I am pleased to report that 2010 was a good year for the Bell
Restoration Fund. Income exceeded £13,500 and grant payments of
£8,100 were made giving a net surplus of £5,500. The book value of the
Central Board of Finance Investment Fund shares recovered to
around 2007 levels. The grant voted to Harmondsworth in October 2007
lapsed in the autumn. At the year end net assets stood at almost
£54,000, a new record.
A copy of the Accounts is here.
Bethnal Green's bells have been overhauled and a grant payment of £3,500
covered half the cost. A grant of £600 was paid to Highgate towards
acoustic improvements and one of £1,500 to Gospel Oak towards half the
cost of a new sound control system. A grant payment of £2,500 was made
to Harefield to replace the cracked fifth headstock and quarter turn
the front three bells.
This year the 200 Club transferred £3,781.04 to the BRF
with Ian Callander, the new Secretary, spreading his enthusiasm to the
membership. The Open Day on Easter Monday, run by the Bell Restoration
Officer & James White, was the most successful ever and over £2,680 was
banked with a further £430 due from Gift Aid. The Central Committee
agreed a general fund transfer of £1,000 from subscriptions.
Fund-raising by the North & East District included a social at Southgate
(£180), a Quarter Peal Day (£120) and teas at Aldgate for the Open House
(£91). The Highgate Fete raised £555 for the BRF and Janets' & John's
Jaunts made £156. Southern District's outing to Guildford raised £160
and Geoff Willis donated £151 from the sale of his pens. The ringing at
Bow for the Lord Mayor's Show in November generated a BRF donation of £563.
Generous donations were also received from Monken Hadley (£100), Pimlico St Saviour (£165),
Windsor (£80) and from the Girdlers' Livery Company (£800).
The bells were rung at Harlington in memory of Josephine Pole and her
family kindly made a donation of £100. In the summer the Association
rang for the ordination service at St Paul's and the Cathedral Guild
donated a service fee of £300 to the BRF.
My thanks to everyone who has made a contribution to the Fund
during the year. Over the last twenty years the Middlesex County
Association Bell Restoration Fund has become one of the strongest
bell restoration funds in the country and I would like to thank all
Association members and supporters for their efforts. I hope that
fund-raising continues in a similar vein to support all future projects
in the Diocese.
Adrian R Udal
BRF Treasurer (during 2010) on behalf of the Trustees
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MIDDLESEX
