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2021-12-31-accounts

Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas Y Cymmrodorion Of Cymmrodorion Sefydlwyd 1751 Founded 1751

The Honourable Society Of Cymmrodorion

NODDWR/PATRON: EI UCHELDER BRENHINOL TYWYSOG CYMRU/ HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts

for the period

1 January 2021

to

31 December 2021

The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion 157-163 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8UE

Registered Charity Number 313141 www.cymmrodorion.org

The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion

Report and Accounts for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021

Contents Page
Reference and Administrative Information 1
Governance 2
Organisational Structure 3
Charitable Objects 4
Activities and Achievements 5
How the Society’s Activities Deliver Public Benefit 7
Financial Review 8
Policy on Holding and Investing Reserves 10
Declaration 10
Financial Statements for the Year to 31 December 2021 12

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Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion Charity Registration Number: 313141 Registered Office 157-163 Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8UE Website: www.cymmrodorion.org Royal Patron: His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales

Members of Council (Charity Trustees)

Mrs Sioned Bowen (2022) Professor Thomas M O Charles-Edwards FRHistS FBA FLSW (2023) Professor W Stuart Cole CBE MSc FCIT FILT (2023) Mr Rhys David (2024) Mr Theo Davies-Lewis (2024) Mrs Elinor Talfan Delaney (2024) Professor Helen Fulton FLSW (2023) Mr Michael Gibbon QC (2022) Sir Deian Hopkin (co-opted 22 Feb 2022) Mr Robert John (2024) Mr Mathew Kidwell (2023) Mr Tomos Packer (co-opted 21 Oct 2021) Professor Prys Morgan DL FSA FRHistS FLSW (2022) Ms Sian Tudor Reid (2024) Ms Ceridwen Roberts OBE FLSW FacSS (2024) Ms Rhian Medi Roberts (2024) Dr Sara Elin Roberts (2022) Dr Stephen Roberts (2022) Dr Elizabeth Siberry OBE (2024) Mr Huw Wynne-Griffith (resigned 21 Oct 2021)

Except where indicated, the persons listed above served as Charity Trustees throughout the period covered by this Report. The year shown after each name is when the member’s current term of office will end.

Independent Examiner

R A J Waddingham CBE FIA, Flat 33, Riverside Court, 20 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5DB

Bankers

HSBC Bank plc, 196 Oxford Street, London W1D 1N

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Governance

Governing Document: the Royal Charter

The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 and was granted its Royal Charter in 1951. The Charter and Bye-Laws in force are as amended by Order of the Privy Council dated 21[st] July 1999.

Responsibilities of the Council

The Charter provides for the Council to “have the management and control of the Society and the administration of all the property and income thereof”. As such, the Council has responsibility for exercising the powers of the Society in furtherance of its objects. The Society’s powers and objects are defined in the Charter. The Society is a Registered Charity (Number 313141) and the members of the Council serve as Charity Trustees for the purpose of charity law. The Council is required to meet on no fewer than three occasions each year.

Recruitment and Appointment of Members of the Council

The Society’s Charter and Bye-Laws provide for:

Members may nominate one or more persons from amongst their number for election to the Council by the Annual General Meeting.

The Annual General Meeting

Due to the pandemic, the 2021 AGM was held on zoom, on Monday 24[th] May 2021. This AGM approved the decision made by the Council in 2020 to cancel that AGM due to the circumstances.

Professor Prys Morgan was re-elected as President for a year, as were the Vice-Presidents.

Members of the Council whose terms ended in 2021 were re-elected for the period 2021 to 2024, as were those members who had been previously co-opted.

R A J Waddingham CBE FIA was re-appointed as the independent examiner of the accounts for 2021.

Trustee Induction and Training

Trustees are asked to review Charity Commission guidance on www.gov.uk. Members of the Council have wide experience of governance and matters relating to the administration of charities and are familiar with the objects and aims of the Society and with its work.

Risk Management

The Council carries out an annual review of the major risks facing the Society.

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Organisational Structure

Officers

President

The Society’s President is a member of the Council, ex officio , and is elected each year by the members in the Annual General Meeting. Professor Prys Morgan was re-elected to the office of President at the 2021 Annual General Meeting.

