– Broughshane Historical Society N.I.C. 103376
Trustees Report for the year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023
Purpose
The Broughshane Historical Society is established to advance education in BROUGHSHANE and its environs of The BRAID VALLEY [hereinafter called ‘area of benefit’] by a. Studying and encouraging the study of the history, historical and cultural heritage of the area of benefit.
b. Raising awareness among the general public in the area of interest and beyond and encouraging appreciation of, and knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the area of interest.
Names of Trustees
Mr. Samuel Clark, BA, LLB, LLD/
Mrs Mary Carson
Dr Tony Redmond
Mr Roy Purdue
Miss Jackie Knox MBE
Miss Lynn Black Miss Betty Shaw
Main Activities
The society held 6 meetings, and ran the village Museum
Committee
Officer
Chair David Morris Vice Chair Ann Morris Secretary Lynn Black Treasurer Leslie Frew Ass Treasurer Mary Carson
Auditors Sean Taylor, James McNeil
Committee Mark Black, Bill Clarke, Betty Shaw, Tony Redmond, Amy Hamill.
Programme
As Covid restrictions had been lifted advertising returned to normal.
The Zoom option was maintained, as some members still felt uneasy about attending live meetings.
At very short notice Cathal Coyle, told us he was unable to deliver his talk in March, as planned, but would be happy to do so in April.
We decided to extend the session. Colin Urwin agreed to speak at the March meeting.
The delay to the AGM was due to the additional meeting, sickness and holiday commitments. 23 members attended the AGM.
The costs of the April meeting and the AGM will be included in the 2023-4 accounts.
Meetings
28th Sept The importance of local poetry and humour in recording the life of ordinary people. (Graham Mawhinney)
26[th] Oct The role of shanties, work songs, in recording the lives of ordinary people.
(Adrian Steel).
23[rd] Nov. Changes in the style of humour (Bill Moore)
25[th] Jan We held a quiz on local history .
22[nd] Feb . Dennis Morrison spoke on the history of the Panama Canal.
Mar 22[nd] . At very short notice Colin Urwin spoke on the differences between American and Irish folk stories, and tails of sailors from the Spanish Armada who landed on the Irish coast
26[th ] Apr Cathal Coyle spoke of the influence of 3 emigres from County Tyrone, John King, John Dunlop and Margaret Elizabeth Noble, on their adopted countries.
23[rd] Aug AGM. This was delayed from the original date because of the extra meeting, sickness and holiday commitments.
Society Accounts
These had a surplus of £214.81, mainly because; many of the speakers didn’t take any expenses,
no receipts were presented for refreshments, most communications were done on line, the costs of 2 meeting held after the end of the financial year are not included.
Membership
31 members + 17 guests.
Fees
It was agreed that fees would remain at the current level for the 2023-24 session.
Museum Finance
The museum account had a surplus of £3309, most of which was due to a donation of £3230, by Dr Tony Redmond.
Museum Plans
Work continues on the digitisation of the museum catalogue, and improvements in the layout. To date over 8000 items have been catalogued.
We still hope to get a grant of £1000 from the Mid and East Antrim Council, towards the cost of display cabinets we obtained from Cameron’s department store, but are looking for alternative sources for these funds.
We hope to use the funds we currently have to acquire museum quality cabinets to protect, and better display the museums more valuable items. Such cabinets are expensive, and at the moment no one will give us a price.
Poor weather this summer thwarted our plans to improve the video of the narrow-gauge railway, by including drone footage of the line.
The video of village life based on the memories of James McNeil is nearing completion.
David Morris (Chair of the History Society).