MUSICAL DIRECTOR: RALPH WOODWARD PATRON: THE LORD FAIRHAVEN
ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
Objectives of the Fairhaven Singers
The objectives of the Fairhaven Singers are to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals and by such other ways as the choir through its committee shall determine from time to time.
Structure
The Fairhaven Singers is a membership organization managed by an elected committee, as set out in its constitution.
Chair: Gareth Hayward Treasurer: Gavin Stark Secretary: Rebecca Polson Member: Andrew Smith Musical Director (ex officio): Ralph Woodward
Activities
The following reports are based on the reports presented at the AGM on 27 September 2025
Chairman’s Report
I’m new to a very different job from the one I recall doing before so have been finding my feet to an extent and trying to establish what my role consists of. I have no job description as such, which is marvellous in one way but a problem in others. I will continue to find out what seems fit for purpose and what a little less so. One thing hasn’t changed - the constant challenge of capturing an audience!
Emily has left as secretary and left me with an expandable folder full of laminated signs for all eventualities, e.g. ‘Three seats in this pew are reserved’. I haven’t the foggiest when this particular sign will come in handy but I can’t wait to find out! My heartfelt thanks to Emily for her contribution.
Rebecca succeeded Emily as secretary and has already helped organise the 100 Club and this AGM but has now decided that her family must take priority. My heartfelt thanks to Rebecca too. This means there is a vacancy for the position of choir Secretary. One of the attributes of the role (of course) is to ‘nag’ me. If the role is of interest let me know.
The stewarding arrangements have changed. Frank and Jenny have kindly volunteered to run and organise this. I noticed two new stewards at our Summer concert - both colleagues of Frank’s from Duxford where he stewards and gives tours of the Lancaster there. They too are learning but are impressed with our audience. Be nice to
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them and get to know them - they are the first contact audience members often have with the Fairhaven ‘experience’ and those you invite to our concerts.
With Karen’s departure from the choir Victoria Johnson has agreed to become a trustee of the choir. The AGM will, I hope, confirm her appointment and those of the choir’s other trustees.
Gareth Hayward
Musical Director’s Report
Ralph presented the breakdown of the choir’s activities since the last AGM and a summary of the future plans for the choir:
Activities since last AGM
October 2024 Re-appointment of Eleanor Thomas as Choral Scholar November 2024 Howells Requiem, Stanford Songs of the Fleet Christmas 2024 Including Mendelssohn, Todd, Beamish, Leighton, Warlock, Nelson March 2025 Handel Dettingen Te Deum and Haydn Heiligmesse April 2025 Auction of Promises July 2025 Including Brahms, Ravel, Whitacre
Planned future activities
October 2025 Choral Scholarship auditions November 2025 Purcell, Britten, Marsh, Wallen, Fauré Christmas 2025 Including Poulenc, Holst, Frances-Hoad March 2026 War Requiem Auction of Promises May 2026 Tour to Lyon July 2026 Including Byrd, Elgar, Sullivan, Villette, McDowall March 2027 B minor Mass
Ralph Woodward
Treasurer’s Report
(the financial reports are presented separately)
Notes to the Income and Expenditure report
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The War Requiem is a major undertaking, and there has been some specific fund raising for it; this is accounted for to some degree here, in particular larger donations are earmarked for the performance; however, it will be funded out of the General Fund too.
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The choir had a regular surplus (in the General Fund) of £5,141.90 over the year, compared to the previous year of a deficit the previous year of £4,131.83 (there was a donation of £10,000 to the War Requiem last year too) ; the March concert did have a small orchestra and lost £4,508.44 compared to last year without where it lost £2,126.90, and not requiring an orchestra.
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The Alyson Harvey Fund investment portfolio revaluation for 2023-2024 capital growth of £1,845.60 from 2023-2024 is included here, as indicated in last year’s report; in addition it had a further capital growth leading to the total of £3,864.57 – plus dividends etc,
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- The choir had a regular surplus of £4,131.83 over the year, compared to a deficit the previous year of £4,200.67; this is in large part due to the March concert not requiring an orchestra, hence costing about £8,000 less to put on.
