OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-12-31-accounts

Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas Y Cymmrodorion Sefydlwyd 1751

The Honourable Society Of Cymmrodorion Founded 1751

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts

for the period 1 January 2024

to

31 December 2024

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 2024 to 31 December 2024

Contents Page
Reference and Administrative Information 1
Charitable Objects 2
Activities and Achievements 2
Governance and Structure 5
Financial Review 7
Declaration 8
Financial Statements 9

ii

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

President

Professor Sir Deian Hopkin FRHistS FLSW FRSA FCGI

Vice Presidents, at 31 December 2024

The Rt Hon Sir Anthony Evans RD MA LLB FCIArb The Rt Hon Mr Alun Michael BA FRSA The Rt Hon The Lord Murphy of Torfaen MA Sir Keith Thomas DLitt LLD FBA FLSW The Rt Hon The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd PC KC

The Rt Hon The Lord Wigley of Caernarfon BSc Dr Carol Bell PhD DLitt FLSW Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE FLSW DL Professor Laura McAllister CBE FLSW Elinor Bennett, Lady Wigley, OBE

Members of Council (Charity Trustees) at date of signing Annual Report

Sioned Bowen (2025) Professor W Stuart Cole CBE FCIT FILT (2026) Rhys David (2027) Theo Davies-Lewis (2027) Elinor Talfan Delaney (2027) Tomos Rhys Edwards, coopted 10.1.25 (2025) Catherine Emmerich, coopted 10.1.25 (2025) Professor Helen Fulton FLSW (2026) Michael Gibbon KC (2025) Sir Martin Griffiths, coopted 21.5.25 (2025)

Professor Sir Deian Hopkin (2027) Robert John (2027) Dafydd Lewis (2027) Robert Nicholls, coopted 10.1.2025 (2025) Sian Tudor Reid (2027) Ceridwen Roberts OBE FLSW FAcSS (2027) Rhian Medi Roberts (2027) Professor Sara Elin Roberts (2025) Dr Stephen Roberts (2025) Dr Elizabeth Siberry OBE (2027)

The year shown after each name is when the member’s current term of office will end.

Independent Examiner

R. Wyn Evans Major and Evans Bull House 15 Penrallt Street Machynlleth SY20 8AG

Bankers

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

1

Charitable Objects

The Society’s 1951 Charter provides as follows:

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

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

Programme of Lectures and Discussions

The programme provides a platform for issues of importance to Wales both within Wales and beyond its boundaries, including three of the Society’s new Wales Matter series held in partnership with the London Welsh Centre and Wales in London.

Thirteen events were delivered, including the Eisteddfod lecture.

Thursday 25[th] January 2024

Edrych yn Ôl ac Ymlaen: Perthnasedd Mesur y Gymraeg I Fywyd Cymru

Efa Gruffudd Jones Comisiynydd y Gymraeg/Welsh Language Commissioner Yr Athro Stuart Cole, aelod y Cyngor, yn y gadair Ar-lein yn unig Online only, with English translation

Thursday 22nd February 2024

In association with the Montgomeryshire Society

Iron Age Wales in A Modern Nation: Rethinking Welsh Hillforts

Dr Toby Driver FSA

Senior Investigator (Aerial Survey) at the Royal Commission, Wales Gareth Jenkins, President of the Montgomeryshire Society, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Wednesday 20[th] March 2024

A Game of Two Halves: How Sport and Politics Intertwine

Laura McAllister CBE

Professor of Public Poliy and the Governance of Wales, Cardiff University

2

Rhys David, member of Council, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Wednesday 10[th] April 2024

Wales Matters: Education – is Wales maintaining its proud tradition?

Dr. Gareth Evans Director, Education Policy, University of Wales Trinity St. David Susan Elan Jones, former MP for Clwyd South, in the chair London Welsh Centre

Thursday 25[th] April 2024

For the Recorde: the Role of Maths in Wales and the Role of Wales in Maths

Professor Gareth Ffowc Roberts Emeritus Professor, Bangor University Dr Carol Bell, Vice President of the Society, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Tuesday 21[st] May 2024

From Roman Britain to Early Medieval Wales: an Archaeologist’s View

Nancy Edwards FSA FBA FLSW Professor Emerita in Medieval Archaeology, Bangor University Dr Stephen Roberts, member of Council, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Thursday 27th June 2024

Wales: Successes and Challenges

Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS Former First Minister, Welsh Government Sir Deian Hopkin, President of Council, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Monday 15[th] July 2024

Wales Matters: Culture in Crisis

Yvette Vaughan-Jones, Chair Welsh National Opera Richard Saunders, Chair of London Welsh Centre, in the chair London Welsh Centre

