West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Whatever you do in terms of changes to the Swanage, please don’t follow the disastrous road that the NYMR has done in terms of its structure and management.

 

Most of your post was plausible, but that particular thought, I think many of us might disagree with. Shakespeare on lawyers comes to mind; add politicians to the list. (Apologies for the off-topic, but my reaction was too powerful to contain.)

Noel

 

(Apologies for continuing the thread drift, but Gift Aid does seem to be a significant subject for heritage railways in general, and @35B isn't the only person on here paying higher rate tax.) For many years I was including Gift Aid payments on my tax returns. Then, around this time last year, when I went to fill in my return on line, it wasn't possible. Several exchanges of letters with HMRC eventually established that they knew how much I had paid, presumably from Gift Aid claims submitted by the various charities.

 

Certainly the logic escapes me. In general, donors may receive "no more than minimal benefits in consequence of a donation". That make sense so far. Paying for a ticket for one day, which is a significant benefit, does not qualify. However paying the same price for a ticket for a whole year, which is a much greater benefit, does qualify.

 

The changes at Swanage - essentially combining the Trust and the operating company into a single charitable body - have been discussed and approved by the Swanage membership. I’m just a technician helping to get the job done.

Robin

 

It's a trade off, where the charity is giving the benefit and deterred from seeking Gift Aid too lightly

 

You understate the significance of the change in Articles! More seriously, you highlight the difference between constitutional change and managerial changes - where the majority of what @Steve describes at NYMR is "managerial", albeit enabled by constitutional changes

 

Beware of the lack of accountability of a CCBS. As a shareholder it is one vote no matter how many shares you hold (and there maybe restrictions on the number of proxy votes) In effect this means that, assuming the Chair of the meeting is holding a number of votes, together with the existing Directors having a vote any challenge is virtually impossible.

 

So many people in so many places need to understand this right now...

 

Some wise words from you in the above post.

A while back, I spent some time looking through WSR annual reports and accounts. It was apparent that WSR passenger numbers peaked in 2009, followed by a steady decline in subsequent years until they stopped publishing the data.

I suspect that the figures for many of Britain's heritage railways will show a similar pattern, largely reflecting the general economic state of the UK. I don't think the country has ever fully recovered from the 2008/9 banking crisis. We seemed to be getting things sorted-out by about 2015, but then along came Brexit followed by Covid. More recently, the big increases in employers' national insurance will not have helped heritage railways. At the same time, the supply of volunteer staff seems to have reduced. With fewer volunteers and the increased expense of paid staff, railways will inevitably find it more difficult to maintain services at the same level as before. But fewer services will likely mean fewer passengers and reduced overall income, meaning less money to cover fixed infrastructure overheads.

Given all these factors, I think we are very lucky that none of our major heritage railways has yet become insolvent (leaving aside the special circumstances of the Llangollen). Perhaps a tribute to the many heritage railway leaders who have managed so far to keep heads above water, plus the donors who contribute to the many appeals. In the short term of course, if Trump and Putin could be induced to stop making wars and causing mayhem, then at least the coal and oil supply costs would ease!

 

the NYMR has been badly managed for a number of years, principly because the Trust seemingly sits back and lets the PLC get on with things with the Trust apparently having no control over what is happening. The adoption of a nominations committee has just served to worsen the situation as is seemingly configured to maintain the status quo and prevent those wanting change from being voted onto the board. It is not helped by the postal voting system whereby people generally vote for what the Board recommend and that is also made worse by the chairman being the default holder of proxy votes. There is nothing wrong with the PLC controlling the day-to-day runing of the railway as long as it is capable of doing so, which it apparently is not. Just look at the NYMR thread for all the information.

 

Deleted as put in wrong section!

 

A tribute from the West Somerset Railway and an announcement by the BBC. <BJ>

''The West Somerset Railway is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Jonathan Jones-Pratt, Chairman of West Somerset Railway PLC, aged just 42, following a short period of ill health.
Jonathan became Chairman in 2018, at a particularly challenging time for the heritage railway, which was facing significant financial and compliance issues. Under his leadership, the railway worked through these difficulties and continued to move forward, navigating further unprecedented challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the ongoing economic pressures affecting the wider tourism industry.
Throughout his eight years as Chairman, Jonathan demonstrated unwavering commitment, resilience and dedication to the railway. His leadership and determination played an important role in helping the organisation navigate these challenges and build towards the future.
A larger-than-life character, Jonathan had a lifelong passion for transport and a deep affection for the heritage railway movement. Jonathan often visited the West Somerset Railway as a child and in his teenage years became a volunteer himself, he often recalled these early memories of the railway with much fondness. He joined the locomotive department in 2014 and was a regular member of the footplate crew, reflecting his enthusiasm for the practical side of railway operations as well as his leadership responsibilities.
Beyond his passion for railways, Jonathan was equally committed to supporting and developing people. He provided unwavering encouragement to colleagues and volunteers, helping individuals grow in confidence, develop their skills and progress in their roles. Whether working with the management team or supporting competence development across the railway, Jonathan recognised the importance of investing in people and helping them reach their potential.
Heritage railways are more than just organisations; they are communities built on shared passion, friendship and a strong sense of family. Jonathan’s passing has therefore come as a profound shock and loss to the entire West Somerset Railway community. He will be greatly missed by colleagues, volunteers and friends across the railway.
At this deeply difficult time, the thoughts and heartfelt condolences of everyone at the West Somerset Railway are with Jonathan’s family and loved ones.
Following Jonathan’s passing, Vice Chairman Robin Wichard will become Acting Chairman of West Somerset Railway PLC, providing leadership and continuity as the railway looks ahead to 2027''.



From the BBC:
Tributes to West Somerset Railway chairman who has died aged 42 - BBC News