Chairman's Annual Report for 2008

Richard Oscroft, MBE

With the completion of all the major works to the Hylands Estate completed in 2007 some may have thought we would have had a quieter year in 2008, but I am pleased to report that this has certainly not been the case!! Indeed, my first year back in the Chair has been busy both behind the scenes and in taking the Friends from strength to strength as we increasingly rise to the challenge our prime objective to “preserve and improve the listed building - Hylands House, Chelmsford - together with the associated Park, for the benefit of the public, and to promote its use by the public, through the activities of a group of Friends”

Since the opening of our second hand book shop in March - as reported at last year’s meeting - business has continued to flourish: sales during the accounting period exceeded £15,000, thanks in no small measure to the excellent way in which the books are displayed. For this I wish to use this opportunity record publicly enormous thanks to Stan Kaluza for all the hours he has spent fitting out what was the Information Room in the Stables Centre. Thanks, too, to the 90 members of the Friends who have given freely of their time, many on a regular basis, to ensure that our Shop is open for business every day and for as many hours as the souvenir shop across the courtyard. When it is cold and wet and business is slack it may hardly seem worthwhile, but it really is important to provide a reliable service: overall the total income speaks for itself - so - Thank you all - and special thanks to Babs Sargeant, for organizing the rota, and Linda Knock for allowing Stan to persuade her into the role of Book Shop Administrator. A word of thanks too, to Trevor Adams for spending many hours assisting Stan with sorting through the large volume of good quality books we thankfully continue to receive from many sources. Their efforts are all greatly appreciated.

The number of new members of the Friends in 2008 was a record 77 (12.7%), which included 5 new Life Members. After allowing for the few who did not rejoin, we have seen an overall increase of 44 (7.8%) bringing our total to 607. Thanks are due to Brian Hinds, Membership Secretary, for always keeping our records right up to date. Sadly, I record the death, in September of Mrs E E Roberts, a niece of Mrs Hanbury - whose daughter has taken over her mother’s membership. Also in September a founding member of our Executive, Joan Collins was called to higher service: she will be greatly missed, not only for her extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment, but also for her wonderful contacts in Chelmsford generally and in the Arts in particular. Joan could always be relied upon to find entertainers and artistes of the highest quality for our popular concert supper evenings. Your committee has been pleased to make appropriate donations for the planting of ‘mature’ oak trees in the Park - between the Ice House and the lake - in memory of both Joan and also Con Johnson, another founding member of the Executive, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude. Both were shining examples to us all.

On a happier note, September saw the return of shire horses, Holly and George, to the Park. I understand their training and familiarization with the public is proceeding well and plans for regular carriage rides around Hylands are at an advanced stage. From my perspective, as your Chairman, I am delighted to report that your committee and the management of the House and Estate, headed by Ceri Lowen and Louis Bach and their teams are working really closely together: co-operation and mutual support is the name of this ‘game’ as it brings together and combines resources which effectively enhance all that is offered to you, our members, and the public at large a wide range of events in this beautiful place. For the Friends, all our events (with the exception of the Experience Day, which was cancelled for lack of support) have not only been a financial success, but have also provided occasions of worthwhile enjoyable entertainment as well as a lot of fun. My only regret is that many are oversubscribed and therefore there is inevitably some disappointment amongst those who do not apply before the list is full - alas, a downside to our success. Here I would mention our Christmas Supper: always popular and heavily over subscribed even allowing for Ceri permitting the ‘overflow’ into the small dining room. Suffice it to say that your committee is considering some modest changes for the event this year, but an increase in numbers or evenings is not an option.

Our Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2008 show us in a strong, robust position: a position in which, thanks to earnings from our bookshop, we seem to be raising funds faster than we can spend them!! However, looking to the future, there are still items for purchase on the “wish list” we have compiled with the Borough Council, not the least of which is a long case clock to stand at the bottom of the grand staircase. Stan Kaluza, on our behalf, remains alert to possibilities appearing in auction catalogues: indeed he and Ceri saw the Edwardian Lady’s lounge suite purchased recently in the catalogue of the sale held here in the Park last summer! - and now resplendent on the 1st floor landing at the top of the stairs. Our Treasurer, Councillor Tim Roper, is standing down at this meeting: special thanks to Tim for keeping our books in apple pie order for five years. Thanks too, to Mike Vandome, our Independent Scrutineer, for another year’s examination of our books.

Thanks to Patrick Bermingham, our press and publicity officer, for continuing to arrange our coach outings, the Hylands Experience Day as well as editing our Newsletter - all in all a great commitment to the Friends. Patrick regrets that there was only one Newsletter last year, however he assures us that there will be three in 2009. I am pleased to record that Hazel, his wife and stalwart for many years on your committee, continues to improve in health.

Probably our greatest news is the fact that with purchases made since the end of the year the Friends have bought items for the House and the Park in excess of £100,000 - wonderful, wonderful - thanks to each of you for all the support you have given and continue to give towards the ongoing beautification of this magnificent House and Park. With this year’s subscriptions, we still have some £40,000 in hand to finance further purchases in the short term but also contribute to such medium to long term projects as the restoration of the ice house and also the re-development of the walled kitchen garden. As you will be aware from the Spring Newsletter, your committee is also exploring the demand for, say, minibus transport between the Town Centre/Writtle and the Park - please let us know your views on that. Such a service would doubtless require a subsidy, at least in the short term, which could only be warranted if it seems likely that good use will be made of it within a reasonable timescale. Pam Hunnable is co-ordinating our research and investigations into the possibilities.

In closing, I thank you for being a wonderful group of Friends: on your behalf I thank each of our committee members for the huge amount that they do for us, thereby ensuring that, together, we really do meet our objectives in good measure. Thank you, Madam President, for all your support and encouragement in all that we do and have done for 14 years. Particularly, I thank you for your helpful advice and guidance to me personally.