿ MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Comrnittee are pleased to present their annual report for the year ended 31
December 2024.
At the end of the year 2024 the totsl rnembership was 511 now made up of:
423 UK or European based Ordinary Members.
88 Rest of th8 y￿rfd mernbers.
These numbers include:
475 Adult Membws.
4 Young Members.
5 Complimentary Members.
12 Honorary Membws,
3 Legal depositones (one of which is the Natural Histcxy Museum Library).
5 Supporting Member organisations.
7 Organisations subwibing to the Journal
Thefe following nomination5 for Honorary Membership were received and approved for
the period 1 January 2024 - 31 De¢￿ber 2024. Ray Trapmore. Cherry Trapmore and
Slephen Parker. During the same period we were notrfied of the deaths of the following
members John Delly, Steven Ettlinger. Terry Hardy. Brian Wilkinson and Paul Smith.
Finances
The Club's income for the year amounted to £75.164 (2023". £58,946) and expenditure
£36,570 {2023: £63.272). This leads io a surplus for the year (and increase of cash
fuNls) of £38,594 (2023: deficit of £6.162). The Club's cash funds as of 31st December
were £249,518 (2023: £210,924). and our investsnent assets £412,379 (2023:
£386,968).
The Committee
The Commrttee for 2024 was composed of
President:
Vice President:
Hon. Secretsry..
Meetings Secretary:
2024)
Hon. Treasurer.
Kirit Gorhandas
Joumal Editor:
Alex Cunningham
Bulletin Editor:
Chris Thomas
Collections and Archives Offi￿1.. Phil Greaves
Webmaster..
Peter Wyn-Jones
Membership Secretary:
Robert Ratford
Commtttee Member:
Grenham Ireland and Graham mattheV￿ {until Mar
2024) then VacantNacanl
Terence Hope
Vacant
Lisa Ashby
Paul Smith (until Aug 2024) l John Gregory (from Nov
Page 2

UEKETh MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMIThEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Meetings
16th January, Gossip meeting - My latest a(4UiSition
10th February, Practical meeting - Crystal melts and deep mounts
Led by Chris Thomas and held at the Natural History museum. Attendees were able to
make vitamin c cryslal melt slides. as well as some deep mounts. There was also the
opportunty to make a feather mount using ￿ copper tape meththj devised by Michael
Hon*YOOd.
241h February, Home Counties meeling Surrey
Arranged by Joan Bingley at St Andrews Church Hall, Cobham. This year participants
were provided with a talk from Bevil Templeton-smtth on Art photography usiThJ a
microscope. Followed with a short talk on stereo microscopes by Robert Ratford. As last
year members had lunch together. the afternoon was a gossip session.
5th March. Gossip meeting - Hairs
Led by John Gregory at the Natural History Museum we were able to see how to dry
mount hairs. use loca and make impressions in loca.
5th March AGM
This followed the Gossip meeting and indudiThJ the Annual and Financial Reports.
9th March, Spring Sale- sonn1￿￿ Common
This meeting is now getting established as our second sales event in the year and was
well attended.
6th April, Practical meeting - Stains arKI staining
Led by Terry Hope at the Natural History Museum. The meeting was a hands on
session where members were able to ty staining pollen, cheek swabs and blood
smears. There was also a small display of gossip items.
13th April. Lockington meeting
201h April, South Coast Open Meeting
Our joint meeting with the Postal Microscopical So¢￿ty
14th May, Gossip meeting - Victorian slides
Members showed off Victorian slides as well as some of the recently restored books
from the Club Library this was followed by Presidential Address.
14th May, Presidential Add￿S
Tery Hopes first Presidential Address 'GoirvJ Dutch.
8th June. Home Counties meetiNJ
Naze Discovery Centre
Page 3

