Derek Robinson, Charles Bird & Phillip Cooper

Derek Robinson

It is with great sadness that I must notify the sudden death of Derek Robinson. Derek will be known to some of you as the long-time and indefatigable Membership Secretary for the Friends of Sheffield Park. He was also an active member of many Bluebell-related online communities.

Derek was a stalwart supporter of the Bluebell Railway and was tireless in his support for the Friends of Sheffield Park group. It was very rare for Derek not to attend the regular FoSP Wednesday working days and he will be very much missed.

The funeral was held on Tuesday February 12th 2019, at Woodvale Crematorium, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3QB followed by a gathering at a nearby venue.

An appreciation of Derek and of his support is being prepared for Bluebell publications and will appear in due course.

Chas Melton
(Projects Coordinator, The Friends of Sheffield Park)

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Charles Bird

Charles was a volunteer with the "Alf Brown Gang", a team of engineers who built many of our Southern rail-post signals, as well as much other work around the railway. He was a volunteer for over 50 years. He passed away on Wednesday 2 January 2019 at St Peter and St James Hospice.

His funeral was held at Woodvale crematorium in Brighton on Monday 28 January. The family arranged for a bus from Upper Beeding, following the hearse to Woodvale, stopping at Hove Railway station en route for those wishing to join there.

As part of Charles' celebration, the family asked that rather than flowers, donations be forwarded to Macmillan Charity would be appreciated. A book of remembrance was available at the ceremony and wake for memories to be shared and documented.

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Phillip Cooper

We are very sorry to report that Phillip, a former General Secretary of the Society, passed away peacefully on 17 January 2019 in St George's Care Home, Ditching Common.

Phillip's funeral took place on Thursday 31 January at St Paul's RC Church, Hazelgrove Rd, Haywards Heath RH16 3PQ followed by burial.

Donations in Phillip's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Society