It was a pleasure to welcome members, both in person and over videoconference, for our 43rd Annual General Meeting, which took place on Saturday 14th June.

Held in the new carriage shed at Ruddington courtesy of our friends at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), the meeting heard from Dave Horton (Chairman) about progress over the last 12 months, as well as plans for the loco in the year ahead, which will include placing the order for the new tender tank, removing the tubes from the boiler, and continuing with the general dismantling of the loco.

Alan Camp (Treasurer) described how the Trust’s financial position is improving, with funds in hand having increased by £27,000 in the last year, but there is still a long way to go on the fundraising front, so it is imperative to keep the pressure on fundraising from whatever sources we can find, whether it be through the sale of donated items, membership subscriptions, or the endless search for grants.

Generously donated to the Trust from a longstanding member was the original nameplate ‘Hartebeeste’ from B1 no. 61009, one of the first ten B1s to be built (outshopped June 1944, LNER number 8310) – this will be going straight into auction to help raise much-needed funds for the overhaul.

Several lucky members benefitted from their ‘Silver’ or ‘Gold’ membership by being winners in a prize draw for a replica wooden B1 nameplate, and a pair of tickets on a steam-hauled railtour. A reminder that if you too would like to benefit from such opportunities, please consider joining the Trust at www.thompsonb1.org/membership

After the meeting, there was an opportunity to examine the loco in the No. 1 shed.