Vice-Presidents

The Bye-Laws provide for there to be (an unspecified number of) Vice-Presidents who are subject to election or re-election each year by the Annual General Meeting. The office of Vice-President is an honorary office and the Vice-Presidents are not ex officio members of the Council. Twelve VicePresidents were re-elected at the 2021 Annual General Meeting.

Dr Osian Ellis CBE, a long- standing Vice-President, died on 6[th] January 2021 and will be sadly missed.

Chair of Council

The Chair of Council is appointed by and from amongst the members of the Council for a period of three years, which is renewable. The Chair of Council throughout 2021 was Ceridwen Roberts.

Honorary Treasurer

The Honorary Treasurer is appointed by and from amongst the members of the Council for a period of three years, which is renewable. Huw Wynne-Griffith resigned as Honorary Treasurer on 21[st] October 2021 and the Society thanks him for his eleven years of service in this role. The Council was pleased to appoint Tomos Packer as Honorary Treasurer from this date.

Honorary Secretary

The Honorary Secretary is appointed by and from amongst the members of the Council for a period of three years, which is renewable. Sian Tudor Reid served as Honorary Secretary throughout 2021.

Events Secretary

The position is held by Ceridwen Roberts in a temporary capacity.

Honorary Editor and Editors

The Honorary Editor (who edits the Society’s journal, the Transactions ), has traditionally been appointed by and from amongst the members of the Council for a period of three years, which is renewable. Professor Helen Fulton served as Honorary Editor for Volume 13 (2007) to Volume 26 (2020) of the Transactions and the Society thanks Professor Fulton for her service.

On Professor Fulton’s retirement as Honorary Editor Council appointed both Dr Sara Elin Roberts FRHistS, a Member of Council, and Dr Emma Cavell FRHistS to serve as Editors of the Transactions. Both receive honorariums for this service.

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Committees of Council

The following Committees support the Council in its work.

Executive Committee

Members ex officio :

Members appointed by and from Council:

Ceridwen Roberts (Chair of Council, and Chair); Huw Wynne Griffith (Honorary Treasurer) to October 2021 and Tomos Packer (Honorary Treasurer) from October 2021); Sian Tudor Reid (Honorary Secretary); Elinor Talfan Delaney (to May 2021); Professor Thomas Charles-Edwards; Stephen Roberts (from May 2021)

Events Committee

Members ex officio : Members appointed by and from Council: Members appointed from members of the Society not being members of Council:

Professor Prys Morgan (President) Ceridwen Roberts (Chair), Professor Stuart Cole; Robert John; Rhian Medi Roberts; Elizabeth Siberry; Sioned Bowen Christopher Edwards

Awards and Medals Committee

Member ex officio : Professor Prys Morgan (President) (Chair) Members appointed by Professor Stuart Cole; Elinor Talfan Delaney; Professor Thomas Charlesand from Council: Edwards; Michael Gibbon Member appointed from Professor John Elliott members of the Society not being members of Council:

Communications Committee

Members appointed by Sian Tudor Reid (Chair); Rhys David; Theo Davies-Lewis; Rhian Medi and from Council: Roberts; Professor Stuart Cole (May to November 2021).

The Council has the power under the Charter to delegate all or any of its powers to committees or sub-committees and has approved terms of reference for the Executive Committee which prescribe the conditions under which the latter may exercise certain powers of the Council in furtherance of the Society’s objects.

Charitable Objects

The Society’s 1951 Charter provides as follows:

The Society is hereby incorporated and shall be conducted with the following objects:

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Further to these objects, the Society exists to promote Literature, History, the Arts and Science (including Social Science) in so far as they are of special interest to Welsh people, and to facilitate discussion in these areas.

Activities and Achievements

The Society continued to deliver its objects by carrying out the following activities:

Programme of Lectures and Discussions

The lecture programme provides a platform for issues of importance to Wales to be considered both within Wales and beyond its boundaries. From January 2021 to August 2021 the Society’s lectures took place online only due to the pandemic. In Sept 2021 in-person lectures resumed and they were simultaneously livestreamed. All 2021 lectures are available to view on the website.

The Society’s online programme achieved good audiences and lectures were enjoyed from across the UK and elsewhere.

Lectures in person and online are open to the public and attendance is free.

