AGM 2011
 

Treasurer
Marion Thornton presented the Railway Ramblers’ accounts for 2010 (see Appendix 2), copies having been distributed to those present. In summary, the club had once again produced a surplus, this year amounting to £179.65, as a result of which the General Fund stood at £11,489.31. The Footpath Fund stood at £5,966.64. Subscriptions were less than in 2009 because there were fewer new members, but more income had been received from renewals. Donations had remained almost static.

The costs of the magazine had increased because the club had ordered more copies with more pages. The distribution costs were also higher because they included postage paid in January and December 2010 (i.e. for 5 issues instead of the usual 4), while the larger magazines had pushed postage into the more expensive ‘large letter’ rate.

Area expenses had been claimed by the Chilterns, Eastern, Midlands, North Western, Southern, Welsh and Yorkshire groups – all within the £2.50 per member capitation rate, as agreed. As this had now increased to £3.50 per member, Marion expected a small total increase in area expenses during 2011. She considered it likely that there would be an excess of expenditure over income in 2011, but in view of the club’s significant reserves did not recommend an increase in subscriptions. Income into the Footpath Fund had remained constant, the donations being from members who chose to add a little to their subscription.

She thanked members for their support and co-operation throughout the year, and especially Nick Hartshorne for acting as Independent Accounts Examiner. There were no questions, but Nick drew attention to four large donations, namely £50 from both of D. Egginson and G.. Singleton, and two from Mrs V. Barron totalling £260. It was agreed that the Chairman should write to each and thank them for their generosity.

Marion concluded by proposing the accounts for adoption. This was seconded by Mark Jones and carried unanimously.

Membership Secretary
Membership Secretary. Pete Walker distributed a report to the meeting (see Appendix 3) and suggested that, over the past three years, the increase and subsequent decrease in members was largely the result of the ‘Julia Bradbury Factor’, i.e. her ‘Railway Walks’ TV series which encouraged people to join who later dropped out as their interest waned. As agreed at the previous AGM, the Chairman had written to a sample of lapsed new members to ascertain their reasons for not renewing, but the responses did not reveal any trends or exceptional reasons. Pete concluded that the lapses were definitely not the result of anything that the club was or was not doing. He concluded by proposing his report for adoption. This was seconded by Fred Thornton and approved unanimously.

Magazine Editor
David Brace reported that, during 2010, he had produced 4 quarterly issues of ‘Railway Ramblings’, two with 48 pages and two with 60 pages of content. He endeavoured to provide a mix of news, articles, letters and pictures together with walks programmes and write-ups of walks undertaken in different areas around the country. He also endeavoured to publish everything that was submitted, even if some material had to be held over due to lack of space. Some articles and letters were published relating to overseas railways, particularly France, Spain and the USA.

Following last year’s AGM, David undertook to carry out a survey of members to try to establish what they wanted from their magazine. He had previously been led to believe (rightly or wrongly) that a minority, possibly as low as 20%, took part in walks and that, for the remaining 80%, the magazine was all that they received for their subscription. The object therefore should have been to provide a balanced, illustrated magazine for all readers that gave a mix of education, history and entertainment, and perhaps less of the future walks programme. How wrong he proved to be from the results sent in by about 130 members out of a total of 750.

The survey was sent out in electronic or hard copy format and replies were accepted in the same formats. It was inevitable perhaps, in hindsight, that the vociferous minority who had very set views on the purpose of the magazine should have dominated the responses. Whilst some questions were provocative to elicit confirmation of a view (such as whether the magazine should only be issued in electronic form), the overall parochial view that no changes should be made to form, size and content was sad. Despite the articles and lively correspondence on overseas railways, an overwhelming majority wanted to see nothing foreign.

For those areas with an active walks programme there was a clear message that very detailed instructions should be printed even if it resulted in less content devoted to other aspects. Indeed, one respondent made it clear that he had no interest in any articles at all let alone the witterings of the editor! David was also saddened that his style of editorship did not appeal to some members.