Notes to the Balance Sheet
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The total net assets of the choir are now £53,194.09 instead of £39,773.04. This may seem to be staggeringly healthy, but this is inflated by two factors:
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The Alyson Harvey Fund contains £20,112.82 which we are constrained to use for social activities, and have in the past used for tours; we have not toured (other than the small York Minster venture) since Covid, so it has built up.
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The War Requiem will cost well over £30,000 pounds to put on, compared to (for example) this year which cost roughly £7,000. This is a massive undertaking, and we will have to build up our reserves again in the years to come.
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We have moved from a single Lloyds bank account to using some Savings and long term deposits (since the War Requiem has a somewhat predictable payment schedule). This has provided some interest. However, Lloyds is changing their approach to charities, and we will probably have bank charges to pay in the future.
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It is worth reiterating that the long term the aim is for this to stabilise at about £20,000 (in today’s terms) to allow us to survive another Covid or similar impactful event. Hopefully next year the Dora Kemp commission fund will have at least the same valuation today; the aim is normally to take any balance over £20k in the General Fund into the Dora Kemp Commission Fund. The ‘Recordings Fund’ has been merged with the General Fund, and we will require a similar approach to the War Requiem for any future recordings.
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Given that we netted under £10 for CD and recipe book sales this year it is untenable to maintain any real valuation of the stock; this means taking a book loss of £1,122 on our capital assets. However, we still maintain the stock, and if we can sell any CDs or recipe books it will mean I end up storing less in my cupboard, and the income to the choir is always appreciated.
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We have a liability of £600 in the 100 club, as we will have to pay out £50 every month next year. We have sold £832.30 in tickets (although the tickets are all £20, payments through Zettle mean we do not receive £20) and there is an administration cost of £40, but it means that the 100 club has covered its costs. We now need to sell the remaining tickets to bring in funds for March.
General comments on our financial performance and forecast
This has been a good year financially for the choir, with a major preparation for the War Requiem, which is a considerably larger prospect than Fairhaven Singers normally addresses. We look like we have the funds and cashflow to cover the costs of the event, but we will lose much of our reserves. We are already selling November tickets, which is good, and we should aim to sell out – the difference between the July concert ticket sales (£3500) and the November concert ticket sales (£1460) last year is not down to the child-friendly concert – especially since we have a very audience friendly programme and some of the Stephen Perse singing the Pie Jesu. We retain the investments in the Alyson Harvey Fund, which will continue to be used for assisting with the social welfare of the choir; we need to actually spend some of it this year, I think.
Gavin Stark
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Fairhaven Singers Income and Expenditure 1 Sep 2024 – 31 Aug 2025
| General | War | ALH fund | Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requiem | 2024-2025 | 2023-2024 | |||||
| Income | |||||||
| Ticket sales | 12,878.11 | 12,878.11 | 12,035.78 | ||||
| Donations income | 3,725.91 | 200.00 | 3,925.91 | 10,876.38 | |||
| Members' income | 11,629.00 | 11,629.00 | 10,649.00 | ||||
| Other income | - | 2,957.53 | |||||
| Friends' income | 2,137.67 | 2,137.67 | 2,000.62 | ||||
| Fund raising (e.g. AOP) | 2,814.00 | 2,814.00 | 1,734.68 | ||||
| Performance fees | 1,700.00 | 1,700.00 | 350.00 | ||||
| Other sales income | 30.50 | 30.50 | 304.38 | ||||
| Cost recovery | 65.75 | 65.75 | - | ||||
