Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


FROM THE TREASURER 

Treasurer’s Report: Financial Year ending 31/12/2024 

 
There are many wonderful things about being retired, but I have found one big drawback, and that is the fact that in my later years, time seems to fly by so quickly, and this is often brought home by the fact that the deadline for submitting my piece for The Newsletter seems to suddenly jump up on me in what seems an ever decreasing timescale. However don’t get me wrong, after all these years the alternative to retirement does not look attractive at all.

 
You may recall in my last “From The Treasurer” I shared with you the trials and tribulations of being a treasurer, and trying to deal with the bank, and in particular Barclays, and trying to convince them that I am indeed who I claim to be, and that The Retired Prison Governor’s Association is actually just what it claims to be, an organisation that exists to allow retired Prison Governors to keep in touch with each other. Well the good news is that the long debacle is now over, (or at least until the next time) and Barclays have now accepted all the evidence that I was required to provide in order for them to accept that the RPGA is not a very low level money laundering operation, and to allow the organisation to continue to bank with them.

 
As well as that, I have actually managed to have both Jan Thompson and Kevin Bilson added to the account so that they now have full access and rights to the account. This is part of a bit of contingency planning on my behalf, the aim of which was to ensure that in the event of my being incapacitated the finances of the association would not be inaccessible. So the last few months have been quite successful in terms of sorting out some long standing banking issues. Unfortunately my delight at this success was tempered by the news of the death of my predecessor in the role of Treasurer, Jim Blakey.

 
I remember when Jim handed everything over to me with a stark warning that the most difficult part of the job would be dealing with Barclays. How true those words, and I know that Jim followed my travails in the newsletter, no doubt with a smile on his face as he thought, “rather you than me”. As well as being treasurer, Jim was also a founding member of both the PGA and RPGA, and he was also my boss when I was a junior Governor Grade and so it was an honour when Jim contacted me and asked me if, when the time came, I would officiate at his funeral service. Jim’s death and his Obituary, written by Brendan O’Friel, is covered elsewhere in The Newsletter so I will just say that it was an honour to know him, and to help say goodbye to him.

 
As it is soon to be AGM time the concentration of my report this month is the end of year accounts. These of course come with the usual reminder that in order to remain in line with the PGA accounting year these accounts cover the period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023. The Auditors have now signed off the accounts, which is a much simpler process nowadays as the majority of payments are now made by Direct Bank Transfer.
 
As well as my well documented contacts with the bank regarding confirmation of identity I have also undertaken the work required to bring our banking up to date, with a move to electronic and internet banking. As part of this process I have now been issued with a Debit Card for the account so that I can make payments online. This will be particularly useful in making donations to charities in memory of deceased members, as I can now do this directly to the charity through their website. The first payment of this type was made to the British Heart Foundation in memory of Roy Smith.

 
The result of this is that it is several months since I last wrote a cheque against the account as I now make payments either on the card, or by BACS transfer. I am also able to bank any cheques that I receive without the need to visit a branch, which is a good thing as there is no not a branch of Barclays within 5-miles of my home. Technology, and an App on my phone allows me to take a photo of a cheque, upload it to the bank, and have it credited to the account.
 
Note: The accounts are of course available to be viewed by members of the association but not on the website. To have access to the accounts you should contact Graham direct on his e-mail address graham.mumbycroft@gmail.com



GRAHAM MUMBY-CROFT, Treasurer 

graham.mumbycroft@gmail.com 

Tel: 07597 397425


If you want to see the full accounts document an e-mail to the Treasurer will secure you one.

Graham Mumby-Croft
Treasurer
 Issue No. 91 Autumn 2024