BANGOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023
CHARITY NUMBER- NI 104010
Principal Address: 28 Ballyholme Esplanade, Bangor, County Down BT20 5LZ

Contents
Pages
Cover and Contents
The Societvs Trustees and Membership
The Societvs Purpose / Public and Private Benefits
Other Organisations / Administration
Outputs / achievements / activities
Supporting Heritage / GDPR / Website /Publicity
Accounts
Public Benefit Guidance-summary
Signatures of Trustees
10
Appendix A- Bangor Historical Societvs Constitution
Appendix B- Audited Accounts of Bangor Historical Society
and Independent Examinerfs Report

Bangor Historical Society (BHS)
Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2023
The Trustees of Bangor Historical Society are pleased to submit to The Charity
Commission for Northern Ireland its Report and Accounts, including a Report by
an Independent Examiner, for the period l January to 31 December 2023.
Trustees
The Trustees / Committee members in 2023 were-
Robert McKinley
President
lan Wilson
Chairman
Ronald Mcclements
Honorary Setretary
Adrianne Brown
Honorary Treasurer
Dr. Sandra Millsopp
Trustee
William Mcmullan
Trustee
BHS Trustees, Committee
The Committee met twice during the year. It discussed the Societvs financial
status, approved speakers and themes for meetings and considered heritage
projects for possible support. The Committee's aim was to ensure that the
Society's activitie5 and achievements would generate 'public benefit, in line with
the guidance published by The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Membershi
On 31 December 2023 the Society had 66 members drawn mainly from the Ards
and North Down Borough Council area. Visitor numbers however were only 66
compared with 203 on 31 December 2022.

The Socie
spur
ose
The Societvs objectives, as set out in Part 2 of its constitution are-
(a) The study of and the encouragement of public interest in historyi folklore,
archaeology, and antiquities with special reference to the local area.
(b) The holding of lectures, visits and outings and the encouragement of the
study of local history.
Purposes under The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008
(a) The Advancement of Education; and
(b) 'Heritage' under The Advancement of the Arts, Culture, Heritage or Science.
Public and Private Benefits
The Society's activities directly benefit its members and visitors. Attendees at
meetings and outings enjoy learning interesting historical facts in a social
atmosphere. As well as contributing to lifelong learning, the social interaction on
these occasions is particularly helpful in combatting loneliness.
Beneficiaries also include speakers and the guides and proprietors of historic
buildings and museums also coach companies and restaurants/cafes who service
the Society's outings although these were not used in 2023, Queen's Parade
Methodist Church benefited from rent for the Society's Use of its Wesley Hall.
Insurance premiums, which the Society pays to The Federation for Ulster Local
Studies to cover the Society's public liability, obviously benefit the insurers.
The Society may decide to support projects and events which promote or
preserve local heritage- a benefit to the present and future community in
addition to supporting the tourist trade.
These private benefits are incidental and necessary because the Society could not
function without these services from the wider community.
The Societls purposes do not lead to any harm.

Membershi
of other or
anisations
The Society is a member of the Federation for Ulster Local Studies Ltd {FULS)
which promotes communication and co-operation between local historical
societies and with similar bodies. The Federation's magazine 'Due North, also
provides informative papers on historical subjects.
Through FULS the Society insures its members by a Public Liability Insurance
Scheme.
The Society is also a member of The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary
Action (NICVA) which represents voluntary and community bodies throughout
Northern Ireland and has provided valuable advice to the Society.
Contact is ongoing with FULS and NICVA to ensure that the Society is kept
informed of relevant matters and offered relevant training courses. In 2023 the
Society's Treasurer attended an online webinar on Trustee Annual Reporting.
Administration
The Society held 7 monthly meetings in 2023 from January to April and
September to December, excluding March, when the meeting was cancelled due
to a severe snowstorm.
The Society acknowledges with thanks the excellent support given by the staff of
Queen's Parade Methodist Church, Bangor where meetings were held using the
excellent facilities of its Wesley Hall,
Constitution
A copy of the SocietVs Constitution is attached at Appendix A.

Outputs and Achievements - 2023
In accordance with the purposes of the Society as stated in its Constitution and
under the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the following is a summary of the
Society's outputs and achievements in 2023.
Activities
In the calendar year 2023 the Society held 7 monthly meetings from January to
December at 8.00pm on the second Thursday of each month (excluding March).
Pro
ramme of Meetin
Date
eaker
12 January
Peter Vannucci
The County Down Railway
9 February
Mercia Flanagan
C.S.Lewis
13 April
John Martin
Andrew Bryson of the Cotton
14 September Jennifer O'Leary
The Padre
12 October
Alister McReynolds
Captain Jack Crawford
9 November
Peter Forbes
Lt.Col.'Paddy' Blair Mayne
Sir James Hamilton and the Raven Maps
14 December
Leanne Briggs
Outin
Two guided walks were held this year. On 17 June members were conducted
around sites of historic interest in Helen's Bay by Robin Masefield (author and
historian). The village of Groomsport wa5 explored on 28 October with guidance
from Peter Gibson of the heritage group 'Discover Groomsport,.

