SVR Rolling Stock Trust

		Hugh McQuade, Chairman A lifelong railway enthusiast from my pram, and descendent of Darlington Works engineers, I have been an SVR volunteer from the age of 17. After 21 years service on BR at Paddington, Saltley and Bescot, I took voluntary redundancy and joined the SVR full-time staff as Paintshop Supervisor at Kidderminster. As chairman of the LNER(SVR) Coach Fund, and Team Leader at Bridgnorth Carriage Dept, my association with the Rolling Stock Trust began when I was invited to join as 'carriage expert' in an advisory role. Closely involved with the acquisition of vehicles 4509 and 35219 by the Trust, and with the practical issues of conversion of 4690, and the use of our contractor on 9084, the last two years have been busy for me with Trust works. I intend to use my unique position as Trust Chairman, SVR(H) Supervisor, SVR(G) volunteer, and LNER(SVR) Coach Fund trustee to the full to the benefit of as many carriages as possible, while building up the fundraising profile with a view to restoring loco 7819 back to working order.
		Stewart Clark, Company Secretary Very early in its history, I had joined the SVR, following a visit by an ‘LNER Society’ ‘Merrymaker’ excursion. The line was not open then and later I joined and quickly became Chairman of the South East Branch. I made the mistake of asking ‘what happens in the day time’ and so after a couple of hours playing with pannier axle boxes, I was a Member of Bridgnorth Carriage and Wagon, and by default the South East Branch representative of SVRA. I have for many years been Secretary both of the LMS&BR and the LNER(SVR) Coach Funds and have played a small part in the restoration and repair of many coaches at Bridgnorth.
		Roger Scanlon, Membership Secretary & SVRA rep Roger has been a working member of the SVR since 1971, arriving with 46521 which together with other members of the MPD he helped restore to traffic in 1974. His principle interests are in the locomotive fleet but he was involved with the selection and acquisition of some of the first MkI vehicles on the SVR. A driver with 27 years experience and a former locomotive crew roster clerk, he was appointed the SVR Association's Director on the Rolling Stock Fund. In daily life Roger is a professional railway man and since 1991 has almost exclusively worked with traction and rolling stock projects.
		Chris Thomas, Director A chartered electrical engineer, Chris works as an independent consultant in energy regulation and renewables. His first love, however, is railways and he always intended to be a career railwayman, though sadly, government policy did not permit such ambition long term. Being self employed does at least enable flexibility with attendance at SVR, as well as a home in earshot of whistles. A dedicated and smitten volunteer since 1969, Chris is a guard, signalman, duty officer, past OS and SM, director of SVRH, chairman of engineering committee, and Bridgnorth stalwart. His wife and two sons have to join in, or not see him!
		Paul Thursfield, Treasurer Born in 1952 in Sutton Coldfield, Paul is a qualified Chartered accountant working in industry. He joined the SVR in 1980 as a working member in the Carriage & Wagon Department at Bridgnorth. He moved to live in Bridgnorth in 1986 to become a more active volunteer and has also worked as a Travelling Ticket Inspector and Booking Office clerk. Paul is also a regular Steward and Assistant Chef on the Severn Valley Venturer.
		Alvin Barker, SVRH rep Alvin is a Chartered Builder by profession and has been a member of SVR since 1973 and a working member since 1978. At Board level he is Chairman of the Safety Committee and a member of the Engineering, Members & Shareholders Benefit Committees and is one of the SVR representatives to the HRA. He is also a Trustee of the SVRA and Chairman of the Cheshire Branch. His main interests are with the locomotive department and his main claim to fame regarding coaches being in the construction of the Bridgnorth C & W hut.
		Alan Osborne, Director
		Paul Fathers, Director – Gifts and Legacies contact Paul began working on the SVR when he was a schoolboy, back in 1967. He has been a volunteer ever since and has been involved in a number of SVR projects. Paul has served as deputy chairman of the SVR Rolling Stock Trust from its establishment in 2002, having also served on the SVR (Holdings) plc company board as a director and chairman. He believes the Trust has a key role to play in helping secure the unique collection of locomotives, carriages and wagons for use on the SVR. If you are considering a gift or legacy to assist the Trust with its aims then please contact Paul on 07899 676799.
		Neil Dancer, Director Recently retired as Chief Engineer for Birmingham City Council after a career where he has practiced as a Civil Engineer in the West Midlands, majoring in infrastructure, environmental and development projects. He is currently a Council Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and is pleased that the Severn Valley Railway is nationally recognised by the Institute as a heritage engineering entity. Neil has long admired the SVR and when the opportunity arose to join the SVR Rolling Stock Trust, after a one year mutual introduction period, he was very pleased to become a director. As a ‘Shropshire Lad’, putting something back into the County also fulfils another of his aims.
		Paul Hobson, Director Paul became involved in the SVR in 1965 and began working as a volunteer on the Permanent Way in 1966. After the railway re-opened in 1970 he went on to join the platform staff at Hampton Loade. Paul is currently a Fireman based at Bewdley. He spent 34 years with Barclay’s Bank completing his service as a Rural Manager. He has applied his knowledge of finance to the SVR as Treasurer to the Kidderminster Branch of the Severn Valley Railway Association for which he also serves as Branch representative and as a Trustee. Paul was the SVRA representative on the SVR (Holdings) Board between 1998 and 2003. He works as a signalman for Network Rail.
		Chris Smyth, HRA rep Chris Smyth BSc CEng, Heritage Railway Association nominee to SVRRST; retired Chartered Engineer; board member HRA (Chairman Education Committee, Secretary Training Committee, Organiser Carriage and Wagon Competition); Trustee, Vintage Carriages Trust; working member KWVR (railcar driver, guard, responsible officer). SVR member and small shareholder. Also member of various transport heritage related bodies.
		David Williams, SVRG rep David joined the SVR early in 1966, some seven months after the preservation scheme started, when the label “mission impossible” still applied. Very soon he was editing the quarterly “Severn Valley Railway News”, a task that he has continued for 170 issues to date. He was instrumental in helping to originate three locomotive preservation schemes, for 43106, 80079 and 75069, and has taken a personal interest in supporting several other locomotive and rolling stock funds. He was on the first firing course for outsiders, and similarly for driving, spending fourteen years on the footplate, based at both Bridgnorth and Bewdley, on duty almost every weekend. Other work has included writing/compiling guide and stock books, and providing SVR slide shows. David was on the committee of the original SVR Society from 1967 to 1970, and became a Director of Severn Valley Railway Company Ltd in 1972, being elected Chairman in 1979. He is currently one of the Company’s nominees to the SVR (Holdings) Board, and has been Deputy Chairman of the Joint Board of the two companies which has managed the Railway for the past four years. He was an engineering designer in Birmingham for 42 years, eight at GEC Traction at Witton and the remainder at Metro-Cammell (later Alstom) at Washwood Heath until the end of 2003. David’s hobbies include railway study, photography and travel.