BANGOR HISTORICAL SOCIErY
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2025
CHARITY NUMBER- NIC 104010
Principal Address: 24 Killeen Drfve, Bangor BT19 IIZ

Contents
Pages
Cover and Contents
The SocietVs Trustees and Membership
The Societvs Purpose / Public and Private Benefits
Other Organisations / Administration
Output / achievements / artivities
Supporting Heritage / GDPR / Website /Publicity
Accounts
Public Benefit Guidance- Summary
Appendix A- Bangor Historical SocieVs Constitution
Appendix B - Audited Accounts of Bangor Historical Society
and Independent Examinerfs Report

or Hlstorlcal Socle
BHS
Annual Re
ort for the
ear endln
31
December 2025
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 2025.
Trustees
The Trustees / Committee members in 2025 were -
Robert McKinley
President
lan Wllson
Chalrman
Adrianne Brown
Honorary Treasurer
Dr. Sandra Millsopp
Trustee
Willlam Mcmullan
Trustee
BHS Trustees, Committee
The Committee met twice in 202S. The Socie￿5 financial position was considered
satisfactory. The need to replace both Secretary and Treasurer was considered as
both had served for thirteen years. Suggestions for talks were discussed and
approved. At all times the Committee was mindful that the Socievs activities
would generate 'public benefit, in line with the guidance published by The Charitv
Commission for Northern Ireland.
Membershl
On 31 December 202S the Society had 63 members compared with 62 in 2024,
drawn mainly from the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. Visitor
numbers had increased to 43 compared with 33 on 31 December 2024.

The Socle
5Pur
ose under Part 2 of its Constitution
(a) The study of and the encouragement of public interest in history. folklore.
archaeology. and antiquities with special reference to the local area.
(b) The holdin8 of lertures, visits and outings and encouragement of the study
of local history.
Pur
oses under The Charltles Act
Northern Ireland
2008
(a) The Advancement of EducatFon: and
(b) 'Heritage' under The Advancement of the Arts, Culture. Herita8e or Science.
Publlc and Prlvate 8eneflts
The Societvs activities at meetings, which are open to the public, directly benefit
its members and visitors who enjoy learning historical facts in a social
atmosphere. This provides cognitive stimulation a5 well as adding to lifelong
learning. Social interaction on these occasions may combat loneliness.
Beneficiaries also include speakers, guides and proprietors of historic buildings
and museums also coach companies and restaurants/cafes who may service the
Society's outings although these were not needed for the sole outing organized in
2025. Bangor Methodist Church benefited from rent for the Societls use of its
Wesley Hall for meetings at its Queen's Parade premises.
Insurance premiums, which the Society pays to The Federation for Ulster Local
Studies IFULS) to cover the Society's public liability, obviously benefit the insurers.
The annual membership fee of £50. payable to FULS, supports the work of that
body.
The Society may decide to support projects and events by donations which
promote or preserve local heritage- a benefit to the present and future. No
donations were made, however, in 2025.
Private benefits are incidental and necessary because the Society could not
function without services from the wider community.
The purposes of Bangor Historical Society 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
Artion (NICVA) which represents voluntary and community bodies throughout
Northern Ireland and has provided valuable advice to the Society in addition to
relevant training courses for its committee.
Contact is ongoing with FULS and NICVA to ensure that the Society is kept
informed of relevant matters and is represented on relevant training course5. In
2025 the Society'5 Treasurer attended an online webinar on Governan￿.
Admlnistration
The Society held 7 monthly meetings in 2025 from February to May and from
September to November (excluding the months of June to Au8USt and December
2025). The January 2025 meeting was cancelled due to adverse weather
conditions.
The Society acknowledges with thanks the excellent SUPPOrt given by the staff of
Bangor Methodist Church.
Constltutlon
A copy of the Socierfs Constltutlon is attached at Appendlx

