Newsletter No 59 Jan 2014 (PDF file)

Newsletter No 59
Editor; David Kilner
January 2014
2013 EMF 40th Anniversary – Success and Sadness.
The last year brought a great sense of fulfilment in celebrating 40 years of achievement, with Erlestoke
visiting various parts of the country and Bradley’s overhaul progressing well. However, very sadly we
also had news of the loss of our President.
Brian Ward-Ellison
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing on 7th
August of Brian Ward-Ellison, our EMF President, after a short
illness. Brian became President after many years serving as
Chairman of the Fund during its formative years when much was
achieved. Firstly Erlestoke Manor was restored and performed on
main line specials. Then Bradley Manor was purchased, eventually
also to feature even more prominently on the main line. Brian’s
efforts contributed significantly towards these achievements.
Brian had always been a great enthusiast of anything transport related, and
was actively involved with preservation projects covering trams, canals,
buses and railways. His particular interests covered the North Eastern
Loco Preservation Group (reflecting his strong Yorkshire loyalties), the
Stroudwater Canal Group, as well as his favourite EMF. Brian had been
the public face of our Fund at milestone events such as the first re-entry to
service of Erlestoke Manor in the summer of 1979. His considerable
efforts on the fund raising side, procuring railwayana and other stocks for
the sales coach, greatly contributed to the success of the Fund.
Our former EMF Chairman, Stewart Blencowe writes “In many respects
his background and up-bringing taught him to play a straight bat with an
appropriate respect for rules and regulations. There was always a fair
degree of 'kidology', never malicious, more to promote debate and
argument - which it often did, and sometimes 'playing devils advocate' if
he felt he was losing the argument! In later times he rather regretted his
earlier years spent in the advertising world where the ethics could
sometimes border on the dubious, for Brian was essentially a very honest
person. This was never better illustrated than one day on a sales stand
where a prospective customer was showing interest in a certain video.
Brian whispered to me, ‘I watched that one last night – it’s a load of
rubbish’. Before I had a chance to respond Brian had engaged our customer with, ‘Ney lad, thar doesn’t want to go buying
that, it’s rubbish!’ I had to bite my tongue after the customer bought the video and Brian had replied –‘Now lad, that’s how we
sell in Yorkshire!’
A funeral service was held at Gloucester Crematorium on 21st August at which several members and trustees of the Fund
attended. An address was given by former EMF Chairman, Stewart Blencowe and we are much indebted to Brian’s family for
dedicating a collection arranged in Brian’s memory to EMF which will fund the toolboxes on the new tender.
7812 on Tour – Llangollen, West Somerset and … Worth Valley!
Erlestoke has recently featured at four autumn galas, Llangollen, West Somerset, Keighley and Worth Valley, and
of course Severn Valley’s own gala. The loco has pushed at the railhead limits towards Corwen in the Dee Valley
in August and then in early October met up with three Manor classmates in Minehead which all performed
faultlessly throughout the 4 day gala. 7812 then barked up the Pennines towards Oxenhope a week later!
Remembering that it went to Bodmin only a year ago, Erlestoke must have established a clear record for Manors in
the amount of road mileage on a low loader! The Editor’s particular memory is of a faultless departure on the
sharply curving steep gradient out of Keighley with six coaches, the leading one behind 7812 being the recently
restored Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Blackpool Club Car. Some evocative pictures on the following pages
record some highlights of these travels.
Llangollen Gala Aug 31st; 7812 & 7822 double head the 12.55 departure non stop through Berwyn. (photo by Dave Giddins)
7802 on the turntable at Minehead. 5th
October 2013
Photo by D Kilner.
Minehead 5th Oct 2013; Four Manors on shed! 7812 centre, 7822 (left), 7827
(in lined black livery on right) and 7828 behind. (Photo by David Kilner)
7812 at Keighley on 11th October departing at 13.19
(left) on 4 coach local to Damems and having returned
(right) twenty minutes later.
(photos by Dave Kilner)
Fund Shop Restoration – Graham Stevens
Following a request from Fund Shop Manager, Graham Stevens, to fellow-trustee and driver Dave Link for ‘a bit of patching
to a couple of holes in the end doors’ (which resulted in the end doors having much rotten wood removed filled and then
having several coats of paint applied), Dave then said ‘We
might as well have a look at the other end as well – just in
case…’. What followed then was a stripping, filling sanding and
painting exercise for the entire coach including the roof which
hadn’t been touched for many years.