Eleven lectures were delivered. These included the annual June Gruffydd Memorial Lecture, which was organised in association with the Montgomeryshire Society; and the annual Sir Thomas ParryWilliams Memorial Lecture, held online by the National Eisteddfod of Wales in its 2021 AmGen programme .

Tuesday 26th January 2021

The Legacy of the Peace Movement in Wales 1914-1918 Dr Aled Eurig, Retired Senior Lecturer, Swansea University Professor Stuart Cole, Member of Council in the chair

Tuesday 23 February 2021

In association with the Montgomeryshire Society The June Gruffydd Memorial Lecture

“I have a dream”? Iorwerth Cyfeiliog Peate and the Creation of the Welsh Folk Museum Dr Eurwyn William

John Eifion Jones, President of the Montgomeryshire Society in the chair

Wednesday 24 March 2021

Paper, Ink and Four Walls: John Jones of Gellilyfdy and his Prison Project Professor Ann Parry Owen

Professor Helen Fulton, Member of Council in the chair

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Tuesday 20 April 2021

Ben Bowen Thomas, Wales and UNESCO Professor W. John Morgan Sian Tudor Reid, Member of Council in the chair

Monday 24th May 2021

‘The Dragon and the Crescent’. Nine centuries of Welsh Encounters with Islam Dr Grahame Davies Professor Thomas Charles-Edwards, Member of Council in the chair

Tuesday 22 June 2021

O.M.Edwards a Chymreictod Ysgolion Cymru Ann Keane Sioned Bowen, Member of Council in the chair

Monday 2 August 2021

Darlith Goffa Flynyddol Syr Thomas Parry-Williams Rhyw, Pŵer, Priodas: Catrin o Ferain a’i Phedwar Gŵr Dr. Helen Williams-Ellis Elinor Talfan Delaney, Member of Council in the chair

Tuesday 21 September 2021

Cyfarthfa – From Green to Black to Green again Geraint Talfan Davies OBE Chair, Cyfarthfa Foundation Robert John, Member of Council in the chair

Thursday 21[st] October 2021

Delivering Well-Being for Current and Future Generations in Wales Sophie Howe Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Rhys David, Member of Council in the chair

Wednesday 24[th] November 2021

Nations, Class and Values: Nationalisms in Welsh Politics Professor Richard Wyn Jones Director, Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University Ceridwen Roberts OBE, Chair of Council in the chair

Thursday 9[th] December 2021

Marion Eames – Novelist of the Welsh Diaspora Dr Simon Brooks Associate Professor, Swansea University Rhian Medi Bishop, Member of Council in the Chair

The Council is most grateful to those who delivered lectures in 2021, and to those who chaired the meetings. It thanks the National Eisteddfod and the Montgomeryshire Society. We are also very grateful to the staff of the Medical Society of London where we host our London lectures

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Publications and online information

The dissemination of information is a key element in the work of the Society. It does this primarily through the publication of its journal, the Transactions , and through its website.

The Society’s Transactions

Volume 26 (2020) in the New Series of the Transactions was published in the year and a copy was sent to each of the Society’s individual and institutional members in the United Kingdom and overseas. The Council thanks all of the contributors and records its appreciation of the work undertaken by the Honorary Editor and the Editorial Board.

Transaction s articles from issues up to 2004 are available through the National Library of Wales portal, Welsh Journals Online and articles published since 2005 are available to the general public (subject to a two-year embargo on the release of material to non-members of the Society) through the Society’s website. Articles from Volume 22 (2016) and subsequent years are also available via subscription through EBSCO Information Services.

Providing information online

The website www.cymmrodorion.org is used to for information on events and to host online lectures, as well as for online publication of the Transactions. Emails are regularly sent to members, and social media is used to publicise the Society’s activities.

Encouraging study, research and cultural activities

Over the years, the Society has sought to encourage and support study, research and cultural activities across the areas covered by its charitable objects, including occasionally by providing grants to other organisations. In 2021 two charitable grants were made, one to The Aloud Charity and the second to the National Eisteddfod of Wales, funding Rhys Iorwerth – Bardd ar Bererindod, looking at aspects of the Welsh poetic tradition in the twenty first century. It was launched by Eisteddfod AmGen in August 2021 and is available on YouTube.

