Haslemere Musical Society Trustees’ Annual Report
Charity Name: Haslemere Musical Society
Registered charity number: 262696
For the financial year beginning 1 September 2024
For the financial year ending 31 August 2025
Charity’s principal address c/o Mrs Sue Ecclestone
The Warren
Tilford Road
Hindhead. GU26 6RA.
Names of the charity trustees
| Names of the charity trustees | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ofice (if any) and dates acted if not for the fullyear |
| Marion Bagshaw | Chairman |
| Patrick Callan | Vice-Chairman |
| Susan Ecclestone | Secretary |
| Leah Goldmann | Treasurer(from 15/04/2025) |
| Sarah Rogers | Orchestra Librarian |
| Johanna Sainsbury | Orchestra Librarian |
| SallyFalk | |
| Charlotte Fentem | |
| Judith Ingham | |
| Ben Smithies | |
| Trevor Clarkson |
Governing document
Rules adopted 18 June 1971 as amended 17 October 1983, 8 October 2001, 17 October 2016 and 4 June 2024
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are elected by and out of the membership at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. They receive no remuneration or other benefits from the charity.
Objects of the charity
To educate the public in the art and science of music, to enable members to make music together at regular rehearsals of choral and orchestral works under the direction of skilled musicians appointed for the purpose, to perform such works at public concerts and offer concertgoers good value for money, and from time to time to commission new works for performance by the Society.
Activities and achievements during the year
In planning our activities we have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
With our rehearsals starting at the beginning of September and the first concert performed only six weeks later the orchestra have to work hard to produce a good performance. On Saturday 12th October the orchestral concert in St Christopher’s Church was well attended despite the chilly weather and the audience was treated in the first half to a polished rendition of the popular Mendelssohn Overture – The Hebrides, then two short movements entitled Deux Aubades arranged from Edouard Lalo’s opera Fiesques and finally before the interval an introduction to a brilliant young Italian violinist Maria Serena Salvemini playing Saint-Saȅns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. This was followed to the delight of the audience by Paganini’s Caprice No.1. Then after the interval the orchestra played Ludwig van Beethoven’s lesser known Second Symphony bringing to an end a very successful first concert of the season.
Despite the endeavours of Storm Darragh the HMS Concert went ahead on Saturday 7[th] December. The concert began with Haydn’s popular Trumpet Concerto with our own Tim Milford playing the solo with great elan. The Society is truly fortunate in having local composer Clive Osgood as one of our professionals. His new work Magnificat was the second item on the programme featuring both choir and orchestra and local soprano soloist Clare Loosely who sang beautifully despite the unkind acoustic of the Haslemere Hall. After the interval the audience was treated to a fine performance of Howard Blake’s children’s Christmas story entitled The Snowman with the famous song ‘ Walking in the Air’ sung by treble soloist Logan Broom .with the storyline narrated by David Greenwood There followed John Rutter’s popular Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and then Gustav Holst’s arrangement for choir and orchestra of popular Christmas carols entitled Christmas Day: a Choral Fantasy on Old Carols. The concert was a fine start to the Christmas season.
The March Concert took place in the Haslemere Hall on Saturday 1[st] March and opened with a motet by Josef Haydn entitled Insanae et Vanae Curae. This work is not often heard but was performed well by choir and orchestra and was well received by the large audience. This was followed by Dvořák’s Symphony No. 5, competently played by the orchestra. After the interval our own cellist Anna Hunt played the solo in Max Bruch ’s Kol Nidrei most beautifully, followed by the Schubert Mass No 2 in G with soprano soloist Clare Loosley, tenor soloist Richard Thesiger-Pratt and bass soloist Thomas Lydon. The performance was excellent and the concert was well received.
May was the month for the Haslemere Festival 2025 and we were told by the Hall we could not have our preferred date. It was decided we would take 3[rd] May rather than the much later date and we would have an event within the Festival on Monday 19[th] May. As it turned out our early date of 3rd May was listed as the start of the Festival and the programme chosen proved very popular. HMS performed a selection of music inspired by the works of Shakespeare. There were selected orchestral pieces, songs sung by the chorus and readings performed by two members of the Haslemere Thespians.
The Monday date (19[th] May) was enjoyed by HMS Orchestra and Choir but it did not attract visitors to the Festival which was disappointing. Hannah Hawkins will explain the Orchestra event as I was not present until the final item which was Haydn’s ‘Sing the Lord ye voices all’
from The Creation when the choir joined the orchestra for a grand finale. Prior to that the choir was treated to an enlivening singing session run by Thomas Lydon with Clive Osgood accompanying from the piano. Entitled ‘Find Your Voice’ it was very much enjoyed by regular members of the choir but failed to bring in many outsiders.
Thomas Lydon sadly left as HMS Choirmaster at the end of the Spring Term. The choir has been immensely fortunate in his replacement. Catherine Olver became HMS Choir Mistress In March 2025 and steered us with great skill through to the ‘Shakespeare in Music’ concert on May 3[rd] 2025. Because of a prior commitment she was unable to be at the May concert but after her rigorous training the choir did not let her down!
Before he left Tom Lydon conducted a very successful ‘Come & Sing’ in St Christopher’s Church on our usual date of the first Saturday in February. Charlotte Fentem has written a report on this event, Hannah Hawkins has written a report on the Orchestra and Zoe Marshall has reported on the 2025 Summer Sessions.
To make sure all our musical activities run smoothly we depend on our professionals and all those members who give time to keep everything happening.
Financial review
It is good to see that the funds have increased compared to the previous year and that the efforts taken in 2024/25 were successful to maintain the ongoing survival of the society. We were fortunate to receive increased donations, though these donation levels are never guaranteed to repeat in future years.