Despite this, he was prepared to continue and to gradually try to align the content with members’ wishes but, through the national committee, he became aware of more vitriolic comments with very negative views about the design and style of the questionnaire. However, these views were not sent to him personally as a committee member. He took the job on after a particularly difficult work period leading to redundancy and was still recovering from stress. Regardless of that, he did not believe that the club’s officers should be subjected to such treatment and consequently decided to stand down. He is still a member of RR and still participates in local area walks, also helping to lead a few.

Now the dust had settled and he had reviewed the issues, he still had quite strong views about RR, its management overall and the specific issues around the magazine. These were:

Despite all this, David wished the new editor, Jonathan Dawson, every success in his new role. He also thanked Jeff Vinter for stepping in to produce the most recent magazine. Jeff had broken many of the rules that he was trying not to break, but appeared to have got away with it!

David’s report was seconded by Yvonne Martin and approved unanimously.

Magazine Distribution Officer
Rupert Nicholson reported that the last year had been a busy one for him as the Magazine Distribution Officer, and he acknowledged the help of local member Phil Chadwick who gallantly helped with the stuffing and mailing. As last year, he and Phil had aimed to have the magazine on members’ doormats fairly promptly. In the process, it was interesting to note how far and wide geographically members were spread, a few, it seemed, living in former railway stations themselves. Rupert was putting his name forward to continue but had decided to step down from the role during the course of the year, so he invited a new pair of hands to take on the job with the offer of distance-training. He had held the role for six years now and had seen the membership more or less double. He closed by inviting members to consider whether they could take over, the main requisite being a patient wife or husband who didn’t mind one room being taken over by magazines and envelopes once a quarter – though not taken over to a great degree!

Webmaster
Jeff Vinter distributed a report to the members present (see Appendix 4) and summarised the main points as follows:

He had answered all email enquiries from the website, which currently required 30-60 minutes per day (and sometimes more), and completed Vinter’s Railway Gazetteer for The History Press, which was published in April and should produce more new members in due course. One problem in the near future was the anticipated exhaustion of website addresses in September 2011, which was likely to cause increased costs as telecommunications and Internet companies passed on their re-development costs to consumers. The club could even lose its free web-hosting package if BT decided that such products were now unaffordable.

Jeff had also investigated a number of issues that arose partly from suggestions made via David Brace’s recent questionnaire. His responses were as follows:

Jeff referred members briefly to the various statistics in his report, and emphasised the need to protect members’ privacy on the website (a view supported by Fred Thornton). His report was seconded by David Taylor and approved unanimously.

REPORTS FROM AREA GROUPS
Several area organisers were present at the meeting, with others having submitted written reports in advance.

Chilterns
Geoff Sargeant reported that, since the last AGM and with the contributions of several members, the Chilterns Area had maintained an active programme from August, much of it straying into the adjoining Eastern, Midlands and Greater London areas. This included rambles following the Alexandra Palace branch, Harpenden to Luton, the Nickey line to Hemel Hempstead, the Brill Tramway, Hatfield to St. Albans, the Blackwater Valley line to Maldon, the Buntingford branch, the west end of the Flitch Way, and the junction complex on the Great Central Railway at Woodford Halse. The area also enjoyed organised visits to St. Pancras station and a garden railway in action at Bishops Stortford. Walks of aquatic interest were organised along the course of the Fleet River, the Paddington and Slough branches of the Grand Union Canal, the London end of the New River, and the Northern Outfall Sewer (including the Olympic developments at Stratford and the old dock entrances near Beckton). For all of this, Geoff extended thanks to Phil Wood, Dave Scott, Mick Boggis, Steven Ruff, and Roger Cleaver. The support on walks averaged about ten members but varied widely, from a near-record low of two up to about sixty (including several other groups).

Eastern
The Secretary read out Phil Wood’s report, which listed the walks undertaken during the year as Lavenham to Sudbury via Long Melford, part of the Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea branch, Witham to Maldon, the Buntingford branch and Felsted to Braintree. He had also again run his popular annual film show just after Christmas.