ortin
Herita
e-section 2
of the Charities Act
Northern Ireland
2008
The Society donated £500 to the Bangor based charity 'Open House, which
aims to regenerate this city and preserve its heritage.
The sum of £100 was given to 'Discover Groomsport,, a charity which
promotes the rich history and heritage of this village.
The Society was represented at Heritage Cluster Group meetings organized by
the Heritage Development Officer at North Down Museum for groups
promoting heritage in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area.
General Data Protection Re
ulation
GDPR
GDPR compliance is regularly monitored, and members presented with copies
of the Society's Privacy Policy. On registration members advise the Society
how they wish to be contacted. Details of members (the minimum needed)
are held by the Secretary and the Treasurer alone. Lists of members, contact
details are destroyed when they cease to renew membership.
The Socie
s Website - htt
www.ban
orhistoricalsociet
ni.or
Throughout 2023 the website was maintained by volunteers and requests
from researchers were received and dealt with appropriately.
Publici
Each talk was reported by Trustee Dr. Sandra Mi1150pp and published in the
local newspaper 'The County Down Spectator,, along with date and time of the
next meeting. Dr. Millsopp's reports also appear on the Societvs website.

Accounts
Bangor Historical Society's revenue in 2023 came from an annual membership
subscription of £15 and visitor's fee of £3. No additional funding was sought
or received.
The Society's accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 have been
audited by Elise Richardson, Chartered Accountant, 25 Ardnavanagh Avenue,
Conlig, Newtownards BT23 7XE.
Ms Richardson also conducted an Independent Examinerfs Report for the
same period.
The Society's Bankers are Santander, Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4GB.
The Societ¢s address is 28 Ballyholme Esplanade, Bangor, County Down
BT20 5LZ
endix B for copies of accounts and related documents.

Public Benefit Guidance from the Chari
Commission for Northern Ireland
The Societ¢s Trustees bore in mind The Charity Commission for Northern
Ireland'5 guidance on the public benefit requirement when planning and
decision making throughout 2023.
Bangor Historical Society is well supported by its membership, the majority of
whom renew their subscriptions annually which suggests that they.derive
benefit from it. They always show warm appreciation of the excellent talks
provided and often express delight at having learned something new from a
speaker. They also clearly enjoy social interaction with fellow history
enthusiasts. Although suggestions may be made to trustees by members,
complaints are very rare and of a minor nature.
In co-operation with North Down Museum and The County Down Spectator,
the Societ¢s activities help to keep both local and wider historical subjects at
the forefront of public interest and debate in this area.
The Society continued to promote the preservation of heritage which aids the
regeneration of this area through attracting visitors.
In summary, the Trustees of Bangor Historical Society are confident that this
Society provides public benefit both to its membership and the wider
community in Ards and North Down.
ned below b Trustees of Ban
or Historical Socie
Date: 10 October 2024

Trustees of Ban
or Historical Socie
2023
Robert McKinley- President
lan Wilson- Chairman
Ronald McClements- Honorary Secretary
LU
Adrianne Brown- Honorary Tréasurer
Dr. Sandra Millsopp- Trustee
William McMullan-Trustee
10 October 2024
10

APPENOIX A
R•vts•d . 10 D•c 2015
CONSTITUTION OF 8ANGOR HISTORIC4L SOCIErY
1> Name
The Soclety shall be callvd th• Ban8or Hlstorkal Sodety
21 Ob5•cts
al The styjdy of ond the encouragement of public int£re5t In hlrtory. folklore, archaeolm and
antlquitie5 vAth spedal relerence to the loc•1 am.
b) The holdlng of lectures, vlslts and outlrbgs and the encourng•ment of th• rtudy of loc81 htstory.
3) Memb4rshlp
Membershlp wlll be open to any person supportlng the obJ•cts of the kniety and paying tho annuat
subsrylptlon. The anThua4 subserlption shall be dedded by the ¢ommitteÉ •fid subJ•¢t to aPPToval ofthe
membeT5 at the Annual General Meeting of the Soc4ety. A membership ord will be issued ¥nnuallv.
4) Pr•sldent
As nIce￿ary0 memb•rs shall appaint a Prosldent who will be a member of the Executlve Commlttée.
The President may hold offlct for up to tlvt years and may b• rlknappolnted. Tho Pr￿Ident, or delwtsd
deputy, wlll take the ¢halr forthe el•ction of thè incomin8 Chaiiman. In th• went ot equalty of vtiti
the Presldent wlil have a castlng vot
5) Ex•￿i￿e Cthnmlits•
a) At the Annual General Meetln8 of the Sodety the members shall elect Irrjm Its numbor, a Ch4lrnwn,
a VlcfrCh4lrTr*n, a Se¢ratary, a Treasurer, •tsd up to Jev•n oth•r members to forrn an Exttutive
Commlttée. A pèrson so eléetad shall commence hlsjher ye•r of offlte lrnmedlatsly after electkjn.
b) Subject to thls Constltutlon the Executlve Commlttee shall hav• the &•ner•l control, dlrectlon and
managem•nt of the 4ffatrs, funds and records ol the Sodety.
c) The Exacutlve Ccvnmltt•• ghall megt at l•ast tw1¢¢ In e8ch year and the quorum fof such meqtkngs
shall be the rnajorlty of the Commltt¢¢.
d) The Chairman it each ex•cutlve meetlnK shall have a castlnf vots.ln the event of equallty of votlns.
e) If th• n••d should arls• the Ex•cutlv• Committ•• shall have the power of c4H)ption.
6} M••th)8s of M•mbffs
a) The Annual Genornl m••ttng of the Socl•ty shall be held at thè last meetlng of the gusion - nomwlly
In A wll- or at such d•ty tlme and placè as the Executlve Commfftee by resolutlon detennlne.
b) The agenda of the Annu41 Gener•1 Meetln8 shall contain th• followlng .
l) Secretsrfs Report
11) Treasurerfs Audlted Report
1111 Electlon of the Exa¢utlve Commlttté
Iv} Appointrn￿t of Auditor
vl Afty oth•r buslness
c) Each member shall hav• one vote on each proposal/motlon 8t an¥ General Meetlni of the Society,
except In voting at elethns when the Chalrman shall have 8 eastlng vote In the event of tyual
¥oting,
d) Notlces of motlon5 to be debatsd at the Annual Genéral Meetlns must •rrlve In wrlting wlth the
S&retsry at least fourte•n da￿ befrye the meth'ng.
e} Spttial General Meetin85 of the Society, may be called by dedsbon af the ExeCU￿ve Commltittas
scon Js may be ift•rth• recelpt of a roquisitlon In writlng t¢ the secretsry signed on behalf of not
less than one thlrd of th• mernber>, Ind itatin6 th• object of the me*tln8. Any sudb meetlng th