Output and Achlevements - 2025
In accordance with the purposes of the Society as stated in its Constitution and
under the Charities Act {Northern Ireland) 2(K)8, the following is a summary of the
Society's Outputs and achievements in 2025.
Artlvities
In 2025 the Society held 7 monthly meetings from February to November at
8.00pm on the second Thursday of each month {excluding the months of June to
August and December). An outing was held on 14 August 2025.
Pro
ramme of Meetin
5 2025
Date
eoker
13 February
Robert Phipps
The Bangor to Belfvst Roilwoy
13 March
Ken Dawson
Somuel Neilson ond the Northern Star
10 April
Peter Vannuccl Trolley Buses in Belfast
8May
Freda Lemon
Treosures of Mount Stewart
11 September Allison Murphy The Men who Bulft the Tltonlc
9 October
Noel Russell
Holocoust.._ The Saved & the Spurned
13 November Stephen Cameron The Prlncess Vlrtoria Disaster
Outln
On 4 August 2025, members of Bangor Historical Society braved Storm Floris to
meet at Grey Point Fort at Helen's Bay. The Fort had been built about 1905 in
response to growing concern about the European situation. Along with its fellow
ft)rt in Kilroot, it was built to guard Belfast Lough and deter enemy shipping from
reaching Belfast. It fulfilled this role in both World Wars.
Abandoned in the 1950s, it was restored by the local Council in the 1980s and re-
opened on 9 May 1987. Members explored the on-site buildings then viewed the
two six-inch breech loading guns on their platform overlooking the Lough.

Su
ortin
Herits e-sertion 2
of the Charltles Art
Northern Ireland
2008
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 Protertion Re
ulation
GDPR
GDPR compliance is regularly monitored, and members are given copies of the
Society's Privacy Policy. On re8iStration, members advise the Society how they
wish to be contacted. Contact details of members (the minimum data needed)
were held solely by the Secretary and the Treasurer. The Secretary destroyed
his copy of membership records when he resigned.
Contact details are deleted when membership of the Society ceases.
The Socie
s Website - htt
www.ban
orhistoricalsocie
ni.or
Throughout 2025 the website was maintained by volunteers and requests
from researcher5 were answered.
Publicl
Each talk was reported by Trustee Dr. Sandra Millsopp and published in the
local newspaper 'The County Down Spertotor,, along with date and time of the
next meeting. Dr. Millsopp's reports also appear on the 5ocietVs website. This
publicizes the Society and attracts new members and visitors.

Accounts
Fees ex
ected b
eakers
Bangor Historical SocieVs revenue in 2025 came from an annual membership
subscription of £20 and a visitorfs fee of £4 up to May 2025. With effect from
11 September 2025, the visitorfs fee was set at £5 per meeting. These
increases reflected the higher fees now expected by speakers. No additional
funding was sou8ht or received.
The Sociews accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 have been
audited by Ellse Richardson, Chartered Accountsnt. 25 Ardnavana8h Avenue,
Conl1& Newtownards BT23 7XE.
Ms.Richardson also conducted an Independent Examinerfs Report for the
same period.
The Societvs Bankers are Santsnder. Brldle Road, Bootle L30 4GB.
The Societvs address is 24 Kllleen Drlve. Bangor BT19 ILZ.
See ￿endIX B for coples of accounts and related documents.

Publlc Benefit Guidance from the Chari
Commis51on for Northern Ireland
The Societvs Trustees were mindful of the guidance on the public benefit
requirement expected from Bangor Historical Society by The Charity
Commission for Northern Ireland, when plannin8 and making decisions in
2025. This means that the Society must serve the public interest by delivering
historical education and promoting heritage.
Bangor Historical Society is well supported by a core of some 50 -60 members
who renew their subscriptions annually and are regular attenders at meetings.
Good speakers are attracted to the meetings and attendees are obviously
learning for pleasure in a warm social atmosphere.
The large number of visitors who may attend only talks which interest them
indicates that the Society is fully open to the public and to non-members.
Thi5 is a measure of the success of Bangor Historical Society in benefiting the
public. Through newspaper publicity the Society continues to attract new
attendees from the wider public. This has boosted visitor numbers.
In co-operation with North Down Museum and The County Down Spectator,
the Society helps to keep both local historical issues at the forefront of public
interest and debate in this area.
The Society continued to promote the preservation of local heritage, which is
not only a gift for future 8enerations but also aids the local economy of this
area by attracting visitors.
In summary, the Trustees of Bangor Historical Society are confident that this
Society benefits both its membership, its visitors and the wider community in I
Ards and North Down Borough Council area.
ned:
Date:
2026
lan Wilsorf- Chalrman of Ban
or Historical Socle
roved b
remalnln
Trustees of Ban
or Historical Socie
email.