Working with other organisations

The building of relationships with representatives of other organisations is an important aspect of the Society’s work.

A lecture was organised online with the Montgomeryshire Society, which was promoted by Wales Week in London. The National Eisteddfod included the Society’s 2021 Sir Thomas Parry-Williams Memorial Lecture in its online AmGen programme.

The Society is grateful to the London Welsh Centre whose premises are the official address of the Society, 157-163 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8UE.

The Society has also continued to work with organisations based in Wales or with links to Wales. Good links have been maintained with the Office of its Royal Patron, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Members of Council are variously active in the Learned Society of Wales, the Institute of Welsh Affairs, Cymru a’r Byd, Jesus College, Oxford, the London Welsh Centre, the London Welsh School, Wales in London, the Montgomeryshire Society and various Welsh chapels, and historical societies and cultural organisations in London and in Wales.

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How the Society’s Activities Deliver Public Benefit

As is required under the terms of the Charities Act 2011, the objects of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, as set out in the Charter, are “charitable purposes” as defined in the Act. They fulfil this requirement in that (i) they are for the public benefit and (ii) they fall in particular within the description of two of the purposes defined in Part 1, section 2, sub-section 2 of the Act, namely:

The benefits to the public from the Society’s activities include in particular:

The beneficiaries of the Society’s activities are the public and “society” in general, in London and in Wales, in particular, but also more widely, so that benefits are not restricted by geography. Nor are there any restrictions based on charitable need.

The activities confer public benefit in a number of ways: through the provision of a platform beyond the boundaries of Wales for consideration of issues of importance to Wales; through the organisation of a programme of lectures and discussions, including a lecture at the National Eisteddfod, that are open to the public; through support for scholarly and research activities such as the Dictionary of Welsh Biography; through the publication and dissemination of information in the Transactions , as well as via its own website, which makes information readily accessible to a wide audience; and through collaboration with other organisations.

Public Benefit Statement

The members of the Council, acting in their capacity as Trustees of the charity, have complied with the Public Benefit reporting requirement for smaller charities and with their duty to have due regard to the commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Financial Review

Overview

At the end of 2021 the total assets of the Society had a market value of £204,268 compared to £192,999 a year ago.

The Society’s cash balances at the end of 2021 stood at £31,491 which had fallen over the year by £559. The market value of the Society’s investments rose by £11,269. The rise was driven by strong market gains in the equity funds, whereas the value of the fixed income funds fell.

It remains the view of the Honorary Treasurer that the Society’s financial position is healthy. It should be noted however, that the society ran a small operating deficit in 2021. This relates, in part,

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to a missed investment asset dividend payment, that we expect to recoup. However, it is the case that the Society has taken on increased administrative costs relating to the hosting of its events. This raised costs substantially between September and December 2021.

If the same level of expenditure continues throughout 2022, then the operating deficit, net of grants and awards, can be expected to increase.

Key Highlights

The Statement of Income and Expenditure for 2021 showed a deficit for the year of £113, compared with a surplus of £6,860 for 2020.

The main income and expenditure items are noted below.

Income

Expenditure

A grant of £10,000 is outstanding to the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol as the Society supported their 2021 programme. This will be drawn from cash reserves and fall into 2022 expenditures.

Related Party Transactions

The promotion of the Society’s activities is heavily dependent upon the voluntary input of members of the Council and of other members of the Society. The academic editors of The Transactions however, receive honorariums given the significant time commitment involved. Dr Sara Elin Roberts FRHistS, a Member of Council, and Dr Emma Cavell FRHistS serve as Editors of the Transactions. Both receive honorariums to the sum of £500 or less, for this service.

Membership Statistics

The Society had a total of 687 members at the end of 2021. The total is made up as follows:

UK Individuals 541
UK Institutions 63
Overseas Individuals 23
Overseas Institutions 60

50 new subscribers joined during 2021.

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It should be noted that there are many members on the database, who have not paid a subscription for two years or more. It will be the intention of the treasurer to work towards removing those members from the database through 2022.

Policy on Holding and Investing Reserves

The Society has accumulated reserves over the years. These reserves were created for two reasons:

Spending under the second category is considered by the Council to be “capital spending”.

