AGM Report 2013

Acting Chairman’s AGM Report 2013

Michael Gorringe introduced himself to the gathered shareholders and members at the AGM of the GWR Preservation Group and stated that he would be chairing the meeting as remaining Director. Bob Gorringe; his uncle, has resigned as Chairman due to ill health and could not be present. He paid tribute to the years of untold service and energy he had given the group since its inception in 1976.
A warm welcome to all was given to all attendees.
Mike’s first comment was to pay tribute to member Philip Wilton who had died. He had been personal assistant to the chairman and had been a continued source of support to the group’s activities
The Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending March 2013 had been distributed, the only comment was to the bank balance and this was answered satisfactorily to the questioner and the Accounts were accepted.
In his Acting Chairman’s report, he commenced by commenting on his Uncle’s enthusiasm over the preceding years in the various stages of the group’s occupation and movement of the Southall Railway Centre within Southall Depot location
But there is now a new vision. The Group is in the second year of a three year lease from Network Rail and has locomotives for hire, together with other heritage stock if needed. With new enthusiasm to take over from a ‘limbo’ period, he called for former members to help in the work of the group to assist the already stalwart site and sales teams. Mike thanked many members for their own personal assistance after being pitched into a rather difficult role with many circumstances to control.
The future of the Southall site was discussed at length and various other potential site options were talked through but proved to have very similar constraints as Southall, some with no rail access.
Questions were raised about the group’s locomotives and their restoration progress and Mike re-iterated that GWR Prairie 4110 is currently safe within the Tyseley Works at Birmingham. The sale of GWR Heavy Goods 2885 to a private buyer meant that the two locomotives were now in close proximity to each other within this works.
Acting Chairman Mike Gorringe then closed the meeting and thanked all present for attending and noted that refreshments were available.

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