The Farnham Trust Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023.

The Farnham (Building Preservation) Trust organised an evening on the 28th November 2023 to celebrate Michael Blower’s 50 years involvement with the Trust. He has held several positions including Chairman at one time and he is now our Honorary President.

The event was held at Farnham Pottery by kind courtesy of the owners, Guy and Elaine Haines with superb food provided by the Pottery’s Hobo Cafe. It was attended by the Mayor, Alan Earwaker and 50 guests.

After an introduction by Guy Haines, Michael reminisced about the various projects he had been involved with in and around Farnham including Tanyard House and The Maltings, West Street Cemetery Lodge, Church Cottages, 31 Lower Church Lane, New Ashgate Gallery as well as the Pottery.

The evening closed with Martin Lloyd, Chairman of the Farnham Trust, thanking Michael for all his work and proposing a Toast to him.

The Farnham Trust Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2022.

The speaker was Clare Clinton, Arts, Heritage and Learning Manager of the West Horsley Place Trust, held at St Joan’s Centre, Tilford Road, Farnham on Thursday 20th October 2022.

The Annual General Meeting of the Farnham Buildings Preservation Trust took place at the Farnham pottery on Friday 15th July 2022 at 6pm.

The General Meeting was followed by a talk by Philip Harris entitled “The Farnham Pottery”.

Philip talked about the history of the pottery, including the Harris family’s pottery connections and activities prior to their moving to Wrecclesham, their reasons for setting-up the pottery there, and the rise and eventual fall of the business from 1872 until 1999. He also described the role of the Trust in rescuing the site and provided an overview of the current activities at the site.

AGENDA FOR THE MEETING

1.         Minutes of the 52^nd Annual General Meeting of the Farnham Trust held on Friday 12^th October 2021 at the Council Offices Farnham, at 5.00 pm.

2.         Report of the Board for the year ending 31^st December 2021 by the Chairman.

3.         Consideration of the Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31^st December 2021. 

4.        Election of members of the Board.
The members of the Board are currently:
        Mr M. Lloyd Chairman (re-elected 2019)
        Mr R. Heathcote Secretary and Treasurer (re-elected 2020)
     Mrs C. Bean (re-elected 2019)
        Mr B. Davey (re-elected 2020)
        Mr D. Lang (re-elected 2021)
        Mr B. Lowe (re-elected 2021)
        Mr I. Lynch (elected 2021)
        Mrs L. Rodd (elected 2020)
        Mr R. Steel (elected 2020)
        Mrs G. Ward (elected 2021)
Under the terms of Article 25 of the Articles of Association of the Farnham Trust members of the Board are appointed for terms of three years and must then retire and may offer themselves for re-election.
Accordingly, Martin Lloyd, and Christine Bean retire from the Board and offer themselves for re-election.

5.     The Chairman will invite questions from members and will then close the meeting

The Farnham Trust Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2021

The Farnham Trust Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2020

Old Yew Tree Cottage was let out in 2020 to a family who moved out last month. We had hoped to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Land Tax  (SDLT) holiday to sell it to provide funds for our next project. We ended up with two offers above the level we received when we marketed it in 2019. Unfortunately, our buyer pulled out and by then the underbidder had had an offer accepted on another property. As there was insufficient time to find another buyer who could complete before the SDLT holiday ended, the Board took the decision to let it again, particularly as as there is currently a lack of good quality family sized homes to rent.

It is our intention to market OYTC again next Easter, 2022.

The Farnham Trust Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2019

Old Yew Tree Cottage, Wrecclesham has been on the market for several months but while there has been interest from a number of parties, no acceptable offer to buy has been received.

An opportunity arose to let OYTC on a 12 month basis at a very good rental and in view of not having any immediate future project needing funds, the Board agreed to accept this rental offer in early March 2020.

It is envisaged that OYTC will be put back on the market in 9-12 months time.

Apart from the Trust benefitting by receiving a good income, the cottage will also benefit from being lived in.