Greetings Cards
A variety of Steam Themed Greetings Cards have been added to the shop.
These are priced at six cards for £10.00 including P&P.
.
News
Ffos-y-fran Coal Mine Appeal
Ffos-y-fran Coal Mine Appeal
Dear Members,
We would like to ask our members to show support for the Ffos-y-fran Coal Mine Appeal.
You can send your letters of support to: steamcoal@hsgplc.co.uk. It is also suggested that you may send a copy to your local MP and any other political figure relevant to your region or club if writing on behalf of a society etc.
More information has been kindly provided by the NTET on their website.
Thank you
Steven Whittingstall
On behalf of the Committee
Website Updates
The Archive picture of the month and the Archive pictures gallery have been updated.
The Minutes from the June Committee Meeting have been added to the Members Area
Steven Whittingstall,
7 June 2023
Annual General Meeting
The 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 22nd April at 2:00 pm, in the Conference Room of the Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. A meeting of the Trustees of the Steam Plough Property Trust will follow the AGM.
The Museum opens at 10:00am and closes at 5:00pm. Members are free to tour the Museum facilities before or after the meetings within these times.
We have the offer of a guided tour of the museum before the AGM, and, a presentation by the Principal Archivist together with a display of objects of interest. Details will be available on the day. George King, Woodturner, will be displaying his scale model ploughing engine and implements which he showed at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year. A selection of publications, books and DVDs may also be available for purchase.
Refreshments will be available from the café in reception. They stock a range of sandwiches & cakes. If you want something more substantial, hot and cold lunches are also available in the University of Reading bar “The Dairy” next door. Please note that “The Dairy” operates cash-less tills. Also, everyone is welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the MERL garden where several picnic benches are available for your use.
Please let the Secretary know if you are coming along so we can arrange seating and advise the café staff. Looking forward to seeing you.
Dick Eastwood,
19 February 2023
Your Club Needs You
As you may know we are now in need of a Club Secretary. The role is a very straight forward one and requires a few hours of commitment per week and full training and support will be given. You will be involved in helping our club continue to run efficiently and work with the committee members to make sure that everything happens when it should. If you are interested in helping the club continue operating then please get in contact with Dick Eastwood.
The outline of the role is :
- Being a point of contact for enquiries via the Club, primarily via email system
- Organising and attending Club Committee meetings (including Annual General Meetings)
- Prepare and distribute Agenda
- Taking and distributing Minutes
- Dealing with correspondence
- Maintain up to date records and correspondence (via digital and paper method where appropriate)
Steven Whittingstall,
18 February 2023
Charlie Daniel
Charlie Daniel
The funeral service for Charlie Daniel, who passed away on 21st August 2022 aged 78 years, will take place at the Glynn Valley Crematorium on Friday 30th September, at 11:00 am.
There will be a gathering with engines afterwards at the Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway
Dick Eastwood,
9 September 2022
Cancellation of Challenge & Change of venue for Hands On
Please note the following changes to the Club’s events in September:
GREAT CHALLENGE – CANCELLED
It is with regret that we have to cancel the Great Challenge that was planned to take place over the 10th-11th September at Brineton, Shifnal, Shropshire, due to the low number of entries. Owners and crews who planned to participate, those of you who had offered your help, and members who were planning to visit and support the event will no doubt be disappointed in this decision, however, it would hardly be a “Great” Challenge with the 4 sets of engines anticipated to take part. We hope you will appreciate the reason for the cancellation.
HANDS ON WEEKEND – CHANGE OF VENUE
Michael Davies’ family have kindly offered to host the Hands On Weekend over the 3rd-4th September at the new venue of Hill Farm, Dassett Road, Avon Dassett, Southam, Warks., CV47 2AA. With the cancellation of the Challenge, the cost of making engines and tackle available at Brineton, Shifnal, just for the Hands on was prohibitive, hence the change.
______________________
We apologise for the lateness of these changes and the disruption to arrangements you may already have made.
Dick Eastwood, Secretary, 19th August 2022
Membership Secretary
We are pleased to advise that Steven Whittingstall has taken over the Membership Secretary’s role from James Hodgson who has been in post since 2011. Steven took over on 1st June and we wish him well and thank him for taking on this responsibility.
Dick Eastwood, 1 st July 2022
HANDS ON WEEKEND 2022
Arrangements are in hand to hold a Hands On event over the weekend 3 rd -4 th September, at Brineton, Near Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8NH, with grateful thanks to hosts Michael and Karen Stokes. (Please note that the original dates of 17th-18th September have been changed)
The event will take place subject to there being no restrictions on social gatherings and travel in place at the time, and of course, weather permitting.
Participants will be given expert tuition on the handling of steam ploughing engines and the implements to be used. Numbers will be limited so everyone has the opportunity to drive and crewthe engines, the plough and the cultivator.
The weekend starts with a safety briefing followed by an explanation of the working of the engines and implements. After raising steam, the participants will attach the implements and set off to the
working area for the day’s work. All activities are done under supervision.
Camping and caravan space is available on site, lunch packs and soft drinks are provided, and an evening dinner will be arranged for the Saturday night. The weekend will conclude at 5pm on Sunday.
The cost for attending the event is £250. This includes an instructional DVD – “An Introduction to Two Engine Cable Cultivation” that provides detailed information in preparation for the weekend.
Places can be secured for a deposit of £75 which will be returned in full should the event have to be cancelled. Alternatively, the deposit will remain valid for a place at a future Hands On.
Places are still available. Please apply as soon as possible to George Hawkswell, Gonville and Caius College, Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TA, email: ghawkswell@hotmail.co.uk, tel: 07512181212.
George Hawkswell
[Message to Members 26 th April, updated by Dick Eastwood 1st July]