The Edinburgh Society of Organists
Scottish Charity Number SC013728
Annual Report of the Trustees and Accounts
for the financial year from 1 St April 2024 to 31st March 2025

The Edinburgh Society of Organists
Trustees, Annual Report
Tru%tccs durinff thc i'c1r 41nd tf> d1< tc-
Charitable Puryose
The Edinburgh Society of Organisls (the "LSO",) was established as an unincorporated
association in 1913. Its principal aim is thc advancement of education in music. with particular
emphasis on liturgical and organ music. Thc obj¢ctiv¢s aiid adininislralive arrangements of thc
Society are sei out in its Constiiution.
Management of the Society
The Trustees of the Society are the President. the Secreiarv and the Treasurer. The Trustees
delegate the routine management ot" the Society 10 a Council consisting) of the Presidenl. Ihe
Vice President. the retiring Presideni during an ex-orricio J'eaT of membcr8hip of the Council.
the Secretary, the Treasurer. Ihe Membership Secretary. the Edilor and at least SIX iqnd no mnre
than nine ordinar). rnembers. elected from the Society's own membership. The election is
pcrfomicd at the Ai]nual Geiieral Mccliii& whiLli takes place in May.
Turcan Connell lodged the application for ￿olUntary Registration of Hollins House M'ith
Regi8ters of Scotland prior to ihe deadline (3151 March 2014). The application 18 now being
processed prior to the Title Sheet being issued by them. The President is in contacl JA'ith
Rcgistcrs of Scotland to advise them of the change of Trustccs following last Year's AGM.

'I'he l)resident serves for two years after which the Vice President autornaticall) assumes the
role of Presidenl. All other 0￿1ce-bearerS hold ofifice for one N'ear and are eligible for re-
election. Ordinary Council mernbers serve for three years and are eligible for re-election onl).
after nne year has lapsed. Members of the C ouncil receive no remuneration.
AITiliation
The ISO is affiliatcd to boih thc InLorw)ration of Organists (thc "IAO") t￿d thc Scottish
Fed¥"iatioii oforg<uiisls (IhL "SFO"). An <llul￿1 capil41liun f¢¢ is P¢iiJ by ilie SoLi¢l)' iii r¢sEKCi
of its affilialion io the IAO. 'fwo members of the Society represenl the Sociery at ihe SFO
committee meetings.
202.1-2024 Ej'ents and Achievemen
The E.SO has enjoyed a successtul year of varied. interesting and eclectic evenis over the
20241?5 session. Attendances have. as usual. tluctuated. It has tacilitaled several events
desi&7ned to promoie an understanding ot- pl￿ organs. of orgian music, of compose￿, of organ
improvisation and an organ rnasterclass for young players.
Saturday 20 Aprll 2024- Visit to the Kendal Area
Around a dn7.en members and friends visited three churches (and four orgyans). being? Si Peler's
ChurLh, l.leversham' St (ieorgie s Church. Kendal and kL'iidal Parish Church. The trip was
mcliculously orgvaniscd and car¢ti
. ￿ArchItcCIuraj aiid historical
nulcs w¢r¢ kindly siipplied by
Il gi-¥(Il IiiiiL' Iwas had by illl ivith lh¢
oprA)rtuniiies io catch up ￿1th old IriillLb LL, iiiak"e new ones. E'veryone who wished to pla),
V¥'as able to do so.
Tuesda) 14th May 2024 - ESO AGM and recital
Twenty four memlrrs of the EOS (out of a total of iwo hundred and tweli'e members) attended
the meetlng. 11 would ￿ very encouraging if more members atlended given that the dale is
announled roug7hly onL year bLfore the event. Tl)I' TIILLtiii¢i r'iii smooihly and efficiently. there
bcing no conlcntious or problcmatic issucs.
al'c an cxciting and colourful
pci'loniiaiii¢ oil Ili¢ urgy(111 I11.%l<ill¢d in ?007 b) ,IIiiiiliL Oibi<in D¢5ign with PiLLLb b)
Simon Prcston. Francois Couperin and Messiaen.
Thursday 15tb August 2024 - Composing Sacred Music - Canongate Kirk
This was part of the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts. featuring a competition for voung
composers of sacred music, 'fhe compeiiiio
(ius grants including one frorn
the F,SQ. The principal adjudicalnr
'he gave a short Addre88 nn
compo%ing sacred mu%iL. Six clii>i':Il i()n)posiiions were e¥pertly sung bv a small choir of
singiers conduLtcd b).
I'hL firs1 prizc was aw'ardcd to Jonathan Loi'c's "An
Art of Poctry"
.Iiicl) Ili¥ Llivil vl Uld bi I'auls ￿]g iii OLlvber &)d il]e Ediiiburgh Univcrsit).
SingLrs in a Loncert in Noi'Lmbcr.
Saturdav 71h September 2024 - Southside Organ Tour
We started off the 20?4-?025 s) Ilabus ivith a Trisit to three instruments of the Tollcross area of
the city - Central Hall. Tollcross: St Michael and All Saints. Tollcross and Barclay Viewforth
Church. CJille8pie Place. Fa%cinaling as organs often are, often Ihe buildings thern.selves are
worth a visit in their own right and that was the case here with three strikingvly differenl venues.