Tuesday 6[th] August 2024

Sir Thomas Parry-Williams Memorial Lecture

Darganfod Bwyd Cymru o’r Newydd

Carwyn Graves Darlledwr, awdur ac arbenigwr ar fwydydd traddodiadol Cymru Syr Deian Hopkin, Llywydd y Gymdeithas yn y gadair Eisteddfod Rhondda Cynon Tâf Simultaneous translation into English

Wednesday 18[th] September 2023

The Flooding of Cwm Tryweryn and its Political and Cultural Repercussions on Wales

Dr Wyn Thomas Author, Musician and historian Rhian Medi Roberts, member of Council, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

3

Thursday 24[th] October 2024

Witchcraft in Wales, 1550-1850

Richard Suggett FSA FLSW

Formerly Senior Investigator, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Sir Deian Hopkin, President, in the chair Medical Society of London and online

Tuesday 19th November 2024

The Statute of Rhuddlan or the Statute of Wales Enacted in 1284

Dr Llinos Beverley Smith

Former Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Welsh History, University of Aberystwyth Dr Sara Elin Roberts, member of Council, in the chair Online only

Tuesday 10[th] December 2024

Wales Matters: Next Steps for Devolution

David Melding, former Deputy Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs Sir Deian Hopkin, President of the Cymmrodorion, in the chair London Welsh Centre

The Society’s Medal

The Cymmrodorion Medal was awarded to Dame Siân Phillips DBE on 7[th] February at the London Welsh Centre, Gray’s Inn Road, London. The presentation address was given by Dame Professor Elan Closs Stephens, a Vice-President of the Society and, at the time, interim Chair of the BBC. The medal was conferred by the President of the Cymmrodorion, Professor Sir Deian Hopkin and Dame Siân responded to thank the Society for the honour.

Publications

The Society’s Transactions

Volume 29 (2023) of the Transactions was published in the year and a copy was sent to each of the members. The Council thanks all of the contributors and records its appreciation of the work undertaken by the Editorial Board.

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, occasionally providing grants to other organisations.

The Angharad Dodds John Essay Prize

The Society launched the Angharad Dodd John Essay Prize, offering £500 in each of the next three years (2025–2027) for an academic essay by an early-career scholar on any topic in the Humanities and Social Sciences relating to Wales, its history, literature (English and Welsh), economics, politics, and culture including art and music.

The first Prize was awarded in early 2025. From a strong field of high-quality essays on a variety of topics, the judges selected the essay titled ‘Welsh Historians and the Memory of the Mortimers in Sixteenth-Century Wales’, by Dr Dewi Alter.

4

The Essay Prize, generously endowed by Robert John and Philippa Dodds John, is in memory of their late daughter, Angharad.

5

Working with other organisations

The building of relationships with other organisations is a valuable aspect of the Society’s work. The Society thanks the Montgomeryshire Society with which it organised the February 2024 lecture, the National Eisteddfod which hosted the August 2024 lecture, and Wales in London and the London Welsh Centre both of which joined the Society in hosting the Wales Matters events at the London Welsh Centre.

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

The Society has continued to work with organisations based in Wales or with links to Wales. Members of Council are variously active in the Learned Society of Wales, the Institute of Welsh Affairs, Cymru a’r Byd, the London Welsh Centre, the London Welsh School, Wales in London, the Montgomeryshire Society, various Welsh chapels and historical societies and cultural organisations in London and in Wales.

Governance and Structure

Governing Document: 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.

Patron

The Patron of the Society for many years has been the former HRH Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. During 2024 the Society was informed that following a review of his commitments, the King had decided, with great regret, to relinquish very many of his numerous honorary roles, including this one, but wished the Society well in the future and expressed his wish to maintain his interest in its work.

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.

6

The Annual General Meeting

The business of the Annual General Meeting of members of the Society includes the receipt of the statement of Accounts for the year ended the previous 31[st] day of December and of associated reports, as well as the election of certain of the Society’s Officers and of the members of the Council.

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.

Officers

President

The Society’s President is elected each year by at the Annual General Meeting. Sir Deian Hopkin was re-appointed as President.

Vice-Presidents

The Bye-Laws provide for there to be (an unspecified number of) Vice-Presidents who are elected or re-elected 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.

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. Ceridwen Roberts served as Chair for eight years until July 2024, when Deian Hopkin was appointed as Chair of Council. The Council warmly thanked Ceridwen Roberts for her services.

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. Dafydd Lewis served as Honorary Treasurer throughout 2024.

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 2024.

Editor

Professor Sara Elin Roberts, a member of Council, edits the Transactions. She is supported by an Editorial Board.

Committees of Council

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.

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

7

description of two of the purposes defined in Part 1, section 2, sub-section 2 of the Act, namely b) the advancement of education and f) the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science.