R•vls•d . 10 D•¢ 2015
called must be notifted In vrftltlng to th• m•rnb•rship not les5 th•n fpurte•n days beftsrp the dats of
the m0etin&
l The notlce ola 5pxia) Gen8r31 Meetlng shal statè the purpose tor whleh.rt b to be held and no
buslnw, other than that spechled In tha notl¢econvenlng I may be dealt wlth.
7) Anandd Pl0￿$10n5
a) The flnanclal y¢ar of the ￿lety shall be I"January to 31X Pec•mber.
b) AJI funds of the Socl*ty shall b• kvt in a recc£nised bank.or bulldlh8soclety a8t*e# bythv £x
Cornrnrtteè and all recelpts and dlsburmments of the Soclety shall be recorded In the Treasurerfs
attounts. The actouftts sh•ll be kapt in the narne of the Sodety.
¢) The Exeeutlve Commlttee shall have power to adrnlnister such funds.
d) The accounts of the Soclety shall be avdlted annually by the Audltor appoliited by th• rnthTrbéts at
triv Ail nuai General Meetln8.
8) Intwpr•t•Uon and Proradur•s
In all matters of pro¢•dure and Interprntatlon of thts eAngtltution th• declsk>n of the Chalmian Shall b•
fin81.
9) Affléndmffit
The'conthution'of thÈ'io¢l¥ty'may only'be amended by è resolutlon Girried by not1*$5 than'two thlrds
olthe VDtsJ glven th•rqon at In Annual G•neRI Meetlng tv Speeiil Gen•rnl fvleeting of the Soclety,
provlded that notlte of the woposad amendment has b•on glven In wrltln8 ts •aeh member of th•
Soclety at fpurteen days before thq me•tln8.
10) Afflv•tt￿S
The Soclety may affi￿te wlth the F•derakn lor Ulst•r Studles or such other body the rnembershlp
of whlth would be deemed to be In th• b•st Intsrfjsts of the Sodety. HOV￿Ver, any su¢h affillatlon shall
r•qulre the prfor approval of thé members it an Annual Genernl Me•tlng or Sp•clal G•neral M•etln8
¢4Ued for th• purp059.
11) Mlx•Nanoou$
a) Any obJ•ct or d0￿mantS1v£n to thè knié)i Ivr ¥tsfaeeplni or o¢tièfwiS¥ >lbail reirfialn th• property
olthe own•r unless otherwlse decreed by himlher In writing and siqned In the pres*n¢• of
ind￿•ndeTht witnesses.
b) A copy of this Constltutlon, logether wlth any amendments thereto, sham be dellver¢d fre• of charge
to any member of the Sodety on request.
¢) Tre S(kl•ty rnay bei dissolved by the consent of th¥Ee fourths uf ghé vot*$ given thtl'6M ar gibsi•ci•l
GeneMI Meedng called for the PUfPOS¢, of whlch ￿enty*eIght days notk• has bo•n glvén In writing.
d) If ¢)n dlssolutlon of th• ￿tty th•re Temalns, after the satlsfartion of all Its debts and liabllltbes, any
assets ￿atsOever 4sspts shall not be kept 4rn0ng its members but shall be glven or transferred
to such pther charlty or tharltl•s havlw objects 5ifflilar to the Soclety as the Committee may declde.
Slgned ..
lo