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‍Kent & East Sussex Railway

Members e-newsletter No.79

‍Welcome to the latest edition of the K&ESR's e-newsletter

‍‍Chairman's Christmas Letter

Although this is the Christmas edition of the Newsletter, I’ll start by remembering Christopher Lowry, who sadly passed away on 11 December.

‍The phrase legend in his own lifetime has become an overworked cliché, but it really did apply to Chris. He joined us back in the very early days, and was a familiar sight through the years as, often singlehandedly, he worked to develop and maintain our internal telephone system and its lineside pole route. He was out in all weathers, carrying his ladder and stopping trains to drop off equipment. When there was a big job, such as replacing a rotten telegraph pole, he would summon his small band of helpers who were always willing to turn up and lend a hand. 

I was one of them. He had other talents too; he was a signalman, and he also undertook many small jobs along the line. Many of the photographs of the early preservation days were taken by him. 

The stories about Chris are legion, and they span six decades. Since his death many have been recalled, and many more will be shared in the weeks and months to come. There will also be fuller tributes.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway, to which he gave so much, already seems a different place without him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Eileen, his wife of over twenty years.

‍Christmas is now nearly upon us. It has already brought some presents. We gained a Bronze Award against stiff competition in the Beautiful South tourism awards for our Santa Specials, and we have been shortlisted for two Heritage Railway Association awards for our environmental work and for the innovation of the "quiet day" Santas. It all helps to keep us in the limelight, which is where we belong.

This will be the last Newsletter to be edited by Graham Bridge and Helen Douglas. I would like to thank them for all their work in keeping the membership informed of developments on our Railway. Good communications are important, and everyone expects to see them, but they simply don’t happen by themselves. Graham and Helen can lay down their joint burden in the knowledge that they have made a huge contribution. Thank you, both.

We need to try to keep the Newsletter going, and I’m pleased that there may be someone in the wings prepared to take on the task. But it’s not too late to offer to help.

With Christmas approaching, we are nearing the end of the 2023 season. Apart from the never-ending maintenance and renewal tasks there will be a brief respite in January before we start to prepare in earnest for 2024 - our Golden Anniversary year, which will bring all the usual challenges and perhaps more.

In the meantime, thank you very much for all you have done over the year, and have a peaceful and festive break. And please pass on my thanks to all your families, for their forbearance and support!

Happy Christmas.

Simon Marsh

Chairman 

‍Beautiful South tourism award

‍It was a great honour on behalf of the whole K&ESR family to collect, with Santa, an award for our Santa Specials. These have been developed over many years to provide a truly magical family experience. They are complex and intense to operate, but this award recognises just how good they really are.

And yes the appearance of Santa stole the whole ceremony!

Robin Coombes

General Manager 

‍December scenes

Change, the only constant

As Simon has stated, this will be the last Newsletter compiled by Helen Douglas and myself. The Newsletter started as a way to maintain contact with everyone during the dark days of Covid and, as these things do, evolved into a means of informing everyone what our various groups are planning and how to get involved. Hopefully we achieved that. 

As always, things and people move on. Helen has new professional responsibilities and I need to recharge my batteries. All is (hopefully) not lost however, as one person has expressed an interest in compiling the Newsletter, so the hope is that the Newsletter will continue.

For those who have put up with our badgering, thankyou. For those who submitted copy which somehow disappeared into a virtual firebox, sorry. For everyone who opened the e-mails (and hopefully then read them), we hope you found them of interest.

May you all have a merry and peaceful Christmas. 2024 marks our railway’s golden anniversary. Let’s make it a good one!

Helen Douglas and Graham Bridge

Date for your diary

‍The Annual Volunteers Meeting will be held on the afternoon of Saturday 16th March in the Tenterden Club.

Newsletter Archive

Have you missed a newsletter? Have you recently joined us? Whatever the reason, you can browse recent editions of this newsletter at https://kesr.org.uk/members-e-newsletter-archive/

Tenterden Terrier Online

As a member of the K&ESR, you can receive notification when ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ magazine is published online by registering your details at

https://kesr.org.uk/tenterden-terrier-online/

‍All editions of ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ are now available to view or download from our website: to access this fascinating archive, click on the image above or visit https://kesr.org.uk/terrier/

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‍Kent & East Sussex Railway

Tenterden Town Station, Station Road,

Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE

www.kesr.org.uk

Registered charity 262481

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