Summary of the Chairman and Director-General's Reports
This was Charles Nunneley's last AGM as Chairman and he took the opportunity to look back over some of the highlights of his six year tenure. In particular he highlighted the recent acquisition of Tyntesfield, the first acquisition of a large country house since Chastleton in 1992; the acquisition of 4000 acres of Snowdon and the continuing success of the Neptune Coastline Campaign.

The most irreparable loss had been that of our late President, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, in March last year who had enjoyed our properties greatly until well into her 90s.

The Director-General reported that the current year was proving a record one, with visitors numbers up 13% on target and member recruitment up an enormous 20% on target.

She highlighted the part that newly opened properties such as Llanerchaeron, The Workhouse and Sutton Hoo were playing, all of which have been hugely popular.

As well as Tyntesfield, Fiona also mentioned the significant acquisitions of Mendips, John Lennon's childhood home, the studio, home and collection of photographer E Chambre Hardman in Liverpool and the partnership with the Birmingham Conservation Trust at the Back to Backs.

Fiona went on to detail the progress that the Trust has made in delivering the three priorities she set out on becoming Director-General:

• Showing leadership in regenerating the countryside and, where we are able to do so, in our towns and cities.
• Deepening our understanding of the meaning and value of heritage.
• Ensuring that education and lifelong learning are at the heart of everything we do.

She highlighted the role we played on the many inquiries and commissions established after the foot and mouth epidemic and the progress we are making through the management of our own estate, with over 100 whole farm plans now in place.

The work to deepen our understanding of the meaning and value of heritage is now building on the success of innovative new exhibitions and presentation at Sutton Hoo and The Workhouse, where we have stretched the boundaries of interpretation by leaving most rooms empty and instead asking visitors to furnish them with their own imaginations.

Fiona reported that this year saw the launch of our first ever strategy for learning. This will enable us to make the most of our properties and their potential as learning resources.

Last year she made a commitment to our membership that the Trust would become better at listening to others. Fiona highlighted that this process had already started, partly through the ongoing review of our governance procedure but also through a number of meetings with groups such as our Centres and Associations Chairmen, tenant farmers associations and our donor families.

Fiona also took the opportunity to highlight the afternoon discussion sessions which were held at this year for the first time. These gave members the opportunity to discuss major issues of interest to the Trust.

Fiona concluded by recognising that the period of change through which the organisation was going was difficult but that she believed passionately that we were holding onto all the things that really matter to the Trust and building on the inspired vision of our founders.