The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust
Charity Number; 261487
Annual Report and Accounts For the year ending July 31[st] , 2025
and
Notice of the Annual General Meeting To take place on Saturday 18th October at 12.30 hrs. at the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre. Alexandra Road, Peel Green, Salford. M30 7HJ
There will be a FREE concert after the AGM starting at 14.30 played by Kevin Morgan.
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| Timetable for the day. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set up and rehearsal | 09.30 ~12.00 | |
| Annual General Meeting | ||
| Doors openfor Members Only |
12.00 | |
| AGM | 12.30 ~ 13.30 | |
| Opportunity for general discussion | 13.30 ~ 13.40 | |
| Post meeting Intermission | ||
| Doors openfor the public | 13.45 | |
| Tea / coffee / hot and cold light refreshments | 13.30 ~ 14.30 | |
| Afternoon concert by Kevin Morgan | 14.30 | |
| Intermission (approximately) |
15.15 ~ 15.30 | |
| Second half (approximately) |
15.30 ~ 16.15 |
There will be an opportunity for any persons wishing to offer their volunteer time to the Trust to discuss opportunities after the AGM. Theatre closes 17.00
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Agenda for the AGM
1 Apologies
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2 To approve the minutes of the 2024 AGM ~ All Members have received a copy of these by the method chosen by them for receiving VOX.
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3 To approve and adopt the Trusts Annual Report for the year ending 31st July 2025
3.1 Trustees Report
3.1.1 Stockport
The work which we have reported on for the last 3 years at Stockport has taken an inordinate amount of time to complete and shortly after the organ was playing again, all be it with one rank still out of action, the organ suffered from a further inundation of water from the roof. This has caused more damage particularly to the 7 rank and 3 rank chests in the Main Chamber and most of the “C” side of these will need rebuilding. As a result we have had to cancel all the remaining concerts for 2025 while repairs to the roof and organ are attended to. We are now in dialogue with the new maintenance manager in the hope that these problems and repairs can be completed by the start of 2026.
3.1.2 Peel Green Heritage Centre
Our weekly concerts at the Heritage Centre are just about holding their own financially but as reported previously, if we had another 10 persons per week, or other, perhaps more diverse activities using the theatre, then it could be much more sustainable.
Over the last few months we have had to make repairs to the building, install a new fire alarm panel and fit new sensors together with other building issues. Unfortunately due to lack of internal resource we have had to buy these services externally at a considerable cost. The effect of these works is reflected in our accounts both this year and for next year.
3.1.3 Management of the Trust
For the last few years the Trustees have been appealing for volunteers to assist with the running of the Trust and its shows. In essence the operation of the Trusts activities used to be carried out by a volunteer team with the Trustees managing the assets. Over the same time our ranks have unfortunately got smaller and the Trustees now not only have to carry out the normal management duties, but also take on all of the duties of the “butchers bakers and candlestick makers” needed to keep the Trusts activities running. As mentioned above a lot of the work which in past years we would have done ourselves now has to be contracted out because we are both few in number and less physically able.
The increased workload over the past few years has made us reflect on the time resource that each of us, as individuals, have available. At this meeting two of our Trustee workers have declared that they will retire from the post of Trustee and weekly active duty.
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This will leave only 3 Trustee / workers regularly “on site” plus our treasurer who does this electronically now from central Wales.
Consequentially over many recent Trustee meetings and following many hours of discussion, analyses and calculations, it was resolved that we have no option but to take the extremely difficult choice to recommend to the Trustees who remain in post after this meeting and to you, our Members, that this heritage centre cannot be managed either physically or financially after March 31[st] 2026 and must, therefore, close. The Trustees are however spending a considerable amount of time exploring all avenues including the leasing, re-purposing and finally disposal of it and its artefacts.
This potentially smaller committee will have a considerable amount of work to do to wind up the affairs here whilst also keeping the work going on our flagship instrument at Stockport.