Saturday 5th October 2024- Broughton Sl Mary's Church - Church Music Scotland
Around twenty tive members gathered in the Garden R(x)rn at BroubThton St Marv's l() heal.
firsl-hoiiil thc lalL%I IlLNiS Jboul the ncwlv fornicd group. Church Music Scotland.
()unders of this new Coinniunity Intcrest Conipany. gavL" us (I
Ihorvugli thid dLliiilLd pi'LsLnlalion which ihen flo￿ed inio a mosi infom]alive quesiion and
answer session.
Friday 291h & Saturdav 301h Novernber 2024- C V Stanford Lecture and RecitAI
2024 being the centenary ot" thL dLc Ih ()t' %ir L'IILirlLs Villiers Sianford we were t"ortunate to be
able to arrange a visit from ￿lI11￿L¥ Head of Music at Durham University
and Ll leadinsj authority on Stsntord. His book on Stanford. now inlo its second edilion, with
much new material, is highl). recommended. Friday evening was devoted to the coniposer's
lifc and somc of thc "othcr" works. V*hilc Stsnford's chiirch 1nd orgian music (mosi fumiliar to
m<iny of us) was deali with on ihe Saiurday. wilh ￿laYIng the organ.
SAturdAy 18¢1 .lanuary 2025 - Presi<lent's Mteting
Atter one or two disappointing?ly small anendanLes at some ei'enis this season. it was
heartening) to see a gyoodly crowd at the President's meeting. The venue was the splendid. Reid
Memorial Church ki IILI'L ()Lir l)I'LsidLnt. is oruFani%l. l-IIL L'v'eni look the torm of a son¥J reLiial
by Incal baritone
'Lnmpanied by
)n ihe church'8 very fine Rushworth
& Dreaper orgTan ot. IYi2.
Friday 14th February 2025- ESO Recital and dinner
Th¢ LSO dinner was prcLcd¢d b
'i M<lry'S EpisLOPiil C<iili¢dral. This ycar wc w¢rc
p£iniLul¢￿lY forlunale to have
s ihe gFuesi recitalisi. The pro&?ramme inLlud¢d
Bach's Passacaglia in C rninor., Whiil(ILk's Fantare and Saint-Saens Tr'antaisie in E flat and
ending with Dupre s Prelude and Fugue in B major. Dinner was held again at the Scottish Arts
Club wherL'
t"tL'rwards reminded us that most organists have manl. anecdotes and treating
us to some ot'his to().
Ih
Saturday 15 March 2025 - Canongate Kirk - 'I'he Chapel Royal and the music of
Scotland's Reformation
This prcscntalion was gyivcn b
vlio is presei)Ily workingj on a PhD on this topic.
'(Il illusiriiliuns were proi'idLd b! ihL r.dinburbh Universiiy Rcnai&sdnce singpL￿ ivhiLII
Condu￿5.
t-tered new insights into the work ol. tlie L hapel Roval both at Stirling
and at Hol)'rood Palace which King James IV had beg?un to enlarge in the earlv 1500s.
SFO
I have attended variou8 SFO Council meeting% b! 7onm during the year. The SFO'S Annual
C.nnlerence was held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on 281h and 291h April 2023. Althoiigh
I did nol attend l understand that one or two of our members did. Menibers can access their
wcbpabyc://sdso.co.ukl if they wish to bc kepl updatcd.
Console
l am ver) graieful i()
for supervising and co-ordinating so effeciively.
enthusiastically and to suc
a high siandard the production ot Console over the past }ear. Many
have commented upon the ￿.]de variety of illuminating articles and the broad range of
submissions for inclusion. I know frorn comments which have been received that li is greatly
apprecialed bv our memhership and ihose hevond. It ha% been acknowledgLd ag One ot.the best
produced by any UK Organists, association. Members can no￿. choose to ieceiwe Console