ARFIMD/X
Ppvised . 10 D•c 2015
CONSTITUTION OF BANGOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
l) Name
The kniety shall be called the Hlstorkal 5odety
2) Oblecis
al The study of and the encouragement of public interest in history. folklore. archeology and
antiquities with special reference to the local area.
bl The holding of lectures. visits and outings and the encouragement of the stuthi of loca1ffiistory.
3) Member5hlp
Membership will be open to any person supporting the objects ofthe Society and paying the annual
subscription. The annual subscription shall be decided by the committee and subject to approval of the
members at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. A membership card will be issued annually.
4) Presldent
As necessary, members shall appoint a President who will be a member of the Executive Committee.
The President may hold office for up to five years and may be rtrappointed. The President, or delegated
deputy. will take the chair for the election of the incoming Chairman. In the event of equality of voting
the President will have a casting vote.
5) Executlve Cammlttee
al At the Annual General Meeting of the Society the mernbers shall elect from its number, a Chairman.
a Vice-ChaiTrnan, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and up to seven other member5 to form an Executive
Committee. A person so elected shall commence his/her year of office immediately after election.
bl Subject to this Constitution the Executive Committee shall have the general control, direction and
management of the affairs. funds and records of the Society.
cl The Executive Cornmittee shall meet at least ￿l¢e in each year and the quorum for such meetin85
shall be the maiorrty of the Committee.
dl The Chairrnan at each executs.ve meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of equality of voting.
el If the need should arise the Executs"¥e Cornmittee shall have the power of ¢o-option.
6) Meetln8s of Members
a) The Annual General meeting of the Society shall be held at the last meetin8 of the session - normally
in April- or at such date, time and place as the Executive Committee by resolution determine.
bl The agenda of the Annual General Meeting shall tontain the following .
il Secretsrfs Report
ii) Treasurerfs Audited Report
iiil Election of the Executs've Committee
iv) Appointrnent of Auditor
vl Any other busine5$
cl Each member shall have one vote on each proposallmotion at any General Meeting of the S¢xiety,
except in voting at dertions vthen the Chairrnan shall have a casting vote in the event of equal
voting.
dl Notices of motions to be debated at the Annual General Meeting must arrive in writing with the
Secretsry at least fourteen days before the meeting.
el Special General Meetings of the Society. may be called by decision of the Executive Committee as
soon a5 may be after the receipt of a requisitlon in writin8 to the secretsry signed on behalf of Th)t
less than one third of the members. and stating the object of the meetin8. Any such meeting thus

