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I am pleased to report that 2009 was a record year for the Bell Restoration Fund. Grant payments of over £35,000 were made and income also exceeded £35,000. An exceptional bequest of £22,700 was received from the estate of Peter Bevington - who was a past tower captain of St Mary's, Twickenham. The book value of the Central Board of Finance Investment Fund shares recovered somewhat. The net assets at the year end were £37,600.
A record grant of £20,000 was made to St Magnus the Martyr for the ninth bell of their new ring of twelve. Our bell was cast at Whitechapel on 30th January and - owing to the hard work of ASCY past-master Dickon Love with some serious assistance provided by our own Tim Joiner - the new peal was ringing out by Easter. The BRF also contributed £14,500 towards the complete re-hang at St Katharine Cree which, thanks to the efforts of Michael Royalton-Kisch, was another major project completed in the Diocese during the year. A grant of £500 was paid to St Dunstan's, Stepney to cover half the cost of clapper repairs and one of £600 to St Barnabas, Pimlico towards half the cost of the rebuilt wheels and new pulleys.
Donations given in memory of Valerie Payne totalled £2,009. I am very grateful to Valerie's family for enabling this tribute. On a personal note I mention that Valerie was the Association's longest serving Officer and I shall miss her.
This year the 200 Club transferred £3,300 to the BRF. This was another record amount and a fitting salute to Stuart Robinson who had the original idea and devised, set up and ran the 200 Club from its inception until the end of the year. The Central Committee agreed a Central Fund transfer of £1,000 from subscriptions and the Central Fund also made a further loan of £500.
Fund-raising by the North & East District included a Quarter Peal Day (£126) and teas at Aldgate for the Open House (£118). Geoff Willis donated £123 from the sale of his pens, Janet Betham raised an impressive £350 by sponsoring her peal debut, John Thorp raised £349 at the Highgate Fête and Janets' & John's Jaunts made £121. As a result of the New Year's Day Parade in Westminster a donation of £785 was received. The ringing at Bow for The Lord Mayor's Show in November generated a BRF donation of £563. Generous donations were also received from the ringers at Barnet (£50), Bedfont (£200), Grange Park (£75) and Windsor (£100), and from the Girdlers' Livery Company (£1,000).
My thanks go to everyone who has made a contribution to the Fund during the year. I hope that our fund-raising continues in a similar vein to support all of our future projects.
Adrian R Udal
on behalf of the Trustees
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MIDDLESEX