online iherebv beg)inninby to reduce the cost of printing and postaLFe. Durino the year the font
has been changied to Arial hopet.ully improving the clarit), of iext.
Website
"oiitinucs lo maintaiii th¢ website and iinie()ii%l) kceps thc cvcnts UExlatcd oncc
hL has tK'L'n iiotiftied ot- them. l ivould like to th(In￿Or quicily workii)g dwdy iii lh¢
backg)round on this. If you know ol. any forthcominLJ fLLiials which may be of interesi, do
contact
irect. Members are encouraged to look ai the website including Meetings and
Events. Recital Diary. Publication. Orgians for Sale and Vacancies.
MembL'fship
Oiir Membership Secretan,
hic s had a panicu11c rly bu8): year fnllowingy nn from
last year's ACJlkl when it %Lgll'w¥d ii) iiiif¥ase the annual subscripiion from £1 ? to £?5. it
haNing rcrnainLd thc samc tor many ycars. Up io that point mLmbcrs had bccn payinby by a
I'iiricly. uf llie<iIlS <llid <ii dirr¢rei)I liines ihrougil)oui lh¢ y¢ar
n)diiily b). sltii]ding¥ ora¢rs tlial
had been unchangied tor rnany years. In order to simplity the transiiion to the neiv rates. wc
introduced payment ot" subscription by direct debit. "I'he response trom membership was
ovensheliningly TX)Sitii'e, to the exient that within a couple of w¢eks 8￿/0 (145) of the
membership had sigined up by direLt debit. 26 members wished to continue to pay by standing
ordLr. but all standing arder.s have bL*"n upddted dnd now align to the I 51 nLtober due date. Il:
any niLmber has not VLII sibined up tu pa>'inbi bv direct debit. I would enLourage tliem to do so
by contacting ihL' MLmbcrihip Sccr¢tary. who would bL' happv to makc the arrangements for
)'ou. This h4lb b¢¢n a r¢s1)Iin,.lini' SULcess. Nlanv lhi￿kS Iu illl m¢inb¢rb V¥'ho hdV¢ Ill&idc iliis
possible and of"course i,.
lor all his hard and d i IiLieni w()rk.
A history of the F.4iO - A b'ellowship of C)rganigts
Some years agFO
sliited her intention to wrilL a history of the ESO. The book has now
been published with the ESO paying the costs.
as succeeded in creatingi an engiagingylv
ritten bank cnvering over a cenliirv ot" history in a manner which is never dull and contains
sorne fasLinaiin< photOb?raphs Irom various decades. li has now been published in a 8ood
quality hardback fornial and is frcc lo LSO mcrnbcr-
li can be obtained by attending some
ESO mcclings (It wliiLh it is availablc or coiila¢lii] >
irccl or mciiibcrs ot'thc ESO
Council.
ESO RecordslAr¢hives
Following the publication of "A hislorv of the ESO" refe￿ed to above, the E'SO
Record&'Archives are noiv Siored in Reid Memorial Church with the exception of some
"working" tiles which are presently held by the Secretary and also Turcan Connell.
Legacy: A legiacy o1-£75U was receivL'd trom the late Mrs Elizdlxth M Wells" Estate.
Summury
The ESO Council is thanked for their hard work over the past year as well the encoiitagernent
they have gii'en me in m}. third year as Honorary. F.SO secretary.. In conclusion. I believe M'e
haie h¢qd another suecesstul vear. ￿'1th ihL breadih of events. welcoming ne￿. members
(including youn&ver onL's) to our Society. making &irants tobTether with spcnding incurred to
cnablc thc ESO history book to be published. which are all core aims of ihc ESO as a charitablc
body.