evised . 10 Dec 2015
called must be notified in writing tt> the membership not less than fourteen days before the date of
the meeting.
The notite of a Special General Meeting shall stste the purpose for whith it is to be held and no
business. other than that Specified in the notite eonvening it rnay be dealt with.
7) Rnandal prO￿$10n$
al The financial year of the Society shall be I" January to 31" December.
bl All funds of the Society shall be kept in a recognised bank or building slxiety agreed by the Exetutive
Committee and all receipts and disbursements of the Society shall be recorded In the Treasurerfs
accounts. The accounts shall be kept in the name of the Society.
cl The Executive Committee shall have power to administer such fvnds.
dl The accounts of the Society shall be audited annually by the Auditor appointed by the rnembers at
the Annual General Meeting.
8) Interpretsllon and Procedures
In all matters of procedure and interpretstion of this constitution the decision of the Chairman shall be
flnal.
9) Amendment
The Constitution of the S(Kiety may only be amended by a resolution carried by not less than two thirds
of the votes glven thereon at an Annual General Meetin8 or Special General Meeting of the Society,
provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writin8 to each member of the
Society at least fourteen days before the meeting.
10) Afflllatlons
The Society may affiliate with the Federation for Ulster Local Studies or such other body the membership
of which would be deemed to be in the best interests of the Society. However, any such affiliation shall
require the prior approval of the members at an Annual Genernl Meeting or Special General Meeting
called for the purpose.
11) Mlscellaneous
al Any object or document given to the Society for safekeeping or otherwise shall remain the property
of the owner unless otherwise decreed by himTher in Writing and s￿ned in the presence of
independent witnesses.
bl A copy of this Constitution, together with any amendments thereto, shall be delivered free of charge
to any member of the Society on requesL
cl The society may be dissolved by the consent of three fourths of the votes given thereon at a special
General Meeting called for the purpose, of which twentyoight days notice has been given in writing.
dl If on dissolution of the Society there remains. after the satisfartion of all its debts and liabilities, any
a55ets whatsoever Such assets shall not be kept •mon8 its members but sh411 be given or transferred
to such other charity or charities havin8 objects similar to the Society as the Committee may decide.
Signed -.
((1. )
Date:
lo

ArrrMD/¥ B
Bangor Hlstorlcal Soclety
Accounts
For the year ended 3tst December 2025
Charities No. 104010

Bangor Hlstorlcal Society
Independent Examiner's Report
For the year ended 31st December 2025
Indendent Examlnerfs Re
rt to the Tru5W ofThe Ba
or Hlstorl¢al Sode
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st De￿fflber 2025, which are set out on
pages I to 6.
Res
Ive Res
nslbllltles of cha
trustee5 and examiner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity'5
trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 65121 of the Charities Act
(Northern Ireland) 2CQ8 and that an independent examination is needed. The charity is preparing
accrual accounts and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of
Chartered Accountants Ireland. It is my responsibility to=
examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act INI) 2LN)8
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commi$5ion
for Northern Ireland under5ertion 65{9llbl of the Charities Act
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basls of Inde
ndent examiner's re
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Chartties Act and
my examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the general Directions given by the Charity
Commission for Northern Ireland.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison
of the accounts presented with those record5. It also included consideration of any unusual items
or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you a5 charity trustees conceming
any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit
and consequently no opinion is given a5 to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view,
and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next Statement.
Inde
ndent exarniner'5 5tstement
In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention=
111 which 8ives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respert the requirements..
- to keep accounting retords in accordan￿ with section 386 of the Companies Act 2(X)6 and
section 44llllal of the 2IX)5 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting ￿OrdS. compty with the
accounting requirements of the Companies Art 2C#)6 and sertion 44llllbl of the 2005 Art
and Regulation 8 of the 2C(16 Accounts Regulation5 and
- which are consistent with the methods and principles of the SORP: Accountin8 and Reporting
by Charities.
have not been met or
121 to which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper under-
5tandin8 of the accounts to be reached.
Name:
Qualification=
Addre55:
Date:
Elise Richardson
Chartered Accountant IFCAI- Membership No. 09c0743
25 Ardvanagh Avenue. Conli& Nevrtownards, BT23 7XE
4th May 2026

