Here is an Archive of past Thames Valley Group News
December 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 16 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
September 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 15 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
July 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 14 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
May 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 13 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
March 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 11 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
February 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 10 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
January 2012
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 9 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
November 2011
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 8 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
September 2011
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 7 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
June 2011
Thames Valley Group Newsletter No. 6 is now online! Download it (as a PDF file) HERE!
December 2010 Latest
The Thames Valley Support Group met at Ardington on December 4th and, despite the cold, icy conditions, 15 of us were present. Chris used a briefing paper from chairman Peter Miles, who could not make it to update everyone on the current scene and then Trevor Garnham showed us snippets from his newly-produced DVD, titled "Gala Days - Vol3 ". It's a beautiful capture of LYD's visit to the railway in September. He really has used his photographic prowess to good effect and a round of applause at the end showed our appreciation. Then, to cap it all, sales, refreshments and donations yielded the magnificent sum of £134 towards Group funds. All in all a very good meeting.
Our next events are as follows :-
- Jan 8th/9th Kidlington, Exeter Hall
- Feb 12th Newbury, Park House School
- Mar 5th Abingdon, White Horse Leisure Centre (still to be confirmed)
- Mar 12th/13th Basingstoke, Aldworth Science College
- Mar 21st Coventry, presentation to the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (CW + TG)
- Apr 2nd Group Meeting at Ardington
- May 21st Witney, Methodist Church
If you can offer to do even a couple of hours manning our stand please contact me - I would be very grateful.
Chris Ward
August 2010 Update
Have recently returned from five days at Woody Bay (Moorlands Hotel ) and found the Railway in extremely good health . The station looked very clean and tidy whilst everything outside was very ready to serve all the passengers who were keen to embark on the next service to Killington Lane . Many super comments were heard about it all.
Our last Group Meeting at Aldington on May 22nd was well attended , with 29 members present , and we reviewed the current progress of the Railway and added in the information gleaned from the AGM . Coupled with Trevor Garnham's excellent videos taken at the Gala Days the previous weekend , the meeting then discussed various aspects of the forward plans in the area. With donations , the meeting raised £110 and with the cash in the bank, it was agreed that we send a contribution to the Heritage Coaches project which the Essex Group are carrying out to produce full-size carriages as soon as possible - £450 was donated to the project.
Our next events are:
- August 28th GROUP MEETING AT ARDINGTON at 2 pm - Loyd Lindsay Rooms , Ardington
- September ll/12th Reading Society of Model Engineers exhibition - Blessed Hugh Faringdon School , Southcote
- October 3rd Model & Craft exhibition at Tadley - Hurst Community College, Baughurst , Tadley
- Presentation to the Oxfordshire Railway Society - Seacourt Day Centre , Botley , Oxford
More opportunities to attend shows are always being looked for , so if you know of any taking place within our area , please let me know.
Trust Chairman, Peter Miles, will be attending our Group Meeting on August 28th so please do your best to come - with any interested friends. Refreshments , as usual , at 1.45 pm!
Chris Ward - Thames Valley Support Group.
June 2010 Update
- August 14th/15th: the Wolverton Works weekend with the 762 Club
- August 28th: OUR NEXT GROUP MEETING AT ARDINGTON
- September 11th/12th: Reading Society of Model Engineers exhibition
- October 3rd: Model & Craft exhibition at Baughurst (Tadley)
- October 13th: Presentation to the Oxfordshire Railway Society
January 2010 Update
The group meeting at Ardington on 17th October was well attended with 17 of us there. Peter Miles, our Trust Chairman, unfortunately, couldn’t make it but he did send us the following notes:
- AXE has had an excellent first season and copes easily with four fully-laden coaches starting uphill from Killington Lane
- Passenger numbers for 2009 are 25% above budget -32,500 at end of October.
- Sid has now returned from its major overhaul at Gartell’s and is running in nicely.
- Woody Bay Station continues to receive compliments (including the new toilets kitted out by us!)
- The planning application for the 9-mile stretch of line from Lynton to Wistlandpound is moving forward , with much detailed work involved winter work schedule is being planned covering such things as track maintenance, external work and painting on the station and on all 4 coaches, completion of more signalling and much more! Volunteers required!
- The October figures from Ian Cowling, Financial Controller, show total sales YTD of over £200,000 (10% over budget) and more passengers than at 2008 year End
Barry Marshall (Surrey Group Chairman) told us about the new Yeo Valley Trust , which has been set up with the aim of acquiring more trackbed from Barnstaple to Wistlandpound.
A meeting of Exmoor Associates included a walk over the most recently purchased 420 metres just outside Barnstaple. Nice to be so near our target!!
Trevor Garnham then showed us his most recent DVD of the Autumn Gala and this will be available in the New Year. Incidentally, Trevor has raised around £700 of profit for the Trust with his 2 DVDs covering the AXE Dedication and the last 3 years of Gala Days - (both available from Woody Bay shop). A magnificent solo effort you will agree.
Our Ardington meeting and the Banbury and Swindon exhibitions raised £300. Cash is understandably harder to obtain this year but an awful lot of talking to advertise the L&B has taken place.
Our next exhibitions are:
- Scoutrail at Kidlington on Sat/Sun, January 9th/10th
- Newbury on Sat, February 13th (to be confirmed)
- Basingstoke on Sat/Sun, March 13th/14th
Please let me know if you can help in manning our stand, even for just a few hours.
We have been asked to give presentations to the Alcester and District Railway Circle (Warwickshire) on February 15th and to the Oxfordshire Railway Society in Oxford on October 13th, so our fame is spreading!
OUR NEXT GROUP MEETING IS ON JANUARY 30th at ARDINGTON at 2pm
Agenda will include an update from Trust Chairman, Peter Miles , so please note the date and time and come along (We have to finish by 4pm).
Bettye and I are down for the first Santa Special weekend on December 12th/13th: Just hope the sun shines!
Regards to you and yours
Chris Ward
Our next exhibitions are:
- Jan 8th/9th Kidlington , Exeter Hall
- Feb 12th Newbury , Park House School
- Mar 5th Abingdon , White Horse Leisure Centre (still to be confirmed)
- Mar 12th/13th Basingstoke, Aldworth Science College
- Mar 21st Coventry, presentation to the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (CW + TG) Group Meeting at Ardington
- May 21st Witney, Methodist Church
If you can offer to do even a couple of hours manning our stand please contact me - I would be very grateful.
Chris Ward
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