Volunteer Voices
Many charities and groups such as ours rely heavily on volunteers for every aspect of running the charity, achieving their aims and ensuring precious funds go where donors intend. From our Trustees, who are in effect our board of directors and who are responsible for the formal elements; our incredible team working on the restoration and sharing their skills and not least, those who spend hours on administration or stand for hours on information and sales stands bringing in much needed revenue and, we hope, new supporters. There are also those who attend meetings with other organisations spreading the word. All giving many hours as volunteers.
Our project adds immense Social Value, enabling volunteers, encouraging young people and others to spend time with us to see what we do and how we do it on both on specially organised visits or on more open events such as Galas. We support and promote local and UK based business wherever possible and by default the local community .
To applaud all those volunteers whose efforts make our journey possible we want to share with you some of their stories entitled “Volunteer Voices” which we hope you will enjoy and perhaps decide to volunteer as well, if not with us then your own local heritage line or even another organisation close to your interests.
In addition, see our "Sisters of Steam" where there are a number of other volunteer stories.
David F
My volunteering career started at age 15 with helping run a Scout campsite near Wigan - skills learned ranged from forestry to drain cleaning to staffing a shop to first aid. But most memorable is meeting a wide range of people and making lifelong friends - a theme that has been consistent across my whole volunteering "career". Many years as Scout Leader followed until family and work pressures forced a step back - but I kept up the volunteering ethos by regular blood donations.
Trains formed a large part of numerous holidays - my wife Jennifer and I have been fortunate to enjoy some of the world's greatest rail journeys - the trans Canada, the trans Alpine in New Zealand, the Oslo-Bergen line, most of the major (and many minor) lines in Switzerland and never forgetting the Rocky Mountaineer nor the Settle-Carlisle. So it was no surprise that on retirement to Minehead I found my way to the West Somerset Railway and volunteer roles - I also found a very sad looking Dinmore Manor parked up with a banner asking for help to overhaul. Though with no steam engineering skills I was welcomed to come along, clean bits, fetch and carry and learn! I now know more about steam engines than I ever thought possible and can even be trusted to do some technical things. With a Civil Service background I was able to take on the role of Company Secretary for Dinmore Manor Ltd and later help set up the charitable trust to take on the restoration of 2874. The admin roles and continuing hands-on work keep me well occupied (and often out of Jennifer's hair).
There is immense satisfaction in seeing something you have had a hand in putting together working as it was intended - a steam locomotive has a real presence with the sight, sounds and smell of steam - to be able to say "I put that bit together" is a real thrill. The comradeship is great - its not just working together, its being able to put the world to rights over a cup of tea that keeps us all coming back week after week. There is always something to do at Toddington that makes the 200 mile round trip worth the effort.
David H
I guess I started volunteering when I was about 13 with a miniature railway in Haywards Heath. I worked on some of the building projects and of course learnt to drive a steam engine - all be it a 5 inch guage one and a little about construction not least how to use a 1 RB and dig holes. College and running gigs - then a break as work and a family got in the way. Next volunteering on a heritage railway doing a myriad of things, firing a steam loco on a reguar basis, restoring locos, coaching stock, again building work helping construct the shop and museum building, roofing a signal box and one of tghe platfotms and even Permanant Way. I was a director organising events and fund raising. The highlight is probably when I had a chance to fire City of Truro .
Once again life came along so a break, then a volunteer speaker for Water Aid and with the local community radio station which evolved into a part time role running two studios and teaching people how to make radio programmes. At around that time I was persuaded to become part of the organising committee of a local festival which meant erecting marquees, encouraging local performers to take part, doing the odd performance myself and anything else that needed doing.
Life moved on again and I became involved with both Dinmore Manor Locomotive and The 2874 Trust, the later as a trustee working both behind the scenes and on the restoration and promoting what we do at events and on the internet. I also helped the GWSR with their Santa events with a myriad of different tasks including meet and greet for each Santa day for a few years.
What have I got out of it? I have met a lot of amazing people, learnt new skills, helped keep a number of volunteer run organisations operational and I hope brought new skills and enjoyment to those who I have met along the way. I have the satisfaction of knowing that my efforts have been worthwhile, people I have taught now have full time roles in the media, the locos I have worked on are still operating successfully and I have some superb people as my friends. And have had a lot of fun.
Many of us, for whatever reason and age, live alone and volunteering provides a purpose and great social interaction for those hours when we may otherwise be at a loose end..
Having a regular commitment also helps focus the mind. I spend a lot of time away from the physical project, working behind the scenes on what may be called admin, commerical or fund raisng initatives. Thus often hours on the computer or phone, when may be I should be cutting the grass, decorating, or doing housework ( which I detest but it is sadly is a neccessary evil .)
I have also been invited to join a number of local forums and a as a result met many other people who are invovled in charities, or volunteer organisations across the area. This interaction not only benefits us, but may be more importantly, those groups. Our recent young people’s visits being one of the benefits for us and more importantly, the groups and the young people whom we welcomed.