uEKE￿ PAICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
15th June, Joint Meeting with Boumemouth Natural scien￿ Society & Museum
(BNSSM)
The fourth Joint Meeb'ng of the BNSS and the QMC included an exhibition of
microscopy which VRS well attended by members and members of the public. The
meeting was available to family groups vtsiting the museum and a number of visiting
members were able to discuss the finer points of the microscope and camera set ups on
show. It was followed by an aftemoon talk 'Spiders: a closer bok at their special
features - from eyes to spinnerets" from Dr. Jeremy Poole
29th June, Excursion - Keston Common. Bromley
Microscopes were set up in the Village Hall and pond samples V￿re bought back for
examination.
7th July. Northampton Natural History Society- Annual Exhibilion
9th July. Lecture - M C Cooke. Easily Identffiable Tiny Fungi by Dr Fay Newbery (Royal
Horticultural Sooety, London). Dr Newbery is a plant pathologist, diagnosing diseases
on garden plants. She is particularly interested in diseases caused by fungi. both in UK
garden ptants and in our wild flora.
23nl July, Gossip meeting - Diatoms. finding, collecting, cleaning and viewing.
This meeting was held via Zoom and the introduction to the subject provided by Mike
Samworth who many members will know fr￿￿ the Postal Microscopical Society.
6th August, joint lecture with Boumemouth Natural scien￿ Society
Peering insKle the black box of Forensic EntomolcMJy, By Dr Katheren Brown.
3rd August, Wamham Local Nature Reserve excursion
This was the thirteenth Quekett excursion to Wamham Local Nature ReseNe on the
outskirts of Horsham, West Sussex. hosted by the Friends of Warnham Local Nature
Reserve.
12th August. Microscopium. The Microscopists. Fair. We again took up residen￿ at The
Settlement in Letchworth. As aMiays. Microscopium provided members and visitors with
the chance to pick up some bargains even some freebies Wbth the chance to chat
with friends okl and new.
171h September. Gossip meeting - Converting to LED
Led by Gordon Brown this was a ZO(￿ onty event.
October, Annual Exhibiiion of Microscopy - Quekex
The event was held for the fourth time at Elm Court Youth and Communit Centre.
Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. As usual. there were demonstrations and exhibits by
members, dis
s of the photomicrographs. videos. slKles and artwork submitted for
awards, lectures, and plenty of gossip. This year saw a number of new entrants to the
awards and displays. Tr event and offered both online content and a physical event
arKJ saw gocmj attendan￿ at both.
Page 4

UEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLU
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMirrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 20
151h October- Zoom only lecture - Re(xeatirKJ J B Dancers Microphotograph technique,
By Mark Ostemian.
19th Odober- physical event with displays and awards.
19th October - Touched by Porlific Virtue, By Prof Rob Kesseler. Universty of Arts
London. The Ihe bad and the Alg￿. By Prof Chris Howe. Dept of biochemistry
Cambridge University.
12th November, Lecture - L V Martin Lecture. "The Ted Kellock slide collection. Katy
Firth
Katy spoke to us on behalf of Stromness Museum who had been the recipients of a
grant to d￿￿tISe the Ted Kellock collection.
3rd De￿Mber, Gossip Meeting - Dark ground illuminatK)n
Delivered by fonner Club President Carel Sartory.
14th December. Lecture and Chrislmas Quiz
The lectu￿ was Heroes don't always win which was delivered By Phil Greaves. Thi8
was followed by our traditional Christmas quiz devised and presented by Robert
Ra￿ord.
Publlcations
With our new printer, overseas members are now receiving publications in a timely
manner.
Journal:
Volume 44 parts 7 8 were iSsL￿d in the course of the year arKI for the most part
successfully delivered. A separatety printed index was sent out with part 8 (Wnter 2024), which
concluded the volume. The editor {Alex Cunningham) would like to thank all authors for the high
qualty of their contributions, and for their tolerance of Il* occasionJly draconian editing
process.
Bullatln: The Bulletin provides a more magazin&like complement to the academic
Joumal. Numbers 86 in May 2024 and 87 in January 2025 V￿re published with the
continued eX￿lIent complement of our memberfs wonderful and varied contributions,
the positi've trends of drversity, number and locations of contributors are continuing.
Printing and mailing of the Autumn 2024 Bulletin was delayed until January 2025 to
avoid the Christmas posting and also combine mailing with Journal, to be more cnst
effective for members.
Page 5

