Open Day Report - Sunday 13th September. E.O.Railway

An Open day was held at Ongar. This was organised in with short notice but we managed to get it together. It was meant to be low key as there was a bus event going on in SouthWest Essex but unlike the Easter event, Ongar wasn’t at the centre of things. Ongar was the destination for vintage route 339 which met up with other routes at Epping. Loughton was at centre of things with red and green routes. We expected a small turn with the aim of attracting a few volunteers.

Rather fortuitously, one of volunteers Bob Gilman and his wife Alex decided to run an article in his local Rainham Yellow Advertiser. The story, accompanied by a picture of Bob, Alex and Richard Hill on the station platform. It was published telling people about volunteering and to come along to Ongar. Within a few days we had people enquiring and one Vic Simpkins, joined me and helped out at the Open Day serving teas and retail and will join the Saturday at the signal box. This was a sign of things to come. Almost as soon as we opened doors at 10am, people were arriving, asking for Bob Gilman and we directing them towards him. As the day progressed people looked around, liked what they saw and asked about volunteering. People came from all around the Havering area

This Open day proved to be a very good day in terms of signing up volunteers. I arrived home later and found emails from people interested in join the society and volunteering. Also some calls on my mobile. Hopefully over the next few weeks we can keep peoples’ interest by matching them to jobs they want to do. I will be contacting these new potential volunteers and inviting them down on days of their choice and giving them the name of a volunteer to meet when they come along.

Our secretary Simon Hanney publishes weekly on email and on the net, a list of jobs for that week. He has now included on his email list those people newly joined as members, so they can be aware of what’s happening. Thanks to Simon for that idea. I’m sure keeping people in the informed will help with keeping their interest in coming down and volunteering.

I must express a big hand of thanks to everyone who helped out on the Open Day and especially to Ron Abercrombie who helps me with preparation for these events, getting any refreshments and all other bits like detergents, hand towels etc.

A Big Thanks to Bob and Alex for their hard work and support and making the Open day a success!!

Eddie Veckranges, Acting Chair EORVS
Mob 07963763184
Email: edward.veckranges@btinternet.com[IMG]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/146779410438789740-7909729553600996874?l=eorailway.co.uk%2Fnews%2Findex.php[/IMG]


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