The assets of the Society as 31 December 2021 amounted to £204,268 made up of £31,491 in cash together with investments with a value of £172,777.

There are no restrictions on how the reserves are applied and the Council considers that it has the power to accumulate surplus income into the reserves. However, it is not the intention of the Council to accumulate funds except for the purposes outlined above. There is normally no intention to add to the Society’s investments (or to realise them) except when cash reserves become unnecessarily large.

The Society has approved an investment policy which is reviewed annually (most recently in February 2020). Currently, the investments consist of units in charity-only pooled funds, one invested in equities and another in bonds. The funds are shared, broadly equally, between two leading charity investment institutions, M&G Investments and Schroder (with Cazenove).

The investments include £96,009 allocated across two equity income funds and £76,768 across two fixed income funds. At original investment, the proportional asset allocation was 50% to equity and 50% to bonds. The balance, as of 31[st] December 2021 was 56% to equity and 44% to bonds, reflecting differences in relative asset performance since the original investment.

Declaration

We certify that we have taken all the steps we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the charity’s independent examiner is aware of that information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with:

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The report has been approved by the Council and has been signed on its behalf by:

24/May/2022 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Ceridwen Roberts (Chair of Council) Date 24/May/2022 ………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………… Tomos Packer (Honorary Treasurer) Date

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Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas The Honourable Society Y Cymmrodorion Of Cymmrodorion Sefydlwyd 1751 Founded 1751

NODDWR/PATRON: EI UCHELDER BRENHINOL TYWYSOG CYMRU/ HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES

THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2021

R A J Waddingham CBE Fellow of The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Flat 33 Riverside Court 20 Nine Elms Lane London SW8 5DB

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees

Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2021

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of the report

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed Date

19/May/2022

R A J Waddingham CBE Fellow of The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Flat 33 Riverside Court 20 Nine Elms Lane London SW8 5DB

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Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

Accounting Records

Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011 requires charity trustees to ensure that accounting records are maintained that are sufficient to:

and, in particular, to contain

The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of error, fraud and other irregularities.

In preparing the accounts the trustees are expected to select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently, making judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. These accounts have been drawn up on a “receipts and payments” basis as described in section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.

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HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO 31 DECEMBER 2021

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

RECEIPTS
Subscriptions
Montgomery Society contribution
Investment income
Sales of Dictionary of Welsh Biography
Sales of other publications
Gift Aid tax refund
Publishers Licensing Society
Legacies and donations
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Lecture meeting expenses
Journal of the Society, the_Transactions_
Website & IT
AGM mailing
Programme
Archives Management
Other mailing
Administration
Sundry other costs and charges
Grants & Donations
Charities Aid Foundation, PayPal & GoCardless Costs
Medals, presentations & memorials
Translation Services
TOTAL PAYMENTS
SURPLUS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS
2021
£
18,727
300
4,377
24
75
3,210
333
0
27,045
11,114
5,141
6,969
393
1,103
151
176
24
73
1,000
260
0
754
27,158
-113
2020
£
18,152
300
5,597
0
49
3,008
248
0
27,354
3,599
5,250
8,568
84
0
47
93
68
3
1,950
260
0
572
20,494
6,860

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HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO 31 DECEMBER 2021

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021

FIXED ASSETS
Investments at cost (Note)
CURRENT ASSETS
HSBC Main Account
HSBC Deposit Account
HSBC Second Account
PayPal Account
TOTAL ASSETS
Note
Investments
M&G Charifund
M&G Charibond
SUTL Cazenove Charity Equity Fund
SUTL Cazenove Charity Bond Fund
Reconciliation of Funds
Funds at 1 January
Surplus for the year
Funds at 31 December
2021
Cost
£
34,000
39,000
42,767
39,000
2021
£
154,767
10,756
20,008
70
657
186,258
2021
2020
Value
Cost
£
£
40,771
34,000
36,011
39,000
55,238
42,767
40,757
39,000
2020
£
154,767
31,694
8
75
273
186,817
2020
Value
£
35,690
37,292
44,055
43,642
154,767 172,777
154,767
160,949
2021
£
186,817
-113
186,704
2020
£
179,957
6,860
186,817

Signed: Date:

26/May/2022

Tomos Packer Honorary Treasurer On behalf of the Trustees

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