Midlands, East & West
No report had been received

Midlands, South
Barry Bubb reported that the South Midlands Area had organised three walks and one train ride during the year and, additionally, he had participated in two Southern Area walks. He announced that he would be standing down at the end of September this year, his last organised walk being on 17 September. He had taken this decision for personal reasons after 22 years as Area Organiser. He would continue his membership of the Club and hoped to join other areas’ walks when possible.

Nosrth East
The Secretary read out Ian Black’s report, in which he referred to the area’s contribution in finding the venue for the previous AGM and arranging the associated AGM walks. These comprised a 5 mile circular walk of Durham on Saturday morning, which included visits to the former stations at Gilesgate, now a Travelodge where several members stayed over the weekend, and Elvet. On the Sunday, the area arranged a 9 mile linear walk from Middleton-on-Tees along the trackbed of the former Tees Valley branch, finishing at Barnard Castle, while on Monday it led a 9 mile double circular walk from Ramshaw, on the former Haggerleaze branch and the former Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle line. A picture of the group, taken on Sunday on the Lune Viaduct, featured on the cover of the Autumn 2010 edition of ‘Railway Ramblings’.

North West
Mark Jones reported that the North West group had had another successful year in 2010 with increasing numbers attending walks and many new friendships being formed. Close to home, members enjoyed walks on the Lancashire coast at Glasson Dock and Knott End, as well as a fascinating day on the Peak Line including rare access to the private stretch east of Bakewell. Further afield, members enjoyed a week in Norfolk, plus shorter breaks based in Castle Douglas (south west Scotland) and Barmouth (mid Wales). Mark thanked all those who had supported the group’s events over the year, especially the walk leaders Bernard Parkinson, Fred Thornton, Brian Slater and Chris Parker, as well as Phillip Earnshaw for his tireless devotion to the cause.

Scotland
The Secretary read out Tony Jervis’s report which revealed that, despite the continued lack of an organiser prepared to arrange a programme of walks, there were at least ten rambles along old railways in Scotland during 2010. Proposed walks were now called by individual members who had a free day available and were willing to use it for a walk. These were often put forward at relatively short notice, and sometimes with minimal details for other interested members to travel to join in the walk, or return home afterwards. The concentration of members in the central belt had meant that most walks had taken place in that relatively well-populated area, but there had also been visits to rural Ayrshire, Perthshire and northern Argyll. A similar situation was applying in 2011, sometimes resulting in virtually identical walks taking place less than a week or two apart, but led by different members.

Southern
Graham Lambert reported that the Southern Area was very active and fortunate in having several walk leaders. An annual planning meeting in February ensured that a walk per month was arranged, and the group now had a programme organised until June 2012. Walks in 2010 included the annual ‘Capital Bash’ in January (covering the Bricklayers Arms branch), Basingstoke to Alton, Mill Hill East to Bushey Heath, a minibus tour of the Abbotsbury and Bridport branches, Guildford to Cranleigh, Swindon Town to Cricklade, Shanklin to Ventnor, Romsey to Stockbridge, and Henfield to Shoreham-by-Sea. Unfortunately, heavy snow in December put paid to a Winchester Great Western walk and social event.

South West
Jeff Vinter reported that the South Western Area had been moribund during 2010, although the Southern Area had run several walks in the region, and sent copies of its newsletter to all members living there. Recently, Jeff had volunteered to revive the area from July 2012, when he would have fulfilled his obligations as a walk leader for the Southern group. He planned to arrange about 4 walks per year, all during the (supposedly) better weather, and had been encouraged by the response so far from local members, some of whom were already delivering on promises to assist him. He hoped to run the group on a co-operative basis and saw his role as an ‘expediter’ who could provide advice and resources. He was particularly grateful to Mark Jones, who had offered to lead one walk per year in the region when visiting his mother, who lives in Somerset. With assistance from Phil Earnshaw and others, Mark would also be one of a team running a week’s worth of railway walks in north Somerset between 1 and 8 April 2012. Details of this and other events (all in the planning stage) had been published on the Message Board attached to the club’s website.

