Friday 2nd September’s speaker was Darren Richardson who told members about the work of the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust. IPP Peter had made a donation to the Trust at the end of his Presidential year, specifically to be used to support their Heritage Skills Training Academy.
Now in its third year, the Academy is going from strength to strength as it develops and nurtures the SVR’s team of apprentices. There are currently nine young people at different stages in their training, working across the various departments of the Railway. The apprentices attend college for their formal studies, but as they progress they increasingly work and learn alongside experienced engineers on the shop floor to acquire the essential skills of locomotive fitting, boiler making, carriage joinery, maintenance and restoration as well as the restoration of heritage buildings.
More information about the work of the SVR Charitable Trust can be found by following this link.