Volunteeering is I guess a little like being at work, but without the pressures, although any work you do as a volunteer is still a vital part of the project, but you do it because you want to not because you have to.
It also has to be enjoyable because that is a huge spin off of volunteering, the social interaction !
Yes the frustrations are still there, but so are the elations of achieving a goal.
Volunteering is open to almost any age regardless of ability.
I can throughly recommend volunteering as a way of spending those otherwise empty hours, amongst like minded people and if you are, may be, just starting your life’s journey you can learn a lot about life in addition to the skills, both physical and interpersonal.
Oh yes - we have drunk lakes of tea and consumed many many bacon baps, biscuits cakes and the occasional pint of stout and have a great laugh,
David Firing
Roger T
After serving in the Royal Navy for twenty-three years, followed by a fairly stressful job at a nationally important site in Hampshire I retired. Being someone who likes to be as active as possible I looked around for something to do. After a number of years gardening for OAP’s I noticed a small article in Steam Railway magazine in 2013 stating that work was about to start on the restoration of Churchward 2-8-0 number 2874. I thought I would become involved because I’ve always had a soft spot for Mr Churchward’s heavy goods engines and this might be the last opportunity to assist in the restoration of one from scrapyard condition. Therefore, after a brief enquiry I was invited to Toddington and was shown around by David Foster, a representative of Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd ( DMLL ) who were originally carrying out 2874’s restoration. (The 2874 Trust has since taken over but retains very strong ties to DMLL). Everyone I encountered seemed very welcoming and friendly so I decided to join the merry band of DMLL.
Since joining I have attended regularly and have never regretted my decision, I have learnt a great deal about heavy engineering and benefited greatly from the friendly environment and the camaraderie of both DML and the wider family of volunteers at the railway
Roger until recently was also a steam locomotive fireman on the Gloucestershire Wariwickshire Railway (GWSR ) and has recently agreed and been appointed as a Trustee of The 2874 Trust .
Here he is resting between trains in his locomans blues.
and here working on 2874’s frames , removing rust .
Mark S
I’m a recently retired IT worker with a general interest in cars & bikes, confident at DIY, 58 years old.
Children are grown-up and, as part of planning my retirement, I felt the need to widen my social circle and do something purposeful with my increased leisure time.
I’d long been a shareholder in Dinmore Manor Ltd and have made regular donations to 2874 Trust over the years along with my father, who is a “Western man” from Reading. We used to attend working parties for Dinmore Manor & 3850 in the 1990s BC (Before Children) but had not been actively involved for many years.
Towards the tail end of my career, I made contact to see if I could help out in a more practical way. Things are more formal at GWSR compared to the old days in a Birmingham railway yard. Health & Safety is of course a n important consideration – but it’s mostly common sense, and the courses were delivered in a professional manner, both those in person and online.
Once I had passed the induction sessions , I was able to work under supervision, assisting the skilled volunteers on the restoration of 2874. I dusted off my overalls, dug out my safety boots and arranged to meet the crew on a Saturday.
There are a lot of highly skilled roles at the railway – Footplate staff, Signalling, Guards, Permanent way and catering – many with a high degree of regulation and training. It can seem a bit daunting, like any new job.
At a preserved railway, especially in the Steam Department, there is always work to do cleaning, scraping, polishing and painting our locomotives. Performing these basic tasks enables the skilled volunteers to be more productive on the complex tasks and every volunteer hour is a financial saving compared to paying a contractor. Sometimes, just an extra pair of hands or eyes to help is invaluable.
Despite being an “unskilled” volunteer, I have privileged access to some incredible locomotives and can share in the pride and excitement of returning a Loco to steam after restoration, overhaul or even just a clean & polish – I take LOTS of photos.
Reasons to volunteer
Feel Good - Volunteering makes me feel great. Giving my time or effort freely to a good cause is very satisfying. It’s well documented to be good for our mental well-being – and it is just that.
Social – There are lots of people working together at the railway, you’ll meet many people and find new friendships. The Mess is a great place for a natter at Tea and lunch breaks – the best place to find out about what’s happening both locally and at other groups or railways.
Purpose – contributing to a common goal gives me direction and purpose, substituting the drive I had during my career.
Focus – concentrating on a task and becoming absorbed in what I am doing is really satisfying. My phone stays well out of the way most of the day.
Learning – I’m learning lots from the people around me. Not just about the wider railway and steam preservation goings-on but also I’m honing my skills to perform the restoration work. I’ve signed up for some additional training such as First-aid and am considering some other skills such as Fork-lift/Tele-handler operator.
Health & Fitness – a day in the Steam shed is usually an active day, much better than a Gym membership, keeping active is very important as we age.
Routine – I work every Thursday by default and sometimes stay for a couple of days when there is a lot of work or an event taking place. This means I can easily plan my week and friends & family know when I’m usually away “playing trains”
