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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    My understanding as well Brian!
     
  2. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    It would be interesting to know the voting figures - will they be published?
     
  3. Triumph 2500S

    Triumph 2500S Well-Known Member

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    Pleased to hear that bookings are being taken for the Santa Specials even if there is confusion as to what is actually on offer!
     
  4. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    Is John Bailey finally showing his true colours?

    Comments from him in this weeks Free Press.

    Again he repeats his quote as describing the latest moves (I assume this refers to the candidates for the WSSRT Board) as “…A Trojan Horse manoeuvre more appropriate to the rough and tumble of the city.”

    Commenting on the need for the three signatories on the recent announcement he is quoted as saying:-

    “The urgency for the three chairman’s agreement is the recently announced plan by a group planning a confrontational ‘Trojan Horse’ manoeuvre. It envisages encouraging like-minded cohorts to join the WSSRT so increasing the likelihood that the current trustees can be overwhelmed and a merger with the WSRA forced trough.”

    But it’s nothing to do with the Plc or WSRA Boards. It’s an internal WSSRT matter. By calling on the two others he is directly interfering in the due process of an independent organisation – to the benefit of the Plc?

    The use of the word “cohorts” is also telling. A cohort may be “A group of people with a shared chrematistic” but, unfortunately, in this case it smacks of the derogatory “A supporter or companion.” showing his contempt for those trying to achieve change.

    “…the high ideals and ambitions to which it’s proponents lay claim, contrasts starkly with the plans reality it eliminates the existing charities’ independence, seeing it as acceptable collateral damage.”

    Really? Has he consulted the 10 or however many for their views? No. This sort of comment appears to be putting down the 10 without any valid reason except that these unsubstantiated comments add weight to the Plc’s inappropriate and uncalled for arguments.

    He further refers to the latest plans as “…proposed manipulation of the WSSRT and the WSRA is bound to create disaffected members and, if the plan succeeds, a new cohort of angry and potentially disruptive individuals.”

    How can he tell what will happen? He can’t. More unsubstantiated comments attempting to add weight to the Plc’s inappropriate and uncalled for arguments.

    The article goes on to state that Mr Bailey said that he believed revolution” was behind the plan… in order to dominate the Plc.

    It gets worse! This is practically straight from the realms of cloud cuckoo land where the Plc Board seem to spend most of their time.

    “My key conclusion and recommendation to my WSR friends is to opt for evolution. The alternative may look superficially attractive but, in truth, it is a snare and a delusion.”

    Oh really? Well that does it for me. I have had little trust in his earlier comments because of the apparent bias shown toward the Plc. This reads as out and out propaganda… Support the Plc against those struggling for change… (because we don’t want to change?)

    The accompanying photo also tells a story. Main picture is a smiling Plc and WSSRT chairman shaking hands and passing a cheque between them with a small inset photo of Mike Sherwood (@aldfort) almost as an afterthought. (I'd have thought they could have got a better photo Mike o_O)
     
  5. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I don't think John Bailey can really be considered to be impartial after this intervention. He is acting as a de facto spokesman for the PLC.

    They have played him like a fiddle.
     
  6. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'm sure that if he wishes to correct the impression he has left he will be able to contact me privately, should he feel unable to post publicly.
     
  7. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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  8. FrankC

    FrankC Member

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    No, I didn’t see the postings referred to and like any reasonable person of course I think anything like what I understand to have been posted is abhorrent. Anyone making those kind of comments is in my view unwelcome here, or anywhere on the WSR. You may be surprised to hear me say that I think almost all the people who post on here do so with reasonable motivation. But there are a few who stir things up for fun, or for other motivation I don’t really understand - but they are relatively few and far between. And the extreme wing should not be tolerated by civilised people.

    What I was referring to were the allegations that those who have withdrawn from standing as trustees have done so because they were bullied. That is a very serious allegation for which there doesn’t seem to be any evidence. People hold strong views and - in my opinion - on NP it is not unknown for hearsay to be repeated as if it were fact.
     
  9. rodders154

    rodders154 Member

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    To the mods I have requested deletion of my account pleas comply

    Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
     
  10. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    It is a strong allegation. But the combination of the posts from your friend @rodders154 on the day their candidacy was announced, and the rapid stepping back of a number of the candidates, suggests that significant pressure was brought to bear on individuals to change their mind

    Bullying is hard to define clearly. However, all material I've seen on the subject in both the workplace and in education has focused on the experience of the recipient over the intent of the giver. The charge may be hearsay, but I observe (1) that it's consistent with reported behaviour of the plc management, (2) it has not been refuted by any of the candidates, (3) it has not been denied by anyone speaking from the "plc" camp, and (4) that the tone of "loyalist" comments in places like Facebook has been extremely aggressive. None of those are definitive, especially in the context of an external forum, but they certainly incline me to think that the allegations are true, on the balance of probabilities at least.
     