Financing
The Societv maintains three reserves for specific purposes. all of ￿rhich are unrestricted funds.
Thc Gcncral Reserve supFx)rts the ordinary activities of the Societv and is funded by
subscripiions. doiiatioiis and iiiterest earn¢d on bank deposits.
The Hnllins House Reserve i.s intended to rneet any capital expenditure arising from Hollins
House, a property that m.as bequeaihed io ihe Society in 1946 by Dr Alfred Hollins. The tlal ig
cu￿entlY let. New lettin&y agents, D J Alcxander, were appointed in Augvust 20?3. A new
tcnancy is in placL' W'ith lTr￿ rent bcingj £1.900 pcr month and thc Ictting¥ a&>cnts prcparing) an
annual in5￿Cl10n report. Urgenl works comprising (OnL) a full rctuibishnieni ol" Ihe bdilirc)vni
(£8.374.?3) and (Two) upgrading Ihe separaie internal shower room {£2.186.92) were carried
out to Hollins House in January. In addition. certain electrical works which had been disclosed
being essential t"olloM'ing an electricity safety inspection report have also been compleied.
The Speclal Purpose5 Fund is used io undertake any actii'ilies ihat could not be urdindrily
finanLYd trom rnembers. subscripiions. Durinby the )'ear the fund a￿"arded grants and concen
sponsorship consislent with the Constitution ot'ihe Societv. including (()ne) a grant ot"£30U to
a young ESO membei for the attendance al the St Andrews, orgyan week: (Two) a grant of £500
to the Herrick Bunne), Nlemorial Recital ai St Cjiles, Cathedral; (Th￿e1 a grant of £?.600 to Si
Mary's Music 8chnnl towards the cosl of repairingi ihe sch(Y)l % Peler Collins Houge nrgan at
the school and (Four) a grant of £1.500 to Echo Vocal Ensemble to enable them to perforni at
St Giles, Cathcdral.
Honorary Secretary, _ The Edinbur%h Society of Organists
I l De¢ember 2025

The Edinburgh Society of Organists
Receipts and Payments Account for the year to 31st March 2025
Note
202415
2023124
Recelpis
Voluntary Income
Subscripb'ons
tbnations
Gift Aid
4.647
750
2,297
13
5.397
Receipts from charftable actlvlties
Sales ol other bt)oks and CDS
Members, meetings and events
10
95
Investment income
Rent of Hollins Hwse
Bank inlerest
22.680
17,562
94
Total receipls from activities
Loan from Balrd Ros$ Trust
Total recèlpts
31,163
4.783
21.981
Payment8
Fundralslng cost$
Hollins House expenses
Charltable actlvlties
Publicatsons
ESO History book cost of production
Meetings and events
Capitation fee IAO
Grants
Administratv)n
6,330
3,007
5,841
738
4,843
789
2,250
209
229
19.621
Govwnance
Annual acccmjnts
71
62
Total payments
Net receiptsl{paymerts)
8.226
4,167
Movement in bank balances
At 1 April
87.970
83.803
Net (paymentsyre￿lpts
8,226
4,167
At 31 March
79.744
87,970

