One of my reasons for wanting to become Chairman was to eliminate the claims that the Board was "remote" and "never listens".
I have been out and about since last November and met many of our Volunteers and Paid Staff.
I made a promise at the Volunteers Meeting in February, that I would hold "meet and greet" sessions, so that anyone could turn up and have a chat.
I shall be at Tenterden on the following dates;
Saturday 28th May, 11.30am to 3pm
Sunday 5th June, 11.00am to 2.00pm
Friday 10th June, 11.00am to 2.00pm
So if you want to have a chat about anything, please pop along.
Petros.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Sad News
At 8.15am this morning I heard the sad news that John Miller had passed away.
He was a former Chairman and, for many years, had put his heart and soul into keeping the Railway alive.
I first met John quite by chance.
Driving past Bodiam Station one Sunday afternoon, I saw a group of gents sitting in Deck Chairs on the platform.
I hadn't heard of the K&ESR and was only out for a drive.
I went onto the platform and we got chatting. Tea was immediately proffered and we had a chat about the Railway. The overgrown tracks were testement to the lack of services (1994) but his small group were tending the station building and it looked smart amongst the otherwise derelict site.
He advised me that the P.Way gang were working at Witt Rd and I drove off in search of another unknown station. The rest is history for me.
I then met John again during the Bodiam extension works.
He was a knowledgable chap and always willing to impart that knowledge to anyone who asked for it.
When I became a Trustee, he was involved in the Museum and we often chatted at Tenterden.
His love of all things Colonel Stevens was backed up by a desire to make the museum the very best.
His work, both at Bodiam, the Museum and of course the Cavell Van will form a huge part of our history.
RIP John and God Bless.
He was a former Chairman and, for many years, had put his heart and soul into keeping the Railway alive.
I first met John quite by chance.
Driving past Bodiam Station one Sunday afternoon, I saw a group of gents sitting in Deck Chairs on the platform.
I hadn't heard of the K&ESR and was only out for a drive.
I went onto the platform and we got chatting. Tea was immediately proffered and we had a chat about the Railway. The overgrown tracks were testement to the lack of services (1994) but his small group were tending the station building and it looked smart amongst the otherwise derelict site.
He advised me that the P.Way gang were working at Witt Rd and I drove off in search of another unknown station. The rest is history for me.
I then met John again during the Bodiam extension works.
He was a knowledgable chap and always willing to impart that knowledge to anyone who asked for it.
When I became a Trustee, he was involved in the Museum and we often chatted at Tenterden.
His love of all things Colonel Stevens was backed up by a desire to make the museum the very best.
His work, both at Bodiam, the Museum and of course the Cavell Van will form a huge part of our history.
RIP John and God Bless.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Friday and Saturday
Friday 20th May.
At 9.30am, I joined the P.Way team at Witt Rd and after the prescribed number of cups of tea we put the world to rights before going to Northiam.
We waited (and waited) for the Crane to arrive and when it eventually did, we lifted out the 58ft check-rail at the Bodiam end of the station, turned it and lifted it over signal wire on the south side of the track.
After drilling a new hole (ahem twice) for a new block, we installed the new check rail and started replacing the blocks and panlocks. A few dollops of grease (sorry if anything went on the running rail!) and we were finished.
I left at 3pm and went to Tenterden for a meeting with Graham Sivyer, who taught me how to use the "Blog". Then I had another meeting and finally got home at 6.30pm.
I work about 20 hours week for The K&ESR. You know, the Chairman's job didn't seem so tiring, when I sat at the side of the table, instead of the head......
Saturday 21st was Board day. 8.30am start at Tenterden for preliminary stuff (after 2 hours at work).
The meeting started at 10.00am and finished the at 12.50pm.
After it finished I chatted with various Volunteers and Paid Staff. They all seemed happy with the Gala and Forties events, and I must congratulate everyone involved in putting on such a good show. Liz Reid and Graham Sivyer did a wonderful job in pulling together the Forties Weekend.