    Major Midget, Piggy, ross and 2 others like this.
  11. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    What am I supposed to be asking rodders154? Surely the onus is on him to provide sufficient information at the outset, if he wants to avoid the charge of being a ****-stirrer, when he makes a post that looks like ****-stirring, especially when it is directed against someone he is known to dislike.
    Does rodders154's "good cause" include knowledge that the person concerned was innocent of the charge directed against them? If so, why has no-one raised this point?
    If the two issues are separate, then I apologise for implying they were connected. However, given the information that was put in the public domain, or lack of it, it was still a reasonable deduction to make. Still, that's what happens when people make "nudge nudge, wink wink" posts.
    Apologies, too, to @Snifter for misunderstanding his post.
    Edit, I see that rodders154 has left the forum, which means that I can't ask him the question, even if you tell me what it is I should be asking him.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2020
  12. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    There is an interesting point . A presumably confidential document between two parties is now being openly discussed and worst still the alleged document is apparently being shared by parties . It is a questionable how it was shared from the recipient and now to be used against the person(s) who sent it feels rather wrong

    now if only we had a barrister who could offer us some sensible legal advice
     
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  13. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    There is also this, from the Statement from prospective Trustees of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust:
    Q8: Have any of the individuals involved with this action been subject to bullying or harassment
    over their involvement?
    Some of the individuals involved in this action have been contacted by members of the Board of the
    West Somerset Railway PLC, their advisors, and by existing Trustees of the WSSRT, seeking to
    persuade them against standing for election. Some of this contact has been very unpleasant and
    constitutes harassment. However, the policies defining bullying or harassment, and covering what
    protections were in place for staff and volunteers, have been suspended by the West Somerset
    Railway PLC for some time. These policies also applied (or were accepted) by all the WSR charities
    and support organisations until having been withdrawn, without consultation, by the PLC.
     
  14. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    Bionic_Woman likes this.
  15. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I had forgotten that document, and the statements made. So, thinking back to the suggestion made by @FrankC, definitely more than hearsay.
     
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  16. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Indeed, I thought Frank's post came across as trying to sweep it under the carpet really, it's not on, especially when the WSR currently has no policies to cover such problems.
    However, on the face of it, to return to @rodders154 's post with the screenshot post by Robin, on the face of it it does seem a reasonable question - it sounds like there *is* legal action afoot. If there isn't then those saying there is have taken a step further towards chucking their morals into the fire of Mordor...
     
  17. Jim O'Brien

    Jim O'Brien New Member

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    'And there's more......' as a TV comedian was wont to say.

    It seems from comments here, that a number of members of the WSSRT put themselves up for election to the body of trustees. They had a group agenda which some existing members didn't like, so communicated by phone to the budding new trustees in terms described as 'threatening' and insulting', even 'harassing'.

    Perhaps ill-advisably, members of the PLC in which the WSSRT holds shares and hence had some influence over, followed suite, and joined in the barrage of pursuasion via their telephones. No mention has been made of face to face discussions - did they fear that their comments might be unwelcome and receive an appropriate reply?

    Are some people involved unaware that their actions might have been reasonably anticipated, and advance action taken accordingly?

    It is remarkably easy to record telephone calls to mobiles and landline phones. Try Google.

    Supposing the AGMs of both bodies mentioned were presented with transcripts and recordings of their trustees and directors seeking to annoy, upset or threaten those who were democratically seeking to be elected to the WSSRT trustees, could the alleged offenders continue to hold posts in these organisations?

    It might even be that offences had been comitted and the law takes an interest. And there could be compensation claims from those who have suffered - you never know.

    Just some random thoughts. Nobody particular in mind.
     
  18. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Some very silly posts today so far.

    I've worked out what has happened - all the clues are on here - but the deductive powers of some seems to have failed them!

    Rodney Greenway may deserve an apology from me and others in due course over this.

    Incidentally, I disclosed on here the details of the letter before action sent by Clitheroe Solicitors instructed by JJP to Julie Norman threatening libel proceedings... I didn't receive any ban for this or a warning from the Moderators, and very little adverse comment from forum members posting on here.

    We ought not to apply double standards, or condone hypocrisy.
     
  19. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Groan! Another "nudge nudge, wink wink" post. Are you taking up the baton?
     
  20. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    today has been what I will call a phony war . one where distraction is key , use the perceived weaknesses of the opposition against them

    I too have seen the letter , sharing as I understand is ok so my earlier comments which were of caution and nothing more can be considered closed

    in this case if you review the press coverage one of the 14 is singled out consistently . again a useful distraction tactic which then enables the negative comment to be focused on an individual to the detriment of the others . The one quite rightly has taken not unreasonable action . in a way it would be beneficial for people to see it as it then calls into question the snides that we have seen today on it , that again target the individual as a way of turning opinion against others

    The jungle drums also suggest that at the WSRA agm agents and signals were deployed to disrupt and seek action again one and the ten .
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2020

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