The Edinburgh Society of Organists
Statement of balances as at 31st March 2025
2025
2024
Note
Bank Balances
Current account
16,267
51,D51
75,667
Sav¥igs aCc￿nts
National Savings
12.￿3
79.744
87,970
Other net assets
Investmenl pmperty- Hollins House
D•btor- estimated GiftArf recover8ble
CrnJlitoi- Loan frovll Baiid Ross Trust
14.7831
T¢Jtal Funds
87.970
Fund¥
Caplial Fund
Rovonue Fund
1,CrfJO
23,579
55,459
Goneral rnserve
31,395
41.534
Holllns House R•sorve
Sprfial Purposes Fund
76,961
83.803
Movement In Funds:
General
011￿$ House
Special
Purposes
Resefyp
Roserve
At q Aprll 2024
Hollins house maintenance
Other rnovements in fvnds
23,579
55,459
(15.9251
5,932
9,816
4,900
33,395
39,534
1,032
Transfers
To Hollins House Reserve
(2.000)
2,000
To SpeGial Purposes Fun(i
At 31 March 2025
31,395
41,534
1,032
There are no ffthiements on the Capital and Revonu• Funds
Approved by Ihe Trustees aryj signed on Ih&"r behalf..
Honorary Treasurer
11 December 2005

The Edinburgh Society of Organists
Notes to the Account for the year to 31st March 2025
1. Net Rental Income from Hollins House
2025
2024
Gross Rent feceived
22,680
17.562
Managem8nt
Maintenance - agent
Maintenance - ESO
Insuran
Miscellaneous
Hollins Hwse Expenses
2,722
15.925
1,962
460
3.299
234
24.480
910
3.332
Net {paymènts)Ireceipts
2 Grants
During the year. the Society awarded four grants consistent with the Constitution of the Society. to the
value of £4900. See page 6 for details.
3 Holllns House
The Society owns Hollins House. which is a tenement flat in Grosvenor Street. Edinburgh that was
inherited by the Society in the 1940s from the late Dr Alfred Hollins, past president of the Society. This
property is considered to fomi part of the permanent endowment of the Society, since it is unlikely
that it would ever be sold to realise cash.
A value for neither its original nor current value is available and consequently has not been included.
In the opinion of the Trustees, the cost of conducting a professional valuation to include a value in this
account would be disproportionate to any additional benefit derived by users of the account. In May
2025 Hollins House was insured for £1,050,000, which is an estimate of the cost of reconstruction of
the property at that date in its existing design and materials following total destruction. Replacement
building cost does not represent market value of the flat and does not include a valuation of the land
on which the tenement building is situated.
4 Loan from Baird Ross Trust
During the year. The Baird Ross Trust, a charity with the purpose of financing a competition to
encourage the composition of church music in Scotland, transferred its residual bank balance,
amounting to £4,783. to the Society in the form of a loan.
5 Trustee remuneratlon, benefits and expenses
No Trustee or member of Council received remuneration or benefits in respect of service as a trustee
or member of Council. other than reimbursement of expenses made on behalf of the Society.

Independent Examiner's Report
to the Trustees of The Edinburgh Society of Organists
I report on the accounts of Ihe Society for the financial year ended 31 March 2025, which are sel out on
pages 7 to 9.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities
and Trustee Investmenl (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The
Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations does not
apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to
state whether particular mattars hava corne to my attention.
Basis of indepep,dent examiner's statement
My examinats'on is carrled out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006. An examlnation Includes a review of the accounts'ng records kept by the Society and a
comparison of the accounts presented with Ihose records. It also Includes consideration of any unusual items
or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the Trustees concerning such rnatters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently
I do not express an audit opinion on the wew given by the accounts.
Independent examiner's statprnent
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
which gives me r8asonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
a. to keep accountiro records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
b. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and c(xnply with Regulation 9
of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met.
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
11 December 2025
10