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West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust WSRHT

Announcement about the chairmanship of the Heritage Trust

The WSRHT board is pleased to announce that Mike Thompson will take over the role of Chairman of the Trust from the date of the next AGM. During the interim period, Mike will work alongside Steve Williams in his current role as acting Chairman to effect a smooth transition of duties. Steve will remain on the board as Vice Chairman and Company Secretary.

Mike has been a volunteer on the WSR for over four years and is currently a qualified Guard, TTI and booking clerk at the WSR. Mike has a business background with over 30 years in aviation leadership roles managing a wide range of international teams, including Sales, Marketing, Customer Service & Operations. 

Steve Williams said ‘I have worked with Mike in various capacities over the last two years and have great regard for his abilities and his overall knowledge of the railway both as an active volunteer on the trains and in undertaking work in support of the railway, particularly in relation to commercial opportunities. He is a natural fit for the Trust, and I am sure he will be a great ambassador for the charity. It has been a privilege to lead the Trust on a temporary basis, and I pay tribute to my colleagues for all the support they have given me over the last 8 months‘.

Mike Thompson commented, ‘It is an honour to take on the role of Chairman, and I am very excited about working with our members and the excellent team of Trustees as we embark on several new restorations, educational and community projects. I also wish to thank my two predecessors for their significant contributions to the Trust. Chris Austin has carried the charity forward with great professionalism over the last 10 years and has overseen significant advances in the standard of our museums, carriage restoration projects and improving the finances of the organisation. Also, huge thanks must go to Steve Williams, who stepped in as acting Chair last year during a very difficult period for the Trust and brought some much-needed stability‘. Mike’s first goal will be to maintain this stability and to support the Trustees in their current endeavours, helping them to expand future activities and enable the Trust to grow and become a wider part of the WSR community.

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WSRHT IGGY Day | 21/06/25

WSRHT IGGY DAY | 21.06.25

The WSRHT in conjunction with Emerald Ant CIC were delighted to welcome visitors to the Gauge Museum on Saturday 21st June, but with the added attraction of IGGY in the car park.

What’s IGGY

He is a large dinosaur who provides the backstory and stage to the history of fossils. Dramatised by a very small but talented team of actors who introduced us to historical figures such as Charles Darwin, Mary Anning &  through the two performances that were enjoyed by children and adults alike. www.emeraldant.com

The WRSHT were also further wonderfully supported by the SW Heritage Centre, who very kindly provided a wide selection of fossils for visitors to the day to handle. The fossils included ichthyosaur, ammonites, plant and bivalve fossils. These were of great interest to all our museum visitors not just those there for the IGGY event.  www.heritage.org.uk

Further support came from Jack Wichard & his partner Dylan who brought along a display of life size dinosaur skulls which they had 3D printed.

Circular writing, using the various fossil shapes were on offer in the main museum, along with cutting out fabric ammonites, decorating them ready to go onto the wall hangings designed and made by our education officer Helen Anson. The wall hangings will be on display in the museum.

Also grateful thanks go Pam Anson who made “dinosaur” cakes & biscuits plus museum team of Rob, Alan& Pauline, & Tony for their support on a very hot day.

A thank you to the friends of Bishops Lydeard Station(FoBLS) for the loan of their gazebo and  safety barriers.

In closing again many thanks to the following:

Emerald Ant CIC, SW Heritage Centre, Jack & Dylan, FoBLS.

Ian Camp

Curator

Volunteer as a Communication Assistant – Join the WSRHT

WSRHT Communicaiton Assistant Advertisement
Voluntary Role Opportunity

We have a new voluntary role within the Heritage Trust to support the day-to-day management and development of the Trust’s electronic communications – including the website, social media accounts and corporate email – and associated IT solutions. It will involve day-to-day administration but progressively technical development and implementation.

Communications technology has developed at pace over the last few years and, although the Trust is a small charity with limited resources, the Board of Trustees wishes to ensure that its electronic communication is as accessible, user-friendly and informative as possible. This requires hands-on management of day to day activity, and we are planning several exciting innovations to be introduced over the coming year.

We are therefore looking for a person with suitable skills and enthusiasm to work with the Trustee with responsibility for Communications and IT, and with the Website Manager to ensure that our communications strategy can be delivered.

This role has a flexible time commitment and will be generally home-based.

If you would like to find out more, please contact

Chris Darke, Trustee – Communication and IT darke_chris@hotmail.com.

For an application pack please contact John Robinson, Trustee- Safeguarding and People jwrobinson01@talktalk.net.

Completed applications should be forwarded to him by email as above or sent to West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, TA4 3BX to be received by not later than 15 August.

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2025 Learning and Education Offer

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The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish its Learning and Education Offer. 

WSRHT Learning & Education Offer