It was another good year for the Bell Restoration Fund and I am pleased to report that over £11,000 was raised. I congratulate all the individuals, members of the 200 Club, towers and districts who have contributed. The grant payments totalled £11,925 resulting in a small deficit of £650. The book value of the Central Board of Finance Investment Fund shares shown held up at the year-end; but has since fallen during turbulent times. Currently the majority of the BRF's assets are placed in this fund.
The biggest project that was supported during the year was the complete rehang of the eight at St Anne's Highgate. After the bells left the tower and they were cleaned, several cracks were discovered and an additional
grant of £2,500 was voted at the AGM towards the extra welding work required. The rehanging was finished in December and payments of £9,000 were made, being the balance of the original grant of £15,000. A grant of £425
was paid to Willesden for a third of the cost of emergency repairs to the treble gudgeon.
This year the 200 Club transferred £2,500 to the BRF. The Central Committee agreed a Central Fund transfer of £1,000 from subscriptions. The Open Day in April, run by John Adams, raised £910 with a further £160
due from Gift Aid tax reclaims.
Mary Dwyer learnt to ring at Chiswick aged 71 in 2002. It is a tribute to her love and enthusiasm of bellringing that her family requested that the donations in her memory, which totalled £430, should be given to the BRF.
Many fund-raising events have taken place in the districts including North & East's Kilburn Fair (£375), Southern District's 'Oranges & Lemons' outing (£400), Western District's Roger's Rambles (£251) and Quarter Peal week
(£126). Other major events which took place in the Diocese have generated donations for the BRF including the 'east' Festival in March (£450), London Open House in September (£101), and The Lord Mayor's Show in
November (£513).
Generous donations were also received from the ringers at Acton (£150), Barnet (£50), Queen's Tower (£60) and Windsor (£80). Ted Copson, who carries on the work started by his late wife Pam in donating the profits from the sale of her 'Sherbourne Teaching Aids' series to Bell Restoration Funds countrywide, donated £40 to our BRF.
Geoff Willis again supported the BRF with a donation (£123) from the sale of his hand-made pens. Look out for his stand at the Ringing Roadshow in September. The Girdlers' Livery Company continues to support the BRF
and made a £600 donation.
My thanks go to everyone who has made a contribution to the Fund during the year. I hope that our fund-raising continues in the same vein to support future projects both large and small.
Adrian R Udal, BRF Treasurer
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