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 2024

At the end of 2024 the total assets of the Society were £143,459, down from £151,270 at the end of 2023, a reduction of £7,800. The Society’s cash balances at the year-end stood at £10,111, a decrease of £12,098 over the previous period. The market value of our investments increased by £4,287 over the year.

Income

The Society remains in reasonable financial health, having benefited from steps to increase our income by modestly increasing institutional member subscriptions. Our total receipts for the year fell by £30,750, a figure mostly accounted for by the closure and sale of one of our investments in the previous year; we hope to further increase our receipts going forward by introducing event attendance fees for non-members.

Investment income was £6,466, comparable to the previous year; investment income is of course subject to fluctuations in the market. Subscription income was comparable to 2023, albeit with a modest increase (£636) over the previous year, as anticipated. Gift Aid was not claimed in 2024 but will be claimed retrospectively following a review of our membership data.

Expenditure

Our costs decreased by £9,330 in the year under review, despite the timing effect of payments for our Transactions , which resulted in an increase in payments of some £7,000 this year.

8

Meeting and event expenditure during the year was £14,495, a significant reduction of £13,665 over the previous year. We anticipate that the costs of our lecture programme can be further reduced going forward, in part by increasing the number of online events.

Membership statistics

At the year-end the Society had a total of 651 subscribers, an increase of 15 over the previous year. These included 541 UK Individuals, 50 UK Institutions, 27 Overseas Individuals and 33 Overseas Institutions. These included 38 new members in 2024, as compared with 29 new members in 2023.

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. However, editing The Transactions involves a significant time commitment and Dr Sara Elin Roberts FRHistS, Editor of the Transactions and a Member of Council, receives an honorarium for her work.

Policy on holding and investing reserves.

Our investment portfolio is maintained as unrestricted reserves. The aim of these reserves is to underwrite our future and provide a small ‘buffer’ against any fluctuations in income and expenditure. They also provide funds, which we regard as capital spending, to finance particular projects too large to be absorbed by our normal levels of annual income.

The Society’s investment policy was reviewed during the year and the spread of our investments between equities and bonds will be discussed further.

The Society’s Council considers that we are able to accumulate surplus income into the reserves, when appropriate, although it is not our intention to accumulate funds for purposes other than the aims stated above, and there is normally no intention to add to or realise the Society’s investments except when cash reserves become unnecessarily large or when they diminish.

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:

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

Deian Hopkin (Chair of Council)

Date: 21.v.2025

Dafydd Lewis (Honorary Treasurer) Date: 21.v.2025

9

Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas Y Cymmrodorion Sefydlwyd 1751

The Honourable Society Of Cymmrodorion

Founded 1751

NODDWR/PATRON: CYN-DYWYSOG CYMRU/THE FORMER PRINCE OF WALES

THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024

10

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees

Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2024.

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:

Major & Evans

Principal: R. W. Evans BSc Econ (Hons), FCCA

11

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.

12

HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRCX)ORIIJ RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTSAcCC￿NTTO 31 DECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 RECEIPTS Subscriptions Montgomeryshiresociety Contribution Investment income Sale50f other publications GiftAid refund Publishers Licensingsociety Interest incorne Legaciesand donations 18.725 300 18,089 300 6.485 69 3,313 460 6,466 67 357 206 1,500 27,621 160 28,876 29,495 58.371 Investment sale TOTAL RECEIPTS 27.621 PAYMENrs Meeting Expense5 Transactions Websiteand IT Programme Archives 14,495 14,956 4,351 472 28,160 7.951 3,460 1,183 2.201 1,236 1,200 53 Accountancy Sundry other costs and charges Grantsand donations CAF, PP and GC charges Medals, presentationsand Memorials Translation services Bank charges TOTAL PAYMENTS 231 5,000 280 284 2,135 472 503 80 49.049 65 39.719 NEf RECEIPTyIPAYMENTS} (12.098) 9.322 Cash funds last year end Cash fundsthis year end 22,209 io,iii 12,887 22,209 13

H￿OURABLE SCKIETY OF CYMMROI)ORI sfATEM ENfoF ASSEfs AT 310ECEM BER 2024 2024 2023 CASH FUNDS HSBC main account HSBC deposit account HSBC second account Paypal account TDTALCASH FUNDS 2.687 6,377 25 1,022 io.iii 8,121 11,691 510 1,887 22.209 INVESTMENT ASSETS (current value) M & G Equities Inve5trnent fund M & G Fixed Intwest fund SUTL Cazenove Equity fund TDTAL INVESTM EKf FUNDS 38,575 32.067 62,706 133.348 37,595 33.238 58,228 129.061 14