17 December 2025 Local Heroes – Members Photos

Presenters: Roger Sandford & Ian McKey

Chichester Branch has long been convinced of the need to combine the AGM with a less formal presentation and in 2025 this traditional path was again followed with the AGM being preceded by two presentations using images from both past and present members. The first one was delivered by our current Chairman Roger Sandford showing images taken by a past holder of that post, the late Bruce Oliver.  For well over half a century, Bruce was a prolific photographer of the UK railway scene and although the southern half of the country was a favoured destination, he was not averse to travelling further afield.  Bruce was born early enough to witness steam in its prime as well illustrated by pictures that Roger showed of ‘Kings’ at Exeter St Davids and a ‘Britannia’ Pacific at Norwich Thorpe. However, Bruce realised before it was too late that representatives of other forms of traction would not last for ever and steam did not monopolise the presentation.  Our thanks to Roger for so diligently sorting through the images that Bruce donated to him over many years.

After the break we were brought right up to the present with Ian McKey taking us on a veritable Cooks tour of parts of Scotland financed largely by tickets offered in compensation for a serious delay caused by a traction failure on a previous trip. The stations featured were varied indeed ranging from Paisley Gilmour Street through Wemyss Bay to Wick.  As fate would have it Ian took what was probably one of the last, if not the last, shot of Class 66 66734 before the very next day it ploughed into a landslip near Corrour on the West Highland Line and plunged into Loch Trieg. It was never recovered and later cut up in situ.

Ian’s tour accompanied by some perceptive and witty commentary has reached the half way stage. Part 2 follows - watch this space!