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37254 to be named

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by 37254, Jan 18, 2009.

  1. 37254

    37254 New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Kent
    A Press release from our Group:

    The 37254 Locomotive Group announces that the locomotive – which is
    based at the Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells, Kent – is to be named in a private
    ceremony a little later this month.

    Robin Prince, a lifelong railway worker and friend of the Group and known as
    “Bob” to his friends and colleagues, was awarded an M.B.E. – in the Queen’s New
    Year Honours List – for his service to the railway industry. A supporter of The 37254
    Locomotive Group ever since the locomotive was purchased back in 2003, Bob
    donated numerous fund-raising items and technical knowledge (as well as
    encouragement) to the Group.

    Unfortunately Bob’s health declined recently, and the Lord Lieutenant of
    Kent presented Bob with his M.B.E. award at an informal ceremony – attended by
    Bob’s family and friends, present and former colleagues, and some hospital staff – on
    Friday 16th January. Sadly Bob died during the morning of Sunday 18th January.

    Members of The 37254 Locomotive Group have discussed, over the years, the
    possibility of naming the locomotive if and when a suitable occasion occurred, and
    agreed in early January that Bob’s award of the M.B.E. would be a fitting occasion
    to name the locomotive – in line with the long-standing railway tradition of naming
    locomotives after railway staff who have completed meritorious service. Bob was
    asked then if he would be agreeable to the proposal, and said that he would be very
    proud to have the locomotive named after him.

    The nameplates (one for each side of the locomotive, and being funded
    privately by former colleagues), were then ordered and they will bear the
    inscription “Driver Robin Prince M.B.E.”

    Bob’s railway career started at the age of 15, in 1963, as a Junior Porter at
    Clock House Station. He transferred to Hither Green Motive Power Depot in 1964
    (being promoted to Fireman while at Hither Green); other transfers occurred in
    Bob’s career. In due course Bob became a Driver, and subsequently aTraction
    Inspector, and in 1997 he took early retirement from EWS but subsequently returned
    to the railway industry – latterly as Operations Standards Manager for Victa
    Railfreight Ltd.

    In addition to his railway work Bob was a Justice of the Peace.

    The 37254 Locomotive Group’s Members were pleased that Bob agreed they
    could name the locomotive after him. He was a gentleman who put so much into both
    the railway industry in his professional capacity and into other sectors of the
    community in his private life. On being informed of his award of the M.B.E. in the
    New Year’s Honours List Bob said that he was “delighted and privileged and would
    like to accept the [M.B.E.] award on behalf of all railway people for their continuing
    efforts to keep Britain’s railways moving, especially given the unsocial hours
    involved and the little recognition most railway people receive these days.”


    More details can be found on our website at: http://www.37254.co.uk
     

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