Photo by Graham Stevens
As with every task on the railway, this resulted in a significant
investment of several hundred man-hours with the application
of final gloss coat to the sides completed at the end of
September. A new coach roof signboard has also been provided
by Dave Kilner. Many thanks to all involved in this project with
special thanks to Dave Link, Dave McFall, Dave Adams, John
Whitcomb and Graham Stevens for the time and effort invested.
Hopefully it will be many years before this process will need to
be repeated.
EMF now on Facebook – Chris Field
Since July, Erlestoke Manor Fund has had a facebook page on the internet in addition to our website. This is a similar set up to
the one Mike Solloway (also an EMF shareholder) has created for the Dinmore Manor Fund, and one which has proved to be
an effective tool with their group. For right up to the minute news on our locos, this could be the site to visit.
EMF 40th Anniversary
On Saturday August 3rd, Erlestoke Manor hauled a celebratory evening special composed of the three vintage
GWR coaches from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth for EMF shareholders. A special headboard constructed by Terry
Howes was carried by the loco and later became the prize for a fund raising raffle conducted during the trip. At
Bridgnorth, refreshments had been arranged by Graham and Trish Stevens and a wonderful 40th Anniversary cake
(shown below) which had been prepared and baked by Margaret Rainbow, wife of our Vice President Bernard, was
cut to complete the occasion. Our very grateful thanks to them all for their efforts in marking the occasion.
7812 heads anniversary 3 coach Evening
Special 3rd August. Headboard by Terry
Howes (Photo by Des Ainsworth)
7802 Overhaul Progress
Good progress at Tyseley has been achieved on Bradley Manor’s chassis which has now been fully re-wheeled with brake
rigging in the process of being re-fitted. Tyseley contract works have included re-profiling the driving wheels, remetalling the
axle boxes, re-bushing the motion, cylinder re-boring and fitting new slide bars and carrying out non-destructive testing where
required. Additionally Tyseley was commissioned to replace the rear dragbox plate and adjacent platework which had been
heavily pitted. Tyseley were further engaged to fabricate a replacement firebox doorplate using Dinmore Manor Fund’s former
which had been recently used for their own new doorplate. Our doorplate has now been formed and delivered on 4th December
to Bridgnorth for the SVR boilershop to fit to the firebox. EMF volunteer work parties at Tyseley continue to be well attended,
sometimes 8 or 9 strong and showing a presence frequently on 2-3 days per week. This has enabled the intense effort required
to dismantle, scrape everything back to bare metal, linish, prime, repaint and finally reassemble to keep up with the contract
works by Tyseley works own team.
7802 Driving wheels in Tyseley wheel
lathe, July 2013 (Photo by Des Ainsworth)
Re-wheeled chassis in Tyseley
works Dec 2013 (Photo by D Kilner)
Boiler Update
The new steel door plate has been completed at Tyseley (left), and since
transported to Bridgnorth. This renewal has been funded by EMF. The
copper (inner) door plate and tubeplate have also been repaired at LNWR
Crewe and returned to Bridgnorth enabling further substantial progress on
the boiler overhaul to be made in the near future. All looks on course for
Bradley’s return to service sometime during the coming year.
The Tender and Boiler Appeal total subscribed or pledged has now reached
£26.3k, a magnificent effort! This is still open and further share applications
to help fund the new 3500 gallon tender for 7802 with cheques (payable to
Erlestoke Manor Fund) can be sent to Dave Kilner, address as below.
Additional Trustees
In order for administration duties to be properly covered and assist with succession planning, it is proposed that two
additional trustees are to be appointed bringing the current maximum of seven (as stipulated by the Constitution) up
to nine. A shareholder referendum to adjust the Constitution would normally be required to validate this. However
as it may not be considered controversial, unless written objections are received by 31st January, it is proposed to
proceed on the basis that shareholders have accepted the proposal. Any objections, clearly stating the grounds for
objection, should be sent to Dave Kilner by email on [email protected] or at 3 Woodbury Park,
Holt Heath, Worcester WR6 6NT.
Chairman Terry Jenkins urges “that younger blood with organising ability
is now needed to start handing the Fund on to the next generation.
Engaging them now actively in Fund management helps to ensure future
continuity.”
Diary date for “Obbo” trip.
The next shareholders observation saloon trip on the SVR is planned for
Friday 18th July 2014, morning departure from Kidderminster 11.45am,
afternoon departure approx 3.30pm. You can reserve places now with
Dave Kilner, details as above (or tel 01905 621048).
Here’s wishing a Happy New Year to all our shareholders!
The 6.05pm Evening Mail from Aberystwyth; fireman John Davies awaits
right away on 7812 at Machynlleth. Aug 1964. (Copyright Ray Smith)

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