Association News

Jacquie Green updates

With the railway quiet for most of November apart from a few ECS moves, the focus was on preparations for the Christmas trains. The PLC was delighted to report that the Santa Express trains sold out so that a second tranche of dates and times were released for the Winterlights experience. Meanwhile, the WSRA won another award from the Transport Trust, this time the 2021 David Muirhead Commemorative Award, for the Hawksworth inspectors saloon together with a donation towards an internal refurbishment. I was privileged to attend the award ceremony last month at Fawley Hill Museum, near Henley, where I collected the award together with the 2020 Alan Moore Award for the restoration of Small Prairie No. 4561, from Princess Anne the Princess Royal. Fawley Hill is the private estate of Sir William and Lady Mcalpine and includes a restored

Victorian railway station, a museum, and a working steam railway. It was a delight to look around the heritage transport museum, indulge in a brake van ride and engage in some useful networking with other heritage transport enthusiasts. The day before the trip to Henley I was

WSRA General Manager receiving Transport Trust awards from the Princess Royal. Photo: WSRA

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out on the railway leading a community group excursion on a trip that included a ride along the line. This was organised with the Quantock Land Partnership Scheme community engagement officer and a project called Positive People run by PLUSS Somerset. It was part of a series of photo walks they have been running to encouragepeople to re-engage after lockdown and gain confidence and social skills to lead a fuller life. The group of 23 people including leaders met at Bishops Lydeard and boarded a reserved carriage to Stogumber, where an enthusiastic Bob Preston was waiting to tell the group about the cattle dock restoration project. After that we set off across the fields and woods to walk back to Crowcombe Heathfield station, using the route originally identified by Audrey and Ron Short in the WSRA publication of 2000. It was a journey of just three miles but we were a mixed group and we took a leisurely pace, taking time to get to know each other, and in my case to wax lyrical

Happy faces on the community walk at Crowcombe station. Photo: Quantock Land Partnership Scheme

about the railway. The community trip was very successful on a number of levels, and I am looking forward to developing the concept, both within the WSR family and in partnership with other local organisations with a community focus. So polish off your walking boots and watch this space! Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped the WSRA and the railway to get through this difficult year and to wish all WSRA members and supporters a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. I look forward to seeing as many as possible on the Winterlights experience over the festive season.

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