SOCIETY MATTERS Bulletin copy dates Copy to Editor Anticipated PUBLICATION No Announcements and Enclosures DEADLINE Despatch Dates JULY 2021 492 25th June 2021 early July 2021 ––––––––––– The Bulletin dates above are from R&CHS MC's calendar (issued 10th February 2021). The announcement below, and what we should expect to be 'normal' life for the next few months, may change some dates in 2021 but I would be grateful if contributors for Bulletin 491 will adhere to my Copy to Editor Deadline above please. Coronavirus Update (April 2021) The rollout of the vaccination programme, together with recent announcements from the government, offer optimism that we may soon be able to recommence Society events (talks, walks and conferences) of the type we have all enjoyed for many years. Some of the Regional Groups have included encouraging updates on their plans in this Bulletin. This year’s Society AGM, to be held on 22nd May, will be a virtual meeting. Details on how to attend and vote may be found in this Bulletin and on the website (https://rchs.org.uk/2021-agm/). As an alternative to the paper voting and proxy forms, this year we are also offering an online facility. Thanks go to those members who voted and/or attended the EGM on 20th March. The motion was carried with only one vote not in favour of the change of date for receipt of nominations for Council. It will now be much easier to arrange elections in the future in which all members will be able to participate. In these challenging times, it is even more important that we are able to communicate with members between editions of the Bulletin. Should you have not received Society news by e-mail recently, and would like to do so in future, please let the web team know (via the link https://rchs.org.uk/Subscribe) and your e-mail address will be added to the mailing list. Roger Brice, RCHS Secretary ([email protected]) THE SOCIETY'S FORTHCOMING LECTURE MEETINGS Following feedback from members who, for reasons principally (but not exclusively) of geography, have not in the past been able to attend Regional Group meetings, the Managing Committee have decided to extend the traditional period of lecture meetings into May. Five meetings have been scheduled during May with the expectation of more being arranged for September; before the Regional Group meetings begin again in October. The meetings will use the video-conferencing facilities of Zoom. Information on how to join these meetings may be found on the website https://rchs.org.uk/events/. 19.00 Wednesday 12th May 2021: Talk by Adam Cromerford Water Management – too little, too much, and just right 1 Adam Cromerford is National Hydrology Manager for the Canal & River Trust. His talk will discuss the problems of water management as faced by the C&RT today - there will be several examples used covering the scope indicated by the title of his talk. The talk will take 40-45 minutes to deliver, after which there will be time for questions. 14.00 Saturday 8th May: Talk by Peter Brown An appraisal of the life and works of Thomas Telford Telford came to Shropshire intending to practice as an architect, was appointed County Surveyor and then as General Agent of the Ellesmere Canal. Over the next 40 years was the adviser to several West Midlands canals and was in charge of the improvement of the main road from London to Holyhead via Shrewsbury. This talk, organised by the West Midlands Group, will have a particular emphasis on Telford’s work in the West Midlands and is subtitled “. and why I wouldn’t have wanted to employ him”. 14.00 Saturday 15th May: Talk by Anthony Dawson The Leeds & Selby Railway The Leeds & Selby Railway was first proposed in 1814 to link Yorkshire's major textile centre with its nearest port. Twenty years in gestation, it finally opened in September 1834 as a Yorkshire clone of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. Uniquely it operated its own fleet of steamboats to continue the line toward Hull and York. Yet despite being managed by some of Leeds' leading businessmen, it always possessed a certain naiveté and sadly fell prey to the machinations of George Hudson after an independent existence of less than a decade. 19.00 Wednesday 19th May 2021: Talk by Tony Riley The Victorian Railway in Kent In his talk, fully illustrated with 19th century photographs and maps, Tony looks at the development of Kentish railways from the 1830s onwards. 