25 September 2024 Watercress Line Film Unit

Presenter: Will Stratford

The Chichester Branch’s 2024/25 Indoor Meeting Programme got off to an excellent start with a highly interesting and entertaining presentation by Will Stratford, who heads up the Watercress Line’s Films Unit.  Will works as a signaller in Network Rail’s Thames Valley Signalling Centre, located in Didcot – his 3x12-hour shifts per week allow plenty of free time to pursue his many railway interests.

A team of five photographers support Will in his work at the Watercress Line, and as well as video, they make good use of drone footage and time-lapse photography.  For the former, Will has a friend with a pocket-size drone and for the latter with the co-operation of the volunteers at Ropley Shed.  The original plan was to make videos to support volunteer recruitment, but this grew into various series such as ‘Keeping You in the Loop’, ‘Working On It’ (used for training purposes / work experience) and one-off specials such as ‘What’s in a Name’ and ‘A Brush With Controversy’.  The majority of these can be viewed on YouTube, and similar platforms.  Will does the majority of the planning, editing, some voice-over, and appears regularly as a presenter.

Will is an accomplished speaker and is definitely recommended.