NEWQUAY OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2009/10
Name of Charity: Newquay Old Cornwall Society
Registration number: 285004
Address for correspondence (Secretary)
11, St, Aubyn Crescent
Newquay
Cornwall
TR7 2RQ
Trustees; as of 31st December 2009:
Mrs Moira Tangye (President), Mr. Peter Hicks (Chairman), Mr. Chris Shinner (Vice-chairman & Treasurer), Miss Rosemary Pritchard (Secretary),
Mr. Mervyn Mitchell (Membership Secretary), , Miss Rachel Parry , Mrs Stella Jenkin, Mrs Pat Bransgrove, Mrs Irene Karkeek.
Constitution:
The Society is governed by its Constitution adopted 12th April 1967, revised May 1992, April 2003 and April 2005 with amendments.
Management:
The Society is managed by its elected Officers and a Committee drawn from the membership of the Society. Requirements for the election and rotation of Officers and members are defined in the Constitution.
The Committee meets a number of times each year at a frequency defined by the level of business to be dealt with.
Sub-committees may be formed to undertake specific tasks agreed by the committee.
Financial Affairs
The Society’s finances are controlled by the Treasurer reporting to the Committee. The Treasurer prepares an annual set of accounts for 31st December each year which are subject to independent audit.
The audited accounts and Treasurer’s Report are approved by the Committee and submitted to the Annual General Meeting for the approval of the membership.
The Society’s income for the year to 31st December 2008 was £8405.81 derived from membership fees, fund raising events and a grant, administered by the Royal Cornwall Museum, from the Restormel Borough Council and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council totalling £4552.39
Expenditure was £7289.52 including payment from grants.
A reserve fund is held towards the eventual founding of a Local History Museum for Newquay; this totalled £16140.67 as of 31st December 2009.
Objectives and Activities:
The objectives of the Society are set out in the Constitution:
a) The Object of the Society is to advance the education of the public in Cornish pre-history, history, topography, place-names, folklore, traditions, dialect, music, industries and other subjects (with special reference to the Newquay area) and in the Cornish language.
b) In furtherance of that object the Society shall have power:
i) to acquire, conserve, repair and restore exhibits, objects and collections of Cornish antiquities and other items of educational value and to exhibit them in a museum or otherwise;
ii) to arrange exhibitions, lectures, visits and seminars;
iii) to publish, print and disseminate (gratuitously or otherwise) literary, visual and aural educational material including reports, periodicals, books, pamphlets and other literature;
iv) to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise;
v) to do all such other lawful things as shall further the attainment of the objects of the Society.”
In consequence of these objectives the Society has an objective of the establishment of a Local History Museum for Newquay provisionally described as “The Museum of Newquay”
Achievements:
During the months from September 2008 to April 2009 the Society presented a programme of lectures relevant to the history and culture of Cornwall.
A number of Social and fund raising events are organised including an Annual lunch, Pasty Lunch and Cream Tea Garden Party.
The Society joined in a wide range of community activities including the Fish Festival, Summer Fete and Crantock Fiesta. It joined with other Old Cornwall Societies for the Cornish Gorsedd and Winter and Summer Festivals.
The Society deployed audio visual equipment equipment obtained with Lottery grants in support of local organisations and presented slide shows, for example, to Newquay Rowing Club and the Newquay Philatelic Society.
Slide presentations were given to local junior schools.
An exhibition of pictures and artefacts was maintained at DairyLand Farm Park thanks to the generous facilities provided by the Management of the attraction.
This was our fourth year on the site and plans are being formulated for the 2010 summer season.
Following the success of the 80th Birthday Exhibition and the interest shown in the Pentire Neckring the Royal Cornwall Museum were asked to commission a replica to be paid for from remaining grant funding. The replica was displayed at the Summer Exhibition of Newquay Society of Artists and at Newquay Fish Festival
Whilst the establishment of a town museum remains a difficult objective, progress has been made in the fitting out the central store with new racking and preparing for the appraisal, maintenance and re-cataloguing of the collection.
The Society’s archive room continued to function within the Borough Council Offices in Newquay providing a resource for local history research and for the local press. A number of interesting exchanges have taken place with expatriate Newquay people from as far away as Australia seeking help in tracing family history.
The Committee particularly welcome Sheila Harper to the role of Warden of Ancient Monuments. The Society will benefit greatly from her knowledge experience and contacts. It is hoped that a renewed emphasis can be placed on documenting and maintaining new and existing sites in the area and that additional volunteers may be recruited; particularly from younger members of the community.
Despite the dissolution of the Restormel Borough the five small museums, Newquay, Fowey, Mevagissey, Lostwithiel and Wheal Martyn continue to be supported by Musuem Development Officers from the Royal Cornwall Museum. With their assistance a project has been initiated to carry out audio/visual recording of local history in these areas. Grant funding has been made available for appropriate equipment and for the training of volunteer interviewers. Newquay Old Cornwall Society intend to use this project to widen contacts in the Voluntary Community Sector in Newquay and to extend contacts with local schools.
Chris Shinner
Vice-chairman and Treasurer
13th March 2010