Branch AGM & Members’ Slides

Meeting Held at Shenfield Parish Hall

At our AGM James Waite was installed as our first Branch President by unanimous vote. Jim was a founder member of the branch and has run it, almost single-handed at times, for years, stepping down as Chairman just two years ago. Not content with that, on his “retirement” he took on the role (with his wife Brenda) of providing our refreshments every month!

We then enjoyed a number of presentations from some of our members.

Geoff Brocket got us off to a great start with his recent pictures of the Isle of Man, including a 125 year-old steam loco, some newly built steam engines, horse-drawn and electric trams.

Guest David Johnson followed-on with a variety of shots from around 1965. Great Western and the S&D were a feature, plus a Scottish A4, scenes from the Isle of Wight, New Holland and Lancaster.

Mervyn Rogers treated us to Italian fayre. This ranged from steam in Tuscany (a Railway Touring Club tour in 2005), very interesting articulated electric locos and an ancient US switcher, followed by trains in Sicily including the train-ferry and onto Sardinia.

Alan Simpson’s theme was heritage and narrow gauge railways. This was a wide-ranging collection featuring many lines including the Bredgar & Wormshill, Sittingbourne & Kemsley, Mid-Suffolk, Old Kiln Light Railway and many others.

We finished with Rodger Green, our Chairman, who showed us some beautiful pictures drawn from recent calendars.

This rounded up an enjoyable evening with a nice range of material and seasonal food courtesy of the Waites and Smiths.