Tony Sullivan, in conjunction with the TLRS Sussex Branch, has arranged a coach trip to St. Valery sur Somme to visit the first day of the metre gauge 2009 steam festival.The coach will be provided by Brighton & Hove Coaches and will have on board tea/coffee making facilities and a toilet. The coach will travel to and from France through the Channel Tunnel.
The coach departs:
Park & Ride, Withdean Stadium, Brighton: 6.00amwith a planned arrival time at St. Valery sur Somme at 11.45am (Local Time).
Stonepound Cross Road, Hassocks: 6.07am
Tesco's Car Park, Burgess Hill: 6.15am
The Service Area, Pease Pottage (M23/A23 junction): 6.35am
The Hare & Hounds, Godstone Green: 7.00am
The coach departs St. Valery sur Somme at 5.30pm (local time) and after dropping off at the pick up points has a planned arrival time back at Withdean Stadium, Brighton at 10.30pm.
Coach fare £35.00 per person which includes driver's gratuities but not train travel on the CFD Baie de Somme.
NOTE: PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP.Book with Tony Sullivan, 72 Dale Avenue, Hassocks, West Sussex. BN6 8LS. Telephone: 01273 842443 or e-mail for further information. Cheques should be made payable to: A. J. SULLIVAN. Please enclose an SAE and note pick up point required.
For more information on the line, see the Wikipedia entry (in English) and the railway's own (largely French language) web site.
The BRPS Social Sub Committee will be holding its HorstedFest event to include a volunteers reunion on Sunday 24th May at Horsted Keynes Station. The event will feature Live Music, Bar-B-Q and the Bar will be open on the Platform. The Train Tickets cost £5 in advance and the Bar-B-Q is free to anyone holding a train ticket.Members wishing to purchase tickets should send a cheque payable to Bluebell Railway to:
The BRPS Social Sub Committee, Station Masters Office, Sheffield Park Station, Uckfield, TN22 3QL
A collection was held in aid of the Atlantic Project.
A retiring collection was held in aid of the Shed Wall Fund.
The Social Sub Committee presented an evening with Preserved Steam on Video (PSOV)
HorstedFest 2006 took place at Horsted Keynes station on Sunday 28th May. The platform between the buffet and the bookstall became the stage for the evening's entertainment, provided by local group 'Tumbling Dice' (Nicky and Paul) ....and some members of the railway! If Martin Reeves is reading this I have to say that this year's singer is more attractive....!
The backdrop for the evening was provided by the West Country and our thanks are due to David Foale and Roland Law for crewing the locomotive, as well as guard Ken and the signalmen.
The platform became an impromptu dance floor in between visits to the bar where Bluebell and Wadsworth 6X were on tap for the connoisseur. The barbecue was ably manned by several people during the evening, inevitably including Paul Auckland who appears to have neglected the tambourine this year.
During the evening a raffle was held with star prizes like a Tessa the Train picture book (have you finished it yet Scratchers?) and a 'Thomas' whistle, whilst some unlucky people won alcohol.
An enjoyable evening of music, dancing and socialising for all who attended. Thanks to the Social Sub-committee for organising it.
Thanks are also due to Ken Upton for providing this report.
Chris Cooper organised a bus trip to Sir William McAlpine's Private Railway. Travel was by a vintage Southdown Leopard 37 seater tourer to Fawley Hill for a special visit to Bill McAlpine's private estate and extensive museum, and also a chance to travel on his railway with a 1 in 14 gradient.
Chairman & Trustee: Neil Glaskin
Secretary: Ruth Groome
Treasurer & Horsted Keynes Rep: John Woods
Coach Trip Organiser: Chris Cooper
Sheffield Park Rep: Tom Lovell
Catering Rep: Helen Lovell
Kingscote Rep: Vacant
If you need to contact the SSC this should be done initially via the representative at your local station, should this not be possible please write to the Secretary or Chairman c/o Sheffield Park
The SSC also supports other groups within the Bluebell Railway in publicising social events organised by and for BRPS members. If you are organising an event on the railway would you please let the SSC know. This will prevent us arranging a clashing event and enable us to maximise the enjoyment of the membership. We may be able to assist in advertising your event via this web page.
We are setting up a system whereby news of events will be sent to members by e-mail; further details of this will be available shortly.
We will endeavour to publicise events with plenty of notice. Publicity will also be provided through Bluebell News, Points & Crossings (for working members) and posters around the railway.
A number of events are currently being discussed, but if you have any ideas for events, please let us know in writing.
Thank you,
The Committee
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Page updated 23 April 2009 by Richard Salmon