Reserves policy
The Society’s policy is that we should maintain reserves at 125 - 150% of the prior year’s expenditure on regular professionals and venues.
At 31st August 2025, the total reserves of £45,624 stood at more than 150% of the previous year's expenditure because of a large donation. The trustees plan to use this donation during the upcoming performance season to perform larger scale orchestral and choral works, which will directly benefit our members by expanding their repertoire, whilst bringing high quality musical experiences to our audience and the wider community
The Trustees remain dedicated to protect the Society to ensure its survival in its second century.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 25 24 29 22 21 20 19 Intoming Resourtss Income from donations and fundr3isingactiwties 1,360 16.179 2,141 135 1,730 6.100 2,520 1,220 I,iio 3.199 1,996 271 1,655 5.477 573 279 1,525 50 109 311 1,632 4.255 1,331 253 1,915 7.782 1,974 325 Donations and grants Other fundrai5in8 activit5 Incomefrom tharitable activf(ies Members. 5ubscriptlOn5 Gift aid on members, subscriptions Concert income Galn on sale of fixed ass*$ 14,488 1.551 B,334 14,383 2.068 9,145 12,792 1.953 7,617 9,044 L.5Z4 6,346 7,315 1.492 11,277 1.747 6,519 11,906 2.021 9,407 1.178 680 189 64J 181 Investment income Dividends On investments Interest income 417 355 329 37,851 145 306 29.578 166 25 25.778 163 612 47 Z7W55 731 45 37,964 621 45,228 10.968 Resources Expended Expendf(ure on fundraising adivriies 310 410 524 1,024 862 Expenditure on charitable adivi(ies Costs of rehearsals Costs of concerts 16.693 13,483 594 972 32.052 16,243 14,830 173 738 32,394 14.119 13,195 809 977 29.624 16.485 11,187 54 677 28,987 11.840 16.210 17,031 14,113 18,088 1,339 a,325 37,727 Administrative & running costs 1,266 13.106 1,519 35.784 t4ET INCOMINGIIOUTGOINGI RESOURCES 13.176 5.457 47 -3.209 -1.138 -7.930 Z37 Realised loss On sale of investments Unrealised £ain on investments -83 -194 12,982 560 6,017 .403 -3,611 1,060 -1,078 1,037 4.892 1,504 1,658 NET MOVEMENT IM FUND -38 Fund balance brought forward TOTAL FUND CARRIED FORWARD 32.642 45.624 26.625 32.642 26.664 26,625 30.275 26.664 31.353 30.275 38.245 31,553 36.587 38.Z4S
BALANCE SHEET at 31st August 2024 24 23 25 L2 L24 2022 20 201 FIXED ASSErs CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments Investments Cash èt bank Cash in hand COIF Deposit Fund Accrued Income 736 5,420 19,747 18,524 10,454 208 5,450 5,450 1,500 2,ODD 30.695 31.603 38.387 6,452 34,419 6,646 21.665 6,086 16,774 6,077 12.578 6,480 17.265 5,450 5,450 5,450 5,450 2,685 3,303 46.321 33.762 30.995 27.409 7.450 CURRENT LIABIUTIE5 Creditors Deferred Income Accrua15 250 34 600 97 697 1.120 4,310 380 365 745 420 108 142 1,120 4,370 420 250 NET CURRENT ASSErs 45.624 32.642 26.625 26.664 30.275 31.353 38.245 NET ASSETS 45,624 32.642 26.625 26.664 30.275 31.353 38.245 REPRESENTED BY.. Fund carried forward 45,624 3Z,64Z 26,625 26,664 30,275 31,353 38,245
HASLEMERE MUSICAL SOCIETY ANALYSIS OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025- CONCERTS Concert Ott-24 DÈt-24 Mar-25 Total Box Office Tickets Commission FundinglDonations 982 2,726 1.3271 1,000 3,398 2,275 1.2321 2,093 1.2511 2,262 4,104 8,076 1-8931 3,262 10,445 1-831 899 2,043 Programmes Sales Adverts Printing 1-1081 1-1081 1-1141 1-1141 1-1341 1-1341 1_1121 1-1121 14681 14681 Professlonal Fees Regular Professionals Soloists Profe5510nal aid Gifts 1-8231 1-1.1011 I-I,1011 I-I,ioiI i-iooi 1-3701 1-4451 1-5781 1-4.1261 14701 1-1.9481 1-401 1.6,5841 1-1851 1-7401 1-401 1.1,0081 1.1,6461 1.2,0491 1.1,8811 Other Costs Hire of Hall Hire/purchase of music Performing rightslroyalties Orchestra tea Printing posters and mailshot Other 1.1501 1_841 1.8161 1-8991 1-2131 1.8161 1-3081 1.8161 1.3171 1-821 1.2,5991 1.1,6081 1-2941 1461 1-1611 1.1091 1.1511 14671 1-2801 1_2,0891 1-1,233) 1-1,366) 1-4,968) Hospltallty Sales and contributions Costs 169 1-701 99 169 1-1671 1-721 1-721 1-41 1-41 1-201 1-201 Net Gain (Loss) on Concerts 1.3971 1.5231 1.1.3781 724 1.1,5741
Leah Gohlmann Treasurer Haslewere Musical Sooety RE.. Annual Aecounts 20242025 Date". 2 October. 2025 Copperfle$ own Road Ha51em GU27 10T Dear Leah. I have exarnined the above accounts as PTe8enta1 to me on 1V Ortobèr, 202S and them to be an a¢¢urate preSentatIon of lh8 fillCIal position of the Had8mwe MusKd Socw for th8 ac(xJunting peri1 01 Septber 2024 to 31 August 2025. Best wSshes. Geoff MaFtin Reb'red Accountant