UEKErr MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMrrrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Club on4lne Lhttps.Ilwww.
uekett.or
The website is our shop window to the Y￿rkI. It continues lo wovide a Y￿alth of infomiation on
many a¥Ects of microscopy written by enthusiasls, many of ￿t￿M are acknowledged experts
in their fields. and it thus complements the Bulletin and Journal as principal sources of
muoscopical information. It also provides near-real-time upjatiro of the Club's functions and
events arKI allows memters to verfy times and bcations of meetings as ¥￿17 as to read reports
of events soon after they have taken pla￿. In this respect thanks are due to members who
have provided nokn'fication of events and ￿fO￿atiOn. particularly Alan Vlood for his fumishing of
fulsome reports for rnembers who could not attend an event.
There is always room for more reports." so rf you have been to a QMC event and Can provide a
bn'ef notelphotowaphs of whatlwtsrelwhat happened for indusion in the Meeting ReFX)rts
section of the websile. you would be doing a ser11￿ to your fellow members. publicising the
Club, and ewning my grateful thanks. Please sermd items lo webmaster
uekett.or
The website has over 1100 pages." some are m<xe powlar than others. The webstte as a whole
receives just under 2CKJ hits per day (Fig 1).
'fe hits 245.24- to 31.10.24
wloo
Fig l. Hits 24.05 24- 1.10.24
Apart from the Home, Login, and Programme pages, those most visited areas are on
digital photomicrography and searches for methodology for particular microscopes.
Vvhile gratifying to see these pages are well-used, rt would be gocAJ to see other pages
being visited.
Most visitors continue to come from the US. India arwj Gemiany, as well as the UK (Fig 2).
Page 6

UEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMirrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
1 DECEMBER 2024
Active usersv by Country
COUNTRY
United States
United Kingdom
India
Gern￿nY
Indonesia
Fig 2. Countries
Canada
continue to use lonos for hosting the website, Up(traft Plus for backup (every 24 hour5) arKI
Vimeo for hosting videos. These services arKJ others Combi￿ lo give a cost (for 2024125) of
about £1300. We also keep a contingency furKI with web developers in Oxford who are expert in
WordPress-based v￿bsrteS. but s￿h seNices are expensive and we do not use them lightly.
We are always looking for new ideas for the w￿lte. this year on the Programm8 page we have
Induded brief notifi¢alions of some other dubs. meetings. as we are keen to promote
microscopical interaction between clubs.
Collections and archives
Work to catalojue and conserve the Club's collections and archives has continued thr¢Jughout
2024. although a￿$$ to our store room at the Natura History Museum was severely restrided
in the latter part of the year due to essential Lwikling repair works.
The Collections team has responded to several requests for access to papers from our Joumal
and to slides in the colledions from academic w)rf(ers. both at the Museum and futher afield,. in
particular Graham Matthews has been fully documentirKJ our slides of mttes by A. D. Mitchell for
taxonomic researth.
A major investment was made in professional conservalion bookbinding of small 'core'
collection of rare and historical books on microscopy, some dating from the 1780's and early
18¢￿'s. The work was carefully carried out by the Wyvern Bindery in Hoxton and con5iSted of
re-stitching, rfrbacking. new aod free @nd papers where necessary a bespoke (card) case
has been constructed for each of the trmks to ertsure FXOtection during storage.
Work to improve the Slide Loan Set scheme for rn￿bers has been delayed by the buikling
works at the Museum but VR aim in early 2025 to make more of the Richardson Collection of
microscope slides available for postal loan. Trre were three postsl I0￿S during 2024.
Page 7