Wales
Chris Parker reported that he had accepted the invitation to become Area Contact for Wales in October 2010, having delayed this until he was set up online at home. The main club activity in Wales during the year was when the North West and Yorkshire groups met for an extended weekend based at Barmouth. In October, Chris also contributed to a repeat of a previous walk covering sections of the Mawddwy Railway and its feeder, the Hendre Ddu Tramway. This was of note in that 16 members from no less than 7 of the club's areas (but no-one from Wales itself!) took part. Otherwise, Chris had reconnoitred the Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway, the Tylwch to Marteg section of the Mid Wales Railway, and, just on the English side of the border, the Gobowen to Nantmawr line, all of which had since been included in the 2011 programme. Chris remained very conscious that little support for these walks was coming from within Wales, but he had maintained contact with the Welsh Railways Research Circle and, at the very end of the year, obtained a current list of RR members living in Wales with a view to increasing the indigenous active membership; he had since pursued this with some success. He concluded by saying that he should have rather more to report next year.

Yorkshire
The Chairman read out a report from Jane Ellis, in which she stated that, in addition to the group’s regular day walks, members had joined the North West branch and friends from other parts of the country for three very good trips away, and were really favoured with the weather on each occasion. A springtime week exploring the many closed lines in the flat lands of Norfolk was much enjoyed, while a Snowdonia trip provided very different landscapes and something quite unusual for the mountains – several days of cloudless skies and amazingly warm weather for October. The area’s Galloway trip was also a real eye-opener, covering an area not too well known but with a wealth of railway remains – in particular, members would not forget the spectacular Big Water of Fleet Viaduct. A few members stayed on for the week there and spent a glorious day taking the early ferry from Stranraer to Belfast, then riding up the Irish coast on a ‘Thumper’ to Carrickfergus to visit the old gasworks museum, where they were made very welcome.

Looking back over the year, the sun shone on most of the group’s walks, and a really fine summer’s day saw them at the seaside, walking the Butlins’ Holiday Camp branch at Filey. Viaducts had featured in profusion – walking across the huge example at Tadcaster was a first for the group, as was a visit to the viaduct crossing the River Trent at Torksey, although this was not quite so easily accessible.

A new type of excursion was not a railway trackbed walk as such, but a day looking at the complex system of junctions, all currently in use, around South Milford. In the same area, the group’s Christmas walk covered part of the East Coast Main Line diversion, and participants were lucky to be accompanied by the project designer, RR member John Meredith, who told them about this major engineering task.

Members were fortunate that the severe winter weather did not affect any of the area’s walks, but the same could not be said for the indoor Video Day! A snowball had broken the window of the room in York booked for this event, and with no heating available members had to contend with an icy northerly blast as an accompaniment to the day’s films.

Tony Thompson added that he had joined walks from several areas and felt it was essential that these continue to be fully detailed in the magazine. He thanked all walk leaders for their continued efforts in making the club what it is today.

MEMBERS' MOTIONS
No members' motions had been received.

• Railway Ramblers website: 55
• Via existing member: 16
• Along Lost Lines by Paul Atterbury: 6
• ‘Railway Walks’, BBC4: 5
• RR stand at Watercress Line, 6 November 2010: 4
• Disused-Stations.org website: 3
• Jeff Vinter’s books: 2
• Old members re-joined: 2
• ‘Underground News’: 1
• Leaflet in Leytonstone Library: 1
• A Walk Along the Tracks by Hunter Davies: 1
• Branch Line Britain by Paul Atterbury: 1
• Oakwood Press display at Tintern station: 1

Quarter	Jan-Mar	Apr-Jun	Jul-Sep	Oct-Dec
East Midlands	4	0	2	3
West Midlands	2	1	3	1
South Midlands	4	1	3	0
Eastern	6	2	4	4
Chilterns	10	4	7	3
Southern	15	0	9	3
South West	7	2	6	3
Scotland	4	4	2	1
North West	7	2	4	2
North East	0	2	1	1
Yorkshire	4	1	1	3
Wales	2	1	4	3
Overseas	1	0	0	0
Quarterly Totals	66	20	48	27
Year's Total	159