19.00 Wednesday 26th May: Talk by Robin Leleux Railways and Social Change in Victorian Britain – Part 2: Activities When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 the Railway Age was getting into its stride, with significant trunk lines either already open, nearly so, or authorised by Parliament, plus several local ones. When she died in 1901 railways were indisputably a major part of the fabric of Britain. In the intervening 2-century and more they had directly or indirectly played a major part in changing the nature of society, whether in policing, education, religion, employment, diet, dissemination of news and views or holidays and relaxation, not overlooking the standardisation of time. In the second part of his talk on the subject of railways and social change in Victorian Britain, Robin Leleux moves on from ‘attitudes and economics’ to consider the impact of railways on ‘activities’. It is not necessary to have heard the first talk, given on 28th April, to enjoy the second. The talk will take about 45 minutes, after which there will be time for questions and discussion. For more information on the Society’s Spring Meetings please contact the Hon Secretary, Roger Brice ([email protected]; 07702302242) MEMBERSHIP NOTES TO 23rdth April 2021 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Subscriptions were due on 1st January for 2021. 696 members have paid their 2021 subscriptions and that is much appreciated because it saves the time spent reminding the 88 who have not yet paid. The label accompanying the Journal has ‘Sub Due’ for those members who were thought not to have paid up at the copy date for the Bulletin of 23rd April. The Society’s system is not perfect so if you think we have got something wrong, please e-mail or phone the Membership Secretary to sort things out. MEMBERSHIP CHANGES After accounting for the changes noted below, the Society has 786 memberships including 54 joint and 24 student memberships so a total of 847 members. Net membership has increased by 9 since the last Bulletin. Notification of address changes, gift-aid status, missing or damaged mailings etc, should be sent to: 2 Membership Secretary, Andrew Wager, Hollow Croft, Church Lane, Thorpe, Ashbourne. DE6 2AW. or by e- mail to <[email protected]> or by telephone: Landline 01335 350239; Mobile 07775-964-095. NEW MEMBERS: We are pleased to welcome the following new members. Contact details have been included where members asked for this when they applied for membership. Name and Region Contact Interests Location History and working relationship of Stamford Canal with the Great Northern Railway at Tallington. Ken Otter [email protected] Stamford Active websites - <StamfordCanal.org for restoration proposal> and< StamfordCanal.info> for current information data 22 Norfolk Avenue, Toton, Railway chronology - the history of Toton Marshalling Philip Nottingham, NG9 6GP. Yards Burton <[email protected]> East Nottingham Midlands Mobile: 07950-274014 Ms Lynne Dyer [email protected] Loughborough Railway accident investigation, particularly UK derailments and international cases. Mike Personal archive of derailment investigations. McLoughlin Railway safety. British Rail Research division Derby historical projects and personal archive of material. Railway chronology; Docks & Coastal Jason Norris Shipping; Early railways; Modern transport - [email protected] Silsoe Bedford to St Pancras, Midland southern extension Member wishing to remain anonymous. London Harry Brown London Anthony Coles Horsham North John Elliott Railway history research – MA student at York [email protected] East Sheffield University Institute of Railway Studies Stefan Early railways; Pipelines and materials handling; Jarkowski [email protected] Waterways history research; Railway history research Sale North West St. James Vicarage, Westbury Street, Rev. Roger Farnworth Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9NL Railway chronology; Early railways; Ashton-under-Lyne <[email protected]> Railway history research Phone: 01613 302771 West Ralph Bramley Railway chronology; Early railways; Waterways history [email protected] Midlands Bewdley research - RESIGNATIONS: Region Name and Location Year Joined London H P Rudd of Wantage 1996 3 Region Name and Location Year Joined East Midlands Brian & Janet Collings of Towcester 1995 DECEASED MEMBERS: We are saddened to record the deaths of the following members: Dr. Reginald Gadd MBE FRAeS of Usk, South Wales who joined in 2020 Andrew Davies of Ashford, Kent who joined in 2017 CHANGE OF STATUS: Clifton Baker of Armidale, NSW, Australia is now enrolled on the MA course in Railway Studies at the University of York. Both his postal and e-mail addresses have changed. CHANGES OF E-MAIL ADDRESS: The Society no longer has the working e-mail addresses of the following: Address Group Name Richard Sharland of Hitchin London Dr. N M L Barnes of Kidlington <e-mail> Gerald Ackroyd of Barnet West Midlands J W D Miller of Sutton Coldfield R&CHS OFFICERS AND CONTACTS 2019 – 2020 Office Name * Contact President Matthew Searle <[email protected]> <[email protected]> Secretary Roger Brice * Tel: (01625)