29th OCTOBER 2025.
Dear Gosport Society Members,
Our Trustees have been in communication to discuss Gosport Society’s Constitution, we wish to make you aware of the discussions and forward plans that are being carefully considered.
Our Acting Treasurer has received communication from the Charity Commission that new financial guidelines and Code of Practices will be introduced shortly, therefore adding more administration to our Society.
Our Trustees have discussed our current situation that combined with this news, and the fact that Gosport Society have not been complying with their ‘Constitution’ since 2022 (i.e. insufficient Main Officers ), a plan of action is needed. Contact with the Charity Commission was made to explain our situation after a member drew our attention to this fact we were not complying with our Constitution. We pointed out the fact that the Trustees were satisfied Gosport Society was being administered correctly, and every effort was continually made to encourage members to stand for vacant posts on the Executive Committee.
The decision was therefore made to make a final appeal to our membership for members to join the Executive Committee, the following posts being needed as Main Officers.
Chairman and Hon. Secretary.
If we are unable to fill these posts, the Trustees recommend Gosport Society will relinquish its Charitable status 31st March 2025.
This will have financial implications as set out in the Gosport Society Constitution.
Your comments will be greatly appreciated before our Executive Meeting 11th November.
GOSPORT BOROUGH HERITAGE TOUR MAP GUIDE.
Since our last news update 13th September and the award from Hampshire Cultural trust to help finance the project, problems of administering the grant became apparent. Basically, we felt that the ‘Goal Posts’ had change after being awarded the grant, we would be involved in collating considerable information of collecting feedback for Hampshire Cultural Trust throughout the project. This administration task was considered to be beyond our current capabilities, and we have not accepted the grant. The Executive Committee will be discussing other financial means to complete this project at our Executive Meeting on 11th November.
Borough of Gosport – Information Discs.
Our ideas of distributing ‘Information Discs’ around the Borough has been very well received, progress on the list of proposed sites has resulted in the research of information for over 15No Information Discs being produced, Mike Williams has also volunteered to help out with the research, we hope to complete this for production shortly. See example, apologies for poor print.
Alleyway Signage.
After the excitement that GBC had already manufactured 4No set of Alleyway signs, we were invited to a meeting at GBC to discuss our Tour Map Guide & Alleyway Signage. This meeting had been delayed since 2024, due to officers being unwell.
It transpired that due to lack of insurances (i.e. – who would be liable for future maintenance & cleaning) GBC were not in a position to permit erection of the signage. We had obtained a quotation from a GBC Approved Contractor (Lucus, Windebank & McNally) who kindly provided the cost of erecting the signage for us. We have forwarded these details to GBC for future reference and returned the India Arm sign that we borrowed for display at The Michaelmas Fayre.
Not daunted as it had been agreed that Gosport Society would complete the Alleyway Signage, ‘some bright spark’ had an idea!
We have commissioned Alleyway Signs to be displayed on properties next to the Gosport Alleyways, similar to our ‘Information Disc project. We hope to have these displayed inside the properties windows, before the end of November.
Speakers Meeting Wednesday 12th November at Gosport Community Hub.
Geoff Pipers Music of the Swinging 60’s
The 60’s told through music, this will be a trip through memory lane!
We thank Fiona for arranging such an excellent speaker earlier this month, Southern Water presented a very good talk, also, answering some enquiring questions from our members.
Kind regards,
Richard C. Acting Hon. Secretary.