The Society and Trust setup has been augmented to deliver a stronger and more streamlined arrangement. This has been undertaken to ensure that the Society and the Trust can continue to coexist with their own sets of respective executives.

The change has come about as a result of a proposal read to the last A.G.M. by the Chairman - John Goy. To refresh your memories the Executive Committee of the PWRS sought approval from the meeting to look into the merger of the Society with the Trust and to create a single consolidated administration. 

This proposition was offered due to the lack of responders to vacancies in both administrations and therefore was fast creating an untenable position for existing executives – after all there are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week.

After the meeting I personally spent a number of days mulling over what I had proposed to the meeting and I can tell you that I was gravely concerned with the fact that merging as a Trust would remove all democratic voting rights from the membership. As you are all aware the Trust is self regulating and each Executive entrusted to carry out the role without external management – hence the title of the position.

Removing this right so early in our formation would in my opinion damage our makeup and I had to consider that although members may vote for it – the time I would know if it was accepted would be when renewals came round. After all people vote with their feet.

I am very pleased to say that after a number of emergency meetings with a task group setup specifically to debate this issue that an acceptable way forward has been reached which allows both the Society and the Trust to co-exist therefore maintaining your democratic rights. Alex Herschell and Richard Rossall have stepped forward to take up the posts of Society Treasurer and Secretary which releases Dennis Bleakley and Dennis Goy to concentrate on the Trust. Dave Evans has also accepted an offer by the Trust to join as Trustee (stepping down as a PWRS Officer).

This leads me to the post of Chairman. To show clear lines of delineation and to allow the Society to move forward and service the needs of the ever growing membership I have tendered my resignation to the committee of the PWRS. This has been accepted and is now effective. I have agreed to take up a post on the Trust in order to guide the project forward and I’m delighted to say that I will remain the face of the project and continue to work as the official spokesman. In these embryonic years there is no place for joint Officers and Trustees. History has shown us that we need to spread the load of work as well as delineate clear lines of responsibility.

The new PWRS Executive Committee have called a meeting for 7PM, 14th January at Poulton’s Civic Centre where I’m sure this new way of working will be discussed.

Inclosing I would like to offer a vote of thanks to the Dennis’ for their work in the Society and the Alex and Richard and for stepping in to assure the survival of the Society. I would also like to offer my personal thanks to the Trust, Members, Partners and Stakeholders alike for their support in my post and in the project as a whole. Without you we would be nothing more than individuals with an interest in railway preservation.

Looking forward to sitting the other side of the table on the 14th January – see you all at the Society Meeting.

Best wishes to you all for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2010.

With warmest regards,
John Goy—PWRS Chairman (retired)