UEKETh MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT
F THE COMMirrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Outreach
Club activth'es where we take our muoscopes ￿ public events have been less extertsive this
year as we have lost some of our regular volunteers. Httwever, as long standing a￿1vItieS have
been suspended, new ¢mes have emerged A vwy successful collaboration with Tim Fullick. a
Club member and volunteer at Dcwn House. led to a w8ekend display cklebrating Darwin's
microscopi¢al studies. A very wdcome volunte8r for this was Jay Holmes from the USA who
joined more loGal members to entertain some 400 visitors. We wll be repeating this
collaboration in 2025.
Other events attended included:
A science display at Poole central library in colla￿ratiOn with Boumemouth Natural
scien￿ Society.
A Saturday moming family microscopy event at Oakdale l¢xal library, Poole.
Geologists Association Festival of Scien￿.
Wimbledon Common- three events Nature Day. Open Day and the Nature Club.
Chinbr¢Jok meadows Nature Cxscovery Day.
Grove Park Camival.
National Honey Show.
A photomicros¢opy y￿rkshoP in collaboratN)n the ¢harty Positive Lives.
Warnham Local Nature Reserve excursion.
Wimbledon Common Nalure Day. Open Day. Nature CLub and Weekend of Nature.
Sussex &'ologi¢al Recorders Serninar.
Our national and intemational events, the exhibition at New Scientist Live and the Intemet
linked World microsco￿ Celebration with rts transmission of live talks and demonstrations
highlighted the Club commrtment to amateur aThJ professional microscopy. Thanks are due to all
members who volunteer for these events and an invitabon ts extended for new members to join
in.
The Milton Microscopy Group of the Quekett (MIMIQ) is a combination of regional
meeling and outreach, i.e. open to anyone interested in microscopy. We had 2 events in
the 2024, as family Clrcumstsn￿S prevented Chris Thomas running one of the
sessions. In addition to the meetings in Milton, the group also ran a h￿hlY Su￿ssful
full day at the No￿lS Museum for a second year. on World Microscope day, and have
been invited back for 2025. Attendan￿ is variable, with a core of members close to
Cambridgeshire members and some now ccffiing from further afield. Meetings are on a
Sunday, roughly quarterly. from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
We had meetings on Animal hairs arKI on Leaf epidemis prints.
The events are funded by the Quekett through the payment of the hall fees.
The Anglian Microscopy Gmup
Based in Crowfield, Suffolk. the group has now been operating as an outreach project
for three years during whth tirrE we have maintained an average attendance at
meetings of over 30 enthusiaslic members. The group is led by Robert Ratford and
Gordon Brovffl. Stephen Durr having stood down for personal reasons, and an
increasing number of regular attendees lerKI support.
Page 8

UEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
NNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMirrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
In 2024 the group held 12 meetings. detsils shown below:
January - SaThJ microfossils
February - Crystsls and Polarised light
March - Basic Microscopy Refresher sessM)n on setting up & using microscopes.
April - Cutting thin sections of plants on the microtome
May - Algae
June - Pseudoscorpions & compost safari
July - Pollen, its development, fvnction. and structure
August - Mounting of insect legs and wings
September - Mites, concentrating on Varroa destruclor
October - Marine plankton (Sunday meeting io avoKI Quekex)
November- Dissecting owt pellets
De￿Mber- Christmas plant sections
As in p￿VIouS years the group manned a stand at the village fete. where we were able
to use the intsractive board provided by the Quekett lo show Pseudoscorpions and
other interesting live displays. Thrs was extremely well received and the stsnd was very
busy ft)r the full aftemoon.
In October we helped at New Scientist live and On￿ again we provided a demonstration
of microscopy at Ipswich Museum. which brought in two new members who have
become regular attendees.we continue to publicise the group at every available
opportunity, often via the very active Facebook group. and m8mbership comes from far
and wide, members travelling from Herttordshire, Bedford. Peterborough, London,
Essex, Norfolk, as well as those from Suffolk. More and more of regular attendees
are choosing to become Quekett ￿EMberS and many join the Quekett Zoom meetings.
Overall the Anglian Microscopy Group has been a resounding su￿sS in 2024 and will
no doubt continue to grow over time.
Links to other organisations
Wherever possible we continue to maintain links with other organisations and share the
detsils of these with others.
Advlce on Microscopes
Fa￿book continues to provide a good Sour￿ of infonnation and advice. Additionally
many members contact us after events asking to put in touch wrth speakers or other
members to share or continue conversations.
Advi￿ from the Club extends to members. families when a member has died and Ihey
are not sure how to deal wrth a mernberfs Collection. Bequests continue to be recetved
and these items may be retained by the Club for use in OLrtreach events or will be sold
either in the Members Auction or at one of our sales events.
Page 9