As a registered Charity, there is a legal process which we have to follow in order to dispose of assets. We are also aware of proposals for the development of the rest of the former Methodist Church site and it is possible that our building and is worth a considerable amount either for re-use or as building land. At the moment all avenues are open.
We therefore have this rather perverse dilemma of potentially running out of money, Trustees, and volunteers if we continue with the Heritage Centre, but being very cash rich if we close, we cannot, however, have both!
The one positive outcome is that any funds received will provide the cash to allow the Trust to maintain and operate the Ex Odeon Wurlitzer in Stockport for as long as possible.
3.2 Trustees
The Trustees serving at the beginning of this report period were: -
Chairman Mr. W. Baker Secretary & Stage manager Mr. R. H. Whalley Treasurer Mr. J Loud P.G & STH organs technical manager Mr. C. Brown Quartermaster Mr. V. Matthews Safety advisor Mr. I. Gander
3.3 Risk Management statement
The trustees maintain a continual overview of the potential risks which could affect the Trust in future years and are satisfied that that there are just sufficient reserve funds for the immediate circumstances provided no further capital work is carried out.
As stated above, the significant risk to the Trust is the gradual lack of volunteers which has forced the decision to close the Heritage Centre and also the disappointing number of attendees at concerts both here and at Stockport, significantly following the COVID lockdown.
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3.4 Statement of Financial activities for the year ended July 31[st] , 2025
Note that the Balance sheet is a statement of the “worth” of the company. The balance sheet should give a realistic estimate of how much money could be realised by the sale and disposal of its assets. Following my analysis of “value and worth” last year I have again included a more realistic figure for the instruments. The building and land is a notional one and its value is being assessed at the moment.
3.4.1 Balance Sheet as of 31[st] July 2025
| Fixed Assets | £ Current |
|---|---|
| Stockport Town Hall Wurlitzer | 100,000.00 |
| LTOT Heritage Centre b/f | 152,720.00 |
| Heritage Centre Wurlitzer | 5000.00 |
| Heritage Centre Compton | 20,000.00 |
| Total | 282,720.00 |
| Current Assets | |
|---|---|
| Business Bank Accounts | 14,115.00 |
| Cash in hand | 403.00 |
| Cash floats | 370.00 |
| Sales stall stock | 1,543.00 |
| 16,431.00 | |
| Current liabilities | |
| Sundrycreditors | 887.00 |
| Provision for invoices TBR | 1,800.00 |
| Net Current Assets | 13,744.00 |
| Total Assets | 296,464.00 |
| Represented by; | |
| Funds brought forward | 321,657.00 |
| Net currentyears surplus(loss) | (25,193.00) |
| Total | 296,464.00 |
3.4.2 Income and Expenditure
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The Income and Expenditure and Balance sheets have kindly been independently examined by Pat Kirkby because our original Examiner, Mr. P. Ratcliffe unfortunately passed away earlier this year.
3.5 Approval
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This report has been approved by the Trustees, minuted, and signed on their behalf by ;
Ronald H. Whalley C.Eng., FIET., Trustee and Secretary.
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4 Appointment of Trustees
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4.1 Under article 17.7 Trustees retire after 2 years’ service but are eligible for re-election. The number of Trustees must be between 5 and 9.
Mr. J. Loud Treasurer retires by rotation and will stand for re-election. Mr., C. Brown retires by rotation and who does not wish to restand. Mr. I. Gander was appointed last year and is retiring.
A valid application has been received from Mr. D. Alldred.
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5 Appointment of President, Vice, President, Patron and Independent examiner.
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5.1 President, Vice Presidents and Patron
At this time there are no additional names being considered for the posts of President or Patron, the Trustees therefore propose that the existing Vice Presidents be re-elected ; Mrs. Joyce Alldred Mr. D Alldred Mr. N Ogden
- 5.2 Appointment of an Independent Examiner
Our previous IE, Mr. Peter Ratcliffe has unfortunately passed away during the year. Mrs P. Kirkby has offered to carry out this function.
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