| Other concert income | - | - | |||||
| Club 100 tickets | 832.30 | 832.30 | |||||
| Interest and dividends | 61.13 | 572.29 | 514.22 | 1,147.64 | |||
| Rio donations | 104.28 | ||||||
| Total Income | 31,316.16 | 5,130.50 | 714.22 | 37,265.16 | 40,908.37 | ||
| Expenditure | |||||||
| Musical Director | 12,674.60 | 12,674.60 | 12,570.00 | ||||
| Soloists, orchestras & instrument hire | 5,160.00 | 5,160.00 | 1,150.00 | ||||
| Concert programmes | 1,740.00 | 1,740.00 | 1,785.00 | ||||
| Venue hire | 1,450.00 | 1,450.00 | 2,726.00 | ||||
| Ticket refunds | 50.00 | ||||||
| Concert catering | 650.71 | 650.71 | 672.91 | ||||
| Sheet music printing & hire | 1,272.99 | 1,272.99 | 2,170.00 | ||||
| Marketing & publicity | 2,229.80 | 2,229.80 | 2,475.00 | ||||
| Other concert costs | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | ||||
| Other costs (inc York expenses) | 2,431.21 | ||||||
| Professional fees & services | 976.16 | 976.16 | 726.42 | ||||
| Folders, postage, etc (admin) | 18.14 | 18.14 | - | ||||
| Donations | - | ||||||
| Club 100 administration | 40.00 | 40.00 | - | ||||
| Bank charges | 250.00 | 250.00 | - | ||||
| Total Expenditure | 26,192.40 | 40.00 | 250.00 | 26,482.40 | 26,776.54 | ||
| Surplus / (deficit) | 5,123.76 | 5,090.50 | 464.22 | 10,782.76 | 14,131.83 | ||
Fairhaven Singers Balance Sheet as of 31 Aug 2025
| As at | As at | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | 31/08/2024 | |||
| Current Asset | ||||
| Lloyds Bank Current | 10,266.38 | 12,004.61 | ||
| Lloyds Bank Savings | 7,561.13 | |||
| Lloyds Bank Deposit (War Requiem) | 15,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||
| Paypal | 103.23 | 291.90 | ||
| Petty cash | 232.03 | 347.72 | ||
| Charles Stanley Consolidated Cash | 1,561.58 | 1,956.34 | ||
| ALH Fund investments | 18,808.40 | 14,284.85 | ||
| CD stock | 0.00 | 1,122.00 | ||
| Total current assets | 53,532.75 | 40,007.42 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Uma Só Voz pass-through | 338.66 | 234.38 | ||
| Club 100 | 600.00 | |||
| Total liabilities | 938.66 | 234.38 | ||
| Net total assets | 52,594.09 | 39,773.04 | ||
| Represented by | ||||
| General Fund | 15,210.46 | 25,446.32 | ||
| Alyson L Harvey Fund | 20,602.40 | 16,273.61 | ||
| Dora Kemp Commissions Fund | 2,629.39 | 2,629.39 | ||
| Recordings Fund | 0.00 | -14,341.90 | ||
| War Requiem Fund | 14,490.50 | 10,000.00 | ||
| Uma Só Voz | -338.66 | -234.38 | ||
| Total | 52,594.09 | 39,773.04 | ||
The Charles Stanley ALH Fund Investments had an unrealised capital gain of £3,864.57 during 2023-24 and 2024-25. It produced a total return (capital appreciation and income received) during the year of +12.6% and increased in value during the year to a value of £20,369 (£18,086) a figure which includes income generated by the portfolio of £514. The portfolio includes cash of £1,561 as at the period end and currently stands on a yield of 2.7%.
The choir has not drawn any income from the fund for some time as its use is Notes: limited to the choir’s social activities, e.g. tours.
The CD stocks were written off, so valued at £0 (£1122)
Fairhaven Singers Charity No. 802542 Accounts for the period I" September 2024 to 31° August 2025 I have independently exainined tlie accounts for The Fairhaven Singers for the period I" September 2024 to 31° Augusi 2025 as set out and required by The Charity Commission ACL ICCA). The Fairhaven Singers have chosen to prepare their accounts on the receipt and payment (RP) basis and subject diem to ind¢p¢ndeiit exatnination which fa115 Wlthin the scope of the regulations. My objectives are thus: l. To identify whether or not proper accounting records have been kept. 2. To check that the accounts agree witli ihe accounting records. 3. To look for significant errors in th¢ accounts. 4. To ensure that the accounts have been prepared in accordance with CAR- in so far as they apply to accounts mainlained on an RP basis. Report No matters have arisen during the course of my examination where I have to give an adverse report. l consider that the annual financial s12tements of The Fairhaven Singers as presented to me reflect a true and fair statement of the ststus of each fund. J. Smith Date 171 Madera Avenue San Carlos California 94070 USA