West Somerset Railway - Removal of the PLC Chairman and related matters

Ah, so your point is that by your analysis, the cash balances have increased by less than they should have done. As I said, disagreeing as to whether expenditure is wise or to beneficial purpose is miles different to making allegations of 'missing cash' - may I suggest you need to be more careful about how you word your accusations!

As you omit Restorations, I presume your point is to try and show that this is the source of the 'cash consumption'. The Accounts show £120k income and £20k cost of sales for Restorations, and total wages for Restorations and Shops of £171k - they give no clue as to how this splits between the two. Of course, internal information may give that information. From published information, once overhead costs have been taken into account, Restorations may make either a profit or a loss, but 'running the Charity' has also 'consumed' cash and getting more value from that (by increased membership and higher donations etc.) is, I am sure, a priority of the WSRA Board.

I would be very interested in your analysis of the WSRplc accounts, as I would suggest this is where the much larger 'cash consumption' problem lies. I also fail to see how one co-option (of some-one who only resigned a couple of months back) and a couple of retirements means that the WSRplc has a 'new board', but, new or old, they clearly need to take action and the past year has not shown visible signs that this has been happening.

Steven

 

Perfect! Thank you very much. Your candour is appreciated.

 

Warm welcome for new WSR plc Chairman at Minehead today...

 

Do you know something we don't then Robin?

 

Ist that their mode of transport behind them?

 

Pre booked Shakespeare Express (when it runs again) are currently cheaper than going to the NYMR, or a tenner more than most day rover tickets on the WSR, GWSR, SVR, GCR etc. Which is surprisingly cheap for what you get.

 

Sounds interesting. Problem is the Shakespeare Express operates from Birmingham, and I live in West London.
But when it starts running again I'll look into the travel times.

 

I’m not going to get drawn into the main debate - as we have said, statements on behalf of the WSRA on this will come from our Chairman or Mike Sherwood.

But do I know something? Well...

Some obvious truths in life in general are that if you don’t approach life with a sense of humour, particularly the ability to laugh at yourself, life can seem very long. Valuing the contribution of others over your own self-worth, and understanding that we achieve the most by co-operative effort are, IMHO, essential pre-requisites for progress.

Robin

 

oh you are such a tease at 7.00 am in the morning Robin and very thought provoking!

So on that basis is a Statement from Paul Whitehouse and or Mike Sherwood imminent?

 

I think Tracey will make a very good Chairman. Who's that guy with her?

Stef.

 

I don't know but she's taking him to the vet to get his claws clipped.

 

Isn't the moral of "The Gruffalo" that even a terrible creature with terrible claws can be tamed by a mixture of telling white lies and a plentiful supply of nuts?

Tom

 

Richard

What is it that you expect a statement about???

Plenty of choice

Jeff

 

It's just a shame that many posters on railway (and model railway) internet forums don't seem to grasp that basic truism...

 

Apologies for continuing this particular thread drift but I would just mention that a few years ago I did Marylebone - Stratford, Stratford - Snow Hill - Stratford (dining) plus a further run back to Snow Hill, and Snow Hill - Marylebone.

 

No it's not. The WSRA made a statement weeks ago. It's on our web site. It's certainly not our place to comment on the on-going process the plc are running to find a new chairman. Until that process is complete there is simply nothing to say and there may well be nothing to say afterwards either.
At the risk of repeating myself. Members who have concerns about the Association are welcome to write to me at the Association to discuss them.
Members are owed a reasonable answer to their questions and reasonable responses to the suggestions they put forward. That is what I have committed to do.
I'm just back from a further two days firing to assist in running the railway. Over the last few weeks members have overwhelmingly told me they do not consider the majority of the postings in this thread to be in any way helpful to the WSR. I have great respect for the majority membership view and will therefore continue to work away quietly to make our railway the best that it can be.

 

From that Mike I take it you are going to leave the plc to get on with running the railway whilst looking forward to what the board has to say about the future?

 

Mike

As the majority are banter and junk that is understandable however beyond the banter and junk is some extremely important (they reveal a line of thinking from those who would wish the WSRA to stop interfering in the future of the WSR plc and thus the WSR) and incisive (the large number of relevant questions that remain un-answered)

I wonder what your position is as WSRA Vice Chairman to how the WSRA should be involved with the future of the WSR and the course that the WSRplc may set.

Additionally I would point out that the Ex6 etc were also only concerned with the majority membership view, most of whom were distant supporters and un-informed.

I do not find this a very comforting statement regardless of where is made

Jeff

 

Members of the Association may write to me via the Association to discuss matters or express concerns.
As Robin has mentioned we are not going to indulge in public speculation at this time. I will always listen to legitimate concerns. It must be clear that if I have spoken with members over the last several weeks they are not remote members but those who are actively engaged.