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Year to 31st December 2025
From: 163 Spring 2026
Author: Simon Gibbs
I enclose a copy of the accounts of the Oxford Freemen for the year.
As in recent years, our grazing permits remained fully let in 2025, and we also receive income from the Oxford Anglers for the right to fish from the banks of the Meadow. The Oxford Model Flying Club also donate for the right to use the Meadow for their activities.
Bank Account Interest has fallen slightly, resulting from a general reduction in interest rates, which are expected to reduce further during 2026. But at the time of writing this is an “unknown”!
Donations would have returned to the level of 2023, but have been bolstered by some of the office holders donating honoraria payments voted to them.
On the expenditure side, costs of the Journal have risen slightly, representing the cost of printing, but continues to be well received by our members.
There were additional payments in the gift to Howard and expenses to cover folders and ancillary costs resulting from extensive work on our archives. These were offset in that the Common Hall reception in 2024 was a “one off”.
Freemen's 2025 final accounts.pdfThe Committee also voted to pay honoraria to the various office holders who act in their own time on behalf of the Freemen at large. This was the custom in earlier years, but not so recently. It was felt that this would be an encouragement to those new to their office and a reward for taking up the posts which have proven difficult to fill. As noted above, some of these payments have been donated back.
The Annual Dinner was held at the Vincent’s Club for a second year. Unfortunately, this made a loss of £236. We paid for our guests’ meals, as usual, but we were not aware that there was to be a 10% service charge added to Vincent’s bill, which would have meant charging more for the tickets. This had been included on the previous year’s years’ bill but at £0! On arrival, we were given a prosecco reception, which we hadn’t ordered. Possibly this was in error and they were attempting to recoup some of the cost… It did mean that those attending saved from not having to pay for drinks on arrival.
As suggested in my report last year, there was no apprentice award. It continues to be unlikely that there will be further ceremonies as local enterprise partnerships now promote this type of scheme.
The annual Inspection took place in June followed by the traditional Aunt Sally match at the Plough, Wolvercote. We are again indebted to Greene King, the pub’s suppliers, who continue to provide the beer and, thus, allow us to host this event at no cost to ourselves.
I continue to show the unknown receipt of £2,000 in September 2023 as an amount owing in Accrued Expenditure i.e. as being liable to be paid out at a future date. I shall continue to show it as such until we either know the source or the Committee feel that it’s safe to assume it was a donation from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.
As a result of the above, there was an overall deficit on the Income & Expenditure Account of £150 which resulted in a slight reduction in our overall funds from £52,036 to £51,886.
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