Bangor Hlstorical Society
ststement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31st December 2025
Unrestricted
Fund5
2025
Unrestricted
Fund5
2024
Notes to
The Accounts
Income
Members Account
Subscriptions
Visitors
Bank interest received
Donations
1.260
1,235
119
18
20
13
Totsl Income
1.473
1.372
Ex
enditure
Speakers Fees
Venue Rentsl
Caretaker
Federation Membership
Insurance: Public Liabilsty
Charitable Donation
Secretary's Expenses
Treasurer's Expenses
Independent Examinerfs Fee
Bank charges
455
210
i(M)
355
50
56
150
iio
24
150
74
ioi
Iso
Totsl Expendlture
1.185
1,125
Net Surplu5/Deficlt In fvnds
247
Reconclllatlon of fund5
Total funds brought foThvard
Total funds carried f0Th4ard
6,041
6,329
5,794
6.041

Bangor Hlstorical Society
Statement of Financial Position
As at 31st December 2025
Unrestricted
Funds
2025
Unrestrirted
Funds
2024
Current Assets
Current Account
Savings Account
Cash in hand
4,442
1.974
4,174
1,954
6,416
6,131
Current Llabllltles
Creditor5
90
Net CurrertAssets
6.326
6,041
Long term Ilabllltles
Net Current Assets
6.326
6.041
Funds of the chorfty
Unrestricted fund5
6.329
6.041
6.329
6,041
These accounts were submitted in draft to the committee who approved them per emailed
replies to the treasurer.
Slgned bv:
Trtwr•r
Print Name=
lan Wilson
Adrianne Brown
Date-.

Bangor Hlstorlcal Society
Notes to the Accounts
For the year ended 3tst December 2025
Accountl PoliTcles
ststement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and
Reporting by Charities= Statement of Recommended Prartice applicable to charities preparing
their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and
Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffective l January 20161- (Charities SORP IFRS 10211. the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the
Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Basls ot preparation
The accounts are prepared under the historical costs convention on an accruals basis.
Exemptlon from preparing a cash flow statement
The charity opted to eady adopt Bulletin I published on 2 Februory 2016 and have therefore
not included a cash flow statement in these financial staternents.
Revenue reco8nltlon
Revenue is recognised upon receipt and the main activities of the society include:
Subscriptions. ticket sales for member's evenin8 and bus outing5} Icurrently suspended
Nature and purpose of Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for general purposes in accordance with the the charity's purposes.
There are no restricted funds or endowments.
GolnE concern
The Trustees consider that there a￿ no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to Continue
as a going concern.
Taxatlon
The charity is a re8lStered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
Trustee remuneration, beneffts and expenses
No trustees are paid any remuneration or receive any other benefits from the charity. Expenses
are only paid to refund expenditure in relation to charity business.

Bangor Hlstorlcal Soclety
Notes to the Accounts
For the year ended 31st December 2025
Treasurer's Note5 to the Accounts
I Subscriptions- 63 members @ £20 per head - £1.260. The £20 annual membership remained
at the same rate throughout the year.
2 Visitors. fees- 35 vi5itor5 @ £4 per head = £140 plus 8 visitor5 @ £5 per head= £40. Total for
the year= £180. The £3 visitorfs fee increased to £5 frorn Ilth September 2025.
(Jvo meeting wgs held irtjonuory 2025. No subscript￿n5 orwsitors'ftes colle¢tedot the meeting on
11 September2025 due to the ubsen¢e of the Treosurerj
3 Members kindly made small anonymous donations at meetings.
4 The speakerfs fee was standardized at £75 per meeting from Ilth September 2025. Fees in 2025
were £455 compared with £355 in 2024.
5 BHS paid rent of £210 to The Methodist Church for 7 meetin85 at The Wesley Hall in former
Queen's Parade Methodist Church up to May 25. A further 3 meetings are owed at the year
end and accrued for. The venue rental remains at £30 per meeting.
6 Payment of £lIXI was made to the ca￿taker of The Wesley Hall venue for his support at meetings.
7 No charitable donations were made to support heritage projects in 2025.
8 Secretary's expenses include administration costs for production of pro8rammes for visitors.
photocopying and other general costs in Connection with the society-
9 Treasurer's expenses include administration costs for posta8e. photocopyin& ststionery and
other general tosts in connection with the society.
Adrianne L Brown
Hon. Treasurer
30th April 2026