17 December 2019 · An Evening with Gordon Pettitt preceded by the Branch AGM
Presenter: Gordon Pettitt
The meeting held on 17 December 2019 comprised the Branch AGM and ‘An evening with Gordon Pettitt’ separated by an interval for socialising and enjoying some excellent refreshments provided by our Treasurer Irene Rabbitts and Indoor Fixtures Secretary Tom Kolisch. Fifty six members and visitors were present. The Branch prepares and circulates to members a written report so that the AGM can be conducted quickly and thoroughly and this was achieved without having to curtail the opportunity for members to raise any matters of concern.
The refreshments were excellent, and our thanks go to Irene and Tom for their preparation.
Surrey Branch is fortunate in having Gordon Pettitt living locally and attending some of our meetings. He told us about his career on the railway which started in 1950 and finished 42 years later, when he retired as Managing Director, Regional Railways, ‘fifteen different jobs on the railway – a wonderful career’. He started work at the Eastern Region (LNER wartime) headquarters at Knebworth, with a good view of the activity on the East Coast Main Line, dealing with Guards Journals but learning, by listening and observing, what everyone did to run the railway. He was called up to do his National Service and posted to Germany where he was responsible for monitoring the Military trains run by German Railways (DB) for the British Army. With the help of a footplate pass there were many interesting journeys watching the DB in action. Comparisons with home were inevitable, for example ‘all German wagons had continuous brakes’ (how did we cope without them?).
On demob from the Army he returned to Knebworth, in Control, before passing the examination to become a Management Trainee. This three year course provided a deep insight into the workings of the Eastern Region and gave opportunities for visiting the distant parts of the system and riding on the footplate, learning the road and timing the train. There was a setback when Gordon was discovered to be colour blind which pushed his career more to the commercial aspects of management and for the next 10 years he worked in various posts at Sheffield, York and London. Then followed 18 months at Paddington where things were ‘quite different’. The HSTs were being brought into service and a recast timetable was introduced to improve their utilization. He was also involved in breaking the steam ban. In 1979 he became Divisional Manager at Liverpool Street in charge of 6000 people and 150 route miles of railway. With industrial relations and recruitment problems, a very busy railway and the rebuilding of Liverpool Street station to get through, this was a big job. At this point our time ran out, and we had to finish, in the strong hope there will be more to come.
Gordon discussed and answered the many points and questions brought up by the audience during his talk. We were delighted to welcome him and his wife, Ursula, at our Christmas meeting. A very enjoyable evening.