## **Trustee’s Report For The Year 2023** Having found that meetings, including **Executive Committee Meetings** , could be conducted online using the conferencing program **Zoom** , most **EC** meetings are now conducted that way. However, a minimum of two **Executive Committee** meetings per year, plus the **Annual General Meeting** and the **Half-Yearly Meeting** are always help in person. The membership numbers hover around the 1000 mark but the **Committee** is aware that an aging membership is likely to result in a steady decline over time. Another consequence of the demographic of our membership has been that the majority of the work of the **Society** falls onto barely-sufficient numbers of people. That said, what those people do achieve is highly respected by other societies doing similar work. The working party set up to review the **Society** ’s Constitution (as previously announced) prepared the revised version and, following guidance and approval from the **Charity Commission** , the new Constitution was presented and approved by the membership immediately before the **AGM** on 18[th] March 2023. Our President, John Watling, continues to liaise with the **Essex Record Office** on our historic Collection of documents and images which is held there on behalf of the **Society** , and a substantial number of donations of photographs and other images have been made throughout the year. The **Photographic Digitisation Working Group** has worked diligently through the year to digitise our extensive collection of photographic and other images in order to make them more easily accessible by **Society** members and the general public through a new, dedicated, website address linked to that of the **Society** itself. Barry Jackson, as **Publication Sales Officer** , has had yet another very successful year selling files and documents and making new discs and downloads available to members and nonmembers. Our **Annual General Meetings** and **Half-Yearly Meetings** include speakers, book sales, and time to socialise. We continue to publish four issues each year of our **GE Journal** , which concentrates on historical material from our area, and also four issues each year of the **GE News** , which is more focused on our geographical area of interest nowadays. Visits for members to a number of rail-related sites in our region of interest were organised during the year – reviving a tradition that had been dropped at some time in the past - and a similar programme will be offered this year including transport help for our less able members. Our **Exhibitions Manager** , Nigel Bowdidge, has dressed a new set of lighter display boards for our attendance at shows and exhibitions. The Annual Return for 2022 is being prepared for the **Charities Commission** , including notification of the resignation of one Trustee during that year. Our Accounts accord with the recommendations of the **Charities Commission** with regard to the extent of our financial reserves and we continue to seek digitisation and other projects that fall in line with our constitutional objectives. The **Society** currently holds funds in excess of £40,000 in respect of the membership accounts, all of which is in unrestricted funds. These funds are held to meet planned and anticipated expenditure for the next 12 months and in accordance with **Charity Commission** guidelines that sufficient funds be available for an orderly shutdown should the **Society** cease operations. ## **Brian A Watson** **Secretary, Great Eastern Railway Society** INCECEMBEft 2Q22 65.f71.35 Z69&54 10131 239.05 4185.27 61.799AIg 1692A9 10T￿1 1S3.27 4.24759 Gft Akl outJt* 590.54 542.03 Iw.00 11￿21.6￿ 1Q693.29 605.7S É59.695.95 05&88 5&05&88 1,63&55 0.481 £59,695.95 50.798.57 7.241h5 rplu5 £5&05&88 TRADING Accouwf TO 31 DECEMBER 2022 2021 PUBLICATIONS INCOME Publkadons Skn¥ 3065.41 5249.42 PtJs4e & tdeph 125.61 215.46 13.28 249.76 256.60 169.42 904.52 4.344. £ 5.249.42 35028 177.32 10107 781.22 3J584.19 £ 3865.41 Ad￿nIst￿lon £ 3065.41 £ 5249.42 8ALANCE ￿ET AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 £oA £0 CURRENT ASSErs Due from M•mbtrOMp kcourt Cajh kn hand (Publlotlom) Stockj 59054 301.63 1.168.25 542.03 300.78 931.01 Total ¢urr•frt a¥xt• £ 54,17178 £ 5257&11 CUftREKf UABILrnES Ch•quu Iss￿d buc noc I￿•￿t•d at b•nk 58752 £ 5358526 £ 51576.11 FSnaKed by. knmul4ted Fund Surplvs SZ576.11 3,084.19 (2075.QI) £ 5358526 £ 52,576.11 48231.21 4J44.90 Total Independent Examinerfs Report for the Trustees Great Eastern Railway Society Report on the frIa￿la1 statement of the Great Eastem Raiw Sockty for the year ending 31 D0￿mber 2022 Independent Examinevs StsteM￿t In connection with my examinalton, no matter has come to my attention that gives me reasonable c4use to believe that in any matsrial aspect. the requirement to keep accounting records in accordance with Sections 130 and 132 of the CharitEs Act 2011 and to prepare financial statements which accord wf(h Ihose ac¢ountirrfJ records and to compty with the accounting fequir&ment of th& Act have not been met. In my opinion there are no matters to whi¢h attent￿ should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the financial statements to be rexhgj. Signed ty Indewdent Examiner D8t@