UEKErr MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT OF
HE COMMirrEE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Conclusion
2024 has been an exceplionalty busy year for the Committee and one where we are
acutely aware that our resour￿$ are stretcW. If we are to continue to provide a full
programme of meetings and outreach we will need to recruit more committee members
and more outreach volunteers.
Despite this we have had a successful year making new contacts arKI taking
microscopy to new audiences.
Page 10

UEKErr MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS, REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE
UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF
UEKETh MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 sel out on
pages 12 to 13.
Respective responsibilities of t￿￿teeS and examlner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charty's
trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under seclion 144(2) of the
Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the acGounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.
to follow the procedures latd down in the general Directions given by the Charty
Commissron under sedion 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come lo my attention.
Ba818 of Indopondent examiners, report
My exarninalion was carried out in accordan￿ with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept
by the charty, and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also
indudes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and the
seeking of explanations from you as trUSt￿S conceming such matters. The procedures
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and
consequenlly no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair
view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examlners. statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
which gives me reasonable ￿use to believe that. in any material resped,
the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the
2011 Act" and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and
comply wrth the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met: or
to which. in my opinion. attention shoubl be drawn in order to enable
proper understsnding of the accx)unts to be reached.
Neil Harding FCA
Bradshaw Johnson
Chartered Accountants
Croft Chambers.
11 Bancroft
Hitchin
Herts SG5 1JQ
Date: 9 July 2025
Page 11

QUEKErr MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
2024
Unrestr5ctsd
Funds
2023
Receipts
Functional Anatysis
Gifts. donations & olher Voluntary receipts
61,396
51,644
Re￿Ipts From Trading Activities
5.951
988
Receipts from Assets
5.733
4.478
Sub-total
73,080
57.110
Other receipts
2,084
11,753
Total recelpts
ments
Functional Analysis
Payments directty Charitable Purposes
28.971
57.229
Payments for publicty. fundraising. Management &
administration
5,957
6,043
Sub-total
34,928
63,272
Other payments
1,642
Total payments
63,272
Net Rece1ptsl(Pa￿nenls)
Cash fuNJs brought forward
38,594
210.924
(6,162)
217,086
Cash lunds carried forward
210.924
Page 12

UEKErr MICROSCOPICAL CLUB
STATEMENT OF ASSET
AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
2024
Restricted
Funds
2023
Cash Funds
Current Account
Stripe
Deposit Account
One Year Bond
PayPal Account
26,286
1,015
117,299
103.109
1,809
7,192
1,117
100,943
100,000
1,672
249.518
210.924
Less Undeared
Total Cash Funds
249.518
210,911
Unrestricled
Funds
Year End
Value
Unre8trlctad
Funds
Year End
Value
Investment a&8ets
Lion Trust (was Architas)
{For Income)
204,685
191,458
Aberdeen Mulbmanager
Funds (For Capital Growth)
208.054
195.510
Assets Retained for the Chari
's Own Use
Computer & Peripherals to assist in Club Management
Library of Books for loan to & referen￿ by members
Library of Microscope Slides for loan to & referen￿ by members
Video Library for loan to & referen￿ by members
Microscopes & accessories for use by members
Digital camera & printer for recording the slide collection
Data Projector for use with Power Point Applications
Signed on behalf of Trustees on 22 May 2025 by..
Stephen Parker- Acting Honorary T￿aSurer
Page 13