Our People

David Foster - Chairman of The 2874 Trust

 David is a retired Civil Servant who worked for Customs and Excise and, post their merger with the Inland Revenue, for HM Revenue and Customs latterly as a manager in the “large business” division supervising teams looking after the UKs major Oil and Gas companies. Prior to this career he owned a road haulage company for many years.

Since retirement he has become a volunteer on the West Somerset Railway and a director/volunteer with Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd – he saw loco 7820 looking very sad when awaiting overhaul and decided to help. Away from steam engines he enjoys dog-walking, classical music, reading and taking numerous holidays – now always in the UK (which often seem to include a heritage railway or two).

Treasurer - John Sampson

John is a retired accountant who worked for the London Branches of an American and an Italian bank in finance and operations. He was involved with finance and administration at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre for 10 years and spent five years volunteering on the West Somerset Railway after moving to the West Country. Since moving to Gloucestershire, John now volunteers on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Interests include working with charities, music and sport.

Trustee - David Holmes

David gained a National Diploma in Hotel Keeping and Catering Management, more years ago than he cares to remember. Moved into the entertainments industry and then into purchasing and became a senior purchasing manger in the NHS.

He then changed direction to work as a retail manager and then a transport and logistics manager. Finishing his working career as a broadcaster, creative writer and teacher. He has been involved in railway preservation for over 20 years, serving time in the past as Commercial director at a preserved railway and loco fireman.

He has also been involved in most other aspects of railway preservation and operations , including loco restoration and track laying . His first live steam experiences were driving 5 inch gauge locos “when I were but a lad”.  David was appointed as volunteer retail manager at the  GWSR in 2014 but retired from that post in 2020 to spend more time working on 2874

Trustee - Roger Tipton

Roger was born in Shrewsbury in 1953 and the family later moved to near Wrexham, he attended Ruabon Grammar School and later, Yale Technical High School until joining the Royal Navy in 1970. He served in the RN for over twenty-three years, working mainly with weapons systems, the last ten years with the Phalanx close-in weapon system. For this he spent six months with the US Navy at Great Lakes naval base North Chicago before returning home and writing the training courses for operator maintainers and then teaching the first three courses. Roger left the Royal Navy in 1993 having attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer Weapons Engineering Artificer, he then worked as a security manager at the National Air Traffic Services Centre at Swanwick, near Fareham until retiring in 2007. Roger has been working on our restoration with the 2874 Trust since our earliest days as well as hands-on maintenance with other steam locos - he is also a qualified fireman on the GWSR and so brings engineering, training expertise and practical footplate experience to our team.

Henry Howard - Patron

Henry is a retired Royal Air Force Navigator, having served for 40 years flying mainly transport aircraft and visiting nearly every nation on earth, as well as working with Special Forces at various hotspots. He spent some time as a Specialist Navigation Systems Instructor in the Department of Air Warfare at the RAF College Cranwell.

A life-long lover of transport, Henry joined the GWR Loco Dept in 1995, passing out as a Fireman in 1996. He joined the board of GWR Ltd in 1998 becoming its Chairman in 2000. He was instrumental in its change to the GWR Trust in 2009 remaining as Chairman till December 2014, and is now its Projects Liaison Director.

His other interests are the Steam Railways of New Zealand, World Geography and History, Gardening, UK Local Politics and his ever-growing tribe of Grandchildren.

Chris Vine - Patron

Since a very small boy, Chris has always loved everything mechanical, especially steam engines. The first workshop was in his bedroom where he made an electric go-kart aged 8, followed by a mini-bike powered by the engine from a petrol lawn mower. He spent many holidays on a friend’s farm where there was a miniature railway across a field and so started a love of making model steam locomotives. The latest is Bongo, 8 feet long and the inspiration for Fiery Fox in the books. Chris wanted to share his love and knowledge of railways and engineering: The Peter’s Railway book series is the result.

Lady Judy McAlpine - President of The 2874 Trust

We were delighted when Lady Judy agreed to become our President and invited us to the 2016 Fawley Hill steam event where we were able to fund raise and publicise the Trust. Lady Judy is a prominent figure in Henley society and is known for her support for charities as well as caring for the many animals resident in the sanctuary that forms part of her and Sir William’s home at Fawley Hill.

A look at the Fawley Hill website which shows the many activities that come under Lady Judy’s influence will best illustrate the breadth of interests and the support given to many organisations – we very much appreciate that support for our Trust. We were honoured when Lady Judy’s late husband, Sir Bill McAlpine consented to become a Patron of the Trust in it’s early days – we are pleased that Lady Judy will preserve the connection.

Ian Shapter - Vice President of The 2874 Trust

Ian was a Regular Army officer from 1953 to 1987 retiring as a Brigadier. He served in the operational areas of Aden, Borneo, Yemen, Oman and Northern Ireland (twice). Awarded Mention in Despatches in 1972. Seven years with Special Forces. Secondments by Foreign Office to Nigeria and to the Office of the President of Kenya.

A second career from 1987 to 2000 as a Crown Servant based in Liverpool. Appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for County of Merseyside. Selected as a Non Exec Director of the NW NHS with the task of Lay Chair dealing with complaints against the NHS. Part of the team that purchased 3850 in 1983 and has observed amateur restoration develop into today’s professional DMLL Group with three locomotives. Hobbies of Bee Keeping, canal narrow boats and lecturing on the impact of the Longbow in the medieval period (1337-1453)

Dan Wigg - Trustee

Dan is a qualified mechanical engineer, currently working in Business Development for a large multi-national engineering company. Dan has been an active volunteer at the GWSR for over 19 years, primarily in the Steam Locomotive department. In 2020, at the age of 24 he qualified as one of the railway’s youngest drivers. In addition to his responsibilities as a driver, Dan is also a volunteer signalman. In his spare time Dan can often be found at the railway working on the locos (or latterly wagons!), or travelling with his partner Kayleigh

Tracy Hallett - Trustee

Growing up near a railway line and frequent train journeys with parents sparked my interest in railways. Memorable experiences included time spent on Chippenham and Bath stations watching the trains go by, timing train journeys through Box Tunnel to check the speed and working on and operating my step-grandfather's model railway layout. 

I began volunteering on the GWSR in 2018, initially with lineside clearance and later working in the steam sheds. This involvement led to developing new skills and a commitment to the restoration and maintenance of steam engines. 

Despite the difficulties of the 2020 lockdown, I remained dedicated to steam engine restoration. Joining the 2874 Trust in 2022, I worked on Dinmore Manor’s locos and   experienced the emotional reward of seeing a locomotive move under its own power, as well as working on 2874. 

Working in the loco department has allowed me to develop new skills including training to carry out washouts and basic welding skills along with many other general engineering skills required to maintain and restore steam engines and I am currently starting training to become qualified for lighting warming fires and steam raising, skills I hope to be able to use on 2874 in years to come.