82045 The way ahead?

That lubricator piping looks ultra-neat. Excellent job!

Richard.

 

SAD NEWS. As the news is now out on the SVR Facebook page, I bring readers and supporters the very sad news that 82045s Chris Proudfoot passed away on Tuesday, 24th May.

This is really very awful news for all those who counted Chris as a friend and to the 82045 LT for whom he had raised 1.25 million pounds from supporters and friends in just over ten years. His like will not be seen again. 82045 will forever be associated with Chris and his gigantuim efforts for the Loco.

As Chris himself would have written. Fairwell old Lad, and thanks from all who knew you for everything you stood for and achieved. RIP.

 

I can't 'like' this. I knew Chris as a personal friend and struggle to believe the news. So long, Chris.

 

It doesnt feel that long ago that i met up with Chris for a pint in Cheshire. I always enjoyed out long chats about new builds and fundraising.

He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Rest in peace

 

Rest In Peace Chris Proudfoot. Thoughts and prayers with his family and all his friends.

 

May update now live including a fitting tribute to Chris Proudfoot. http://www.82045.org.uk/news/82045_news-may22.html

 

Loving the photos of 70000 with 82045 in the yard, very much a first and ‘latest’

 

Special News release.

http://www.82045.org.uk/news/82045_news-special-june22.html

 

Devastating news and my heart goes out to all who knew Chris, and to Chris Proudfoot himself.

Depression needs to be talked about, and seriously, in our industry. We need to reach out to one another to support those in need.

We need to change how we talk about mental illnesses, depression, and how we deal with it.

 

God bless you Chris, and may you rest in peace.

 

Simon, without trying to score points, I think depression in any industry whatever it is needs to be talked about full stop.

I’m no expert in mental health but I do appreciate how important it is to have someone to listen to you, whatever your problems are, a good old chinwag is never a bad thing to do.

For anyone out there who feels alone please don’t feel afraid to drop me a line and sound off to me, if you like BR Standard 3 tanks and the Severn Valley, then we’ve already got something in common!

 

No offense taken, totally agree.

 

Having being deep in the hospitality industry and privy to at least a couple of others, there have been a number of initiatives but I can't recall one in this scene. Its an immensely tough nut to crack especially when it comes to volunteers and small groups of people. We're getting better at spotting the signs but even then, people still fall through the cracks. I don't want to speak out of turn and make broad assumptions but volunteering skews heavily older to generations who were never taught to process their feelings or seek out support.

Like Tony says, when I see 82045, I'll think of Chris.

 

I think you could well be right there Paul, as someone who also works in hospitality I’ve sometimes felt that I’ve been a bit of a social worker to various people, as you say there’s a generation who maybe don’t know or understand that its ok not to be ok, I wonder if this is something maybe the HRA would/could possibly look into?

 

Kind and wise word from a great man

 

Thank you Knut but I’m really not, please have a chat with my partner or parents, they’ll tell you otherwise.

 

Ironically the world of railway volunteering is a great place for elder loneliness but thats only one part of a persons mental health. Theyre a proto- Man Shed/ Pie Club type of thing I see regularly. I think a letter to HRA is due to see what they could do to help.

 

Email has been sent.

 

Without wishing to sound trite I think that the heritage railway movement as a whole does great work accommodating and coping with people with a range of mental "deviations from the norm"! Really, a sign that says "you don't have to be mad to work here, but you probably are, just like the rest of us!" really ought to be mandatory for every messroom since most volunteers are somewhat strange in their own particular way - its why some are good at accommodating and welcoming new faces and some are not - and most railways are healthy enough to cope with that. Occasionally, an individual will fall through the safety net that our hobby provides but I think we probably (perhaps without knowing or realising it) save more than we lose.

 

Sure but for all my work history and passions, this is one area that doesn't have a mental health drive. I know "round holes for square pegs" is kind of been a motto for the whole movement but outside of the big railway there hasn't been much I can think of. I think you're right about it doing good and certainly I hope it isn't being seen as a criticism because some organisations are tiny, some are large etc. It could always do better.