Q. Which other railway has ever had the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. - Not just a fly by, but a DISPLAY?
A. No one, it was a first and we knocked the competition into a cocked hat.
One thing that is clear. Despite its success (yet again) we need more Volunteers to assist the organising and running of the Gala. Please help out those who shoulder this responsibility every year. Just a few hours can provide some relief for the usual crew, who do such a good job.
If you can help out, please contact me.
My photographs are taken from the collection of Jo Roesen, who has been a P.Way Volunteer since the year dot. My thanks to him for giving me his permission to use them.
If you want to see how the Railway edged westwards from a P.Way perspective, join Lobbychat and you can see them all. They are remarkable and will bring back many memories to those of you who were here in "the good old days".
Lobbychat can be found at www.lobbychat.co.uk
At 9.30am, I joined the P.Way team at Witt Rd and after the prescribed number of cups of tea we put the world to rights before going to Northiam.
We waited (and waited) for the Crane to arrive and when it eventually did, we lifted out the 58ft check-rail at the Bodiam end of the station, turned it and lifted it over signal wire on the south side of the track.
After drilling a new hole (ahem twice) for a new block, we installed the new check rail and started replacing the blocks and panlocks. A few dollops of grease (sorry if anything went on the running rail!) and we were finished.
I left at 3pm and went to Tenterden for a meeting with Graham Sivyer, who taught me how to use the "Blog". Then I had another meeting and finally got home at 6.30pm.
I work about 20 hours week for The K&ESR. You know, the Chairman's job didn't seem so tiring, when I sat at the side of the table, instead of the head......
Saturday 21st was Board day. 8.30am start at Tenterden for preliminary stuff (after 2 hours at work).
The meeting started at 10.00am and finished the at 12.50pm.
After it finished I chatted with various Volunteers and Paid Staff. They all seemed happy with the Gala and Forties events, and I must congratulate everyone involved in putting on such a good show. Liz Reid and Graham Sivyer did a wonderful job in pulling together the Forties Weekend.
Q. Which other railway has ever had the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. - Not just a fly by, but a DISPLAY?
A. No one, it was a first and we knocked the competition into a cocked hat.
One thing that is clear. Despite its success (yet again) we need more Volunteers to assist the organising and running of the Gala. Please help out those who shoulder this responsibility every year. Just a few hours can provide some relief for the usual crew, who do such a good job.
If you can help out, please contact me.
My photographs are taken from the collection of Jo Roesen, who has been a P.Way Volunteer since the year dot. My thanks to him for giving me his permission to use them.
If you want to see how the Railway edged westwards from a P.Way perspective, join Lobbychat and you can see them all. They are remarkable and will bring back many memories to those of you who were here in "the good old days".
Lobbychat can be found at www.lobbychat.co.uk
Friday, 20 May 2011
First Go!
Let me say first of all that I’m not sure if I am using this Blog for its intended purpose! I think that it should be used as a Diary, but I shall be adding retrospective thoughts and pictures to explain what I am trying to achieve as Chairman.
My work is on three fronts; as a P.Way Volunteer, as Director for Volunteering and as Chairman;
On P.Way I repair and renew track and drainage, under our new Manager Jamie Douglas.
As Director for Volunteering, I listen to our Volunteers and want every one of them to feel able to contact me. They can do so either by E-Mail, face to face or by phone.
As Chairman I want to steer the ship in slightly different direction. Without losing sight of our financial responsibilities, I want the Board and the Management team to understand the true worth of our Volunteers. I want people put first and I want “the fun factor” back again. Commercial pressures and financial crises have drained away the pure enjoyment of having a real Railway as our hobby.
Over the course of the next few weeks I shall be adding to the above, giving some examples of how we have moved forward.
If you are an ex-Volunteer, we need you, please come back.
Contact me via my E-Mail address (chair@kesr.org.uk) and let me help you re-join the Railway.