NEWS
Simon Marsh appointed KESR chairman – 50 years after first role as a volunteer By Geoff Courtney RETIRED civil servant Simon Marsh has been appointed chairman of the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR) , nearly 50 years after he started volunteering in the railway’s souvenir shop. The 61-year-old, who lives in Sandwich with his wife Sandra, a priest, has had an interest in railways since his earliest days. “I am told that as a baby I reacted to passing trains from my pushchair – I think it must be in the blood,” he said. He began volunteering in the railway’s shop at the age of 12, and in the ensuing five decades has helped to construct and maintain signalling installations, worked on the permanent way and on the railway’s Wealden Pullman dining train, undertaken vegetation clearance, and helped to maintain the 10½-mile line’s telegraph pole route. He has also fulfilled a number of backroom functions and been a guard on freight and passenger trains, signalman and operations controller. In his first interview since becoming chairman, Simon told Heritage Railway of the importance of volunteers to the railway, which runs from Tenterden to Bodiam: “We currently have a surprisingly large number of really good young people. We could always do with more, for after all they are our future. “Perhaps we should be better at getting across the message that volunteering on the railway is not
Simon Marsh, the newly appointed chairman of the Kent & East Sussex Railway, at Tenterden station in the company of the railway’s former SR USA class 0-6-0T No. 30070, now carrying the identity of another member of the class, Longmoor Military Railway No. 300 Major General Frank S. Ross. PAUL WOODMAN only fun, but also develops life and technical skills as well as the opportunity to take responsibility. “Maintaining the enthusiasm of the hundreds of unpaid enthusiasts who keep the railway running is a key task. “We must ensure that everyone feels they are valued and a part of the KESR family. Among other things, this requires good two-way communication, quality training where appropriate, and providing opportunities to do things that wouldn’t be possible in the day job.” The railway, he said, had a huge range of ways that enabled people of all ages, preferences and abilities to
be involved: “Volunteers can commit to several days a year or several days a week. It’s all about the people, working together and maintaining the unique friendliness of our railway and the passion of all who are involved.” Simon, whose son Jonathan is a volunteer driver on the railway, emphasised the need to analyse, plan, and “to think outside the box”, adding that a priority was to develop a vision and strategy that would allow the railway to flourish in an increasingly challenging environment. “It is tough for all of us in the heritage railway world.
“Visitor expectations increase every year, and we are subject to a lot more regulation that we used to be,” he explained. “Together, these mean we must be even more professional in the way we go about our business. We are a business – we currently attract nearly 100,000 visitors and turn over more that £2 million per year.” Simon succeeds Ian Legg, who remains a KESR trustee. One subject that will doubtless occupy much of the new chairman’s thinking is the proposal to link the KESR with its neighbour, the Rother Valley Railway (RVR), a privately funded £4½ million project that would create a 14-mile heritage line linked to the national network. There is currently a two-mile gap across fields between the eastern end of the RVR at Northbridge Street and the western extremity of the KESR at Austen’s Bridge, but the two farming families who own the land over which the gap would be bridged are fiercely opposed to the scheme. An application for a Transport & Works Act Order that would enable the link to be built has been submitted by the RVR to the Government, and much of the infrastructure at the RVR’s base in Robertsbridge, beside the Charing Cross-Hasting main line, is already in place, including a five-coach platform and a link to the main line. Currently however, there is deadlock between the railway and the two families.
Tributes paid to LGCB founder and career railwayman Jack Turner THE Locomotive Club of Great Britain (LGCB) is in mourning following the death of its founder member Jack Turner at the age of 86. Jack, who was member No.1, passed away in a care home on December 27. Chairman Bob Breakwell, said: “From the formation of the club in Aylesbury in 1949 until his unfortunate stroke in 2015, from which he never fully recovered, Jack kept up a full involvement with both the main club and his local branch in Bedford. “During this period of almost 70 years, Jack undertook a variety of roles for the club, culminating in his
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appointment as club president. He saw and made a major contribution to the LCGB growing from a small, essentially trainspotting organisation to a major national society, famous for its steam railtours in the 1960s, and since then for its comprehensive and often unusual overseas tours, which continue to this day.” Jack had an autobiography published – From Nationalisation to Privatisation, My Life on British Railway – about his life as a career railwayman. Starting as a goods clerk, he moved to the footplate as a cleaner at Bletchley and then a fireman at the ‘Wessie’ shed at Aylesbury. He then
progressed into signalling, firstly on the Marston Vale line and then the Midland Main Line. Relief stationmaster came next, before a BR reorganisation moved him again, this time in charge of Motor Rail at Kensington Olympia. “He swore that it was not him on duty when the cars got swapped over resulting in bewildered passengers arriving at Newhaven whilst their cars arrived at Dover and vice versa!” recalled Bob. His final posting was as chief operating inspector of the Euston Division. Jack retired in early-1993 after more than 46 years of service. He was married to Pat, who sadly
predeceased him. They lived in the country for many years, bringing up their two children, before moving two miles into their retirement bungalow in Wootton, near Bedford. During this time Pat and Jack worked tirelessly for Toc H, helping within the community to ease the burdens of others. Through this Jack and Pat made many friends around the world. Bob said: “Jack is a great loss to the LCGB and the railway fraternity and will be fondly remembered by both railway professionals and enthusiasts alike. Our thoughts go to his daughter Jane, son Peter and their families.”
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