AGM followed by Images from the 60s and 70s by Keith Partlow.

The Ipswich branch held its AGM on December 11^th and after the usual formalities the committee were re elected unanimously. David Beecroft, retired as Chairman, but remains on the committee,John Day is now Chairman, Glen Richards is the new Vice Chairman, Bev Steele is still Secretary but gave notice that he would stand down in 2024 and Chris Ignatowicz stood down as Treasurer but will continue interim. Nigel Moffitt continues as Sales Officer. Our guest speaker was branch member Keith Partlow who gave a presentation from his photographic archive of the Railways in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire during the 1960’s and 1970’s, with nostalgic views of locomotives, lines and scenes that have long disappeared. Keith grew up near the busy railways of the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, starting work with the National Coal Board where his lifelong interest in railways grew. He also recorded some of the final workings on the Great Central including in the Loughborough and Nottingham Victoria area with steam locomotives in their last days, and the abandoned yards at Colwick and Annesley where many locomotives were stored awaiting their final journey. In 1967 during a school trip to York he captured an image of prototype loco DP2 just 3 weeks before its fatal crash at Thirsk. Some of the early diesel traction around those areas was also featured. When his job changed, he moved to Ipswich and has continued to record the transport revolution on the Great Eastern Network with all the inherited ex BR Stock now replaced by Stadler and Alstom new build units. He has also featured the expansion of the area freight services and many other workings, appearing to be always present when something unusual happens.