CROYDON & SOUTH LONDON BRANCH
NEWSLETTER MAY 2008

Dear Member

This Newsletter follows the completion of our Branch's current programme of indoor meetings and marks the start of the summer season of outdoor events.

First, however, we must thank all who attended the Branch AGM on 3 March and especially those who brought along entries for our first Branch Photographic Competition held on the same evening. The Competition attracted over 20 images and was won by Chris Meredith who received a £10 voucher to spend at the Branch sales stand. A copy of the Minutes of the AGM is enclosed from which you will learn, if you were unable to attend, that the Branch Committee members were all re-elected for a further year. The evening was completed by a good selection of members' slides shown by Bob Rusbridge, Ian King and Geoff Brockett.

During the AGM, Geoff repeated his wish, first reported in the February Newsletter, to reduce his workload and his hope that help would be forthcoming to enable him to relinquish his duties as Fixtures Secretary. With that in mind, new Society member Rosemary Archer, wife of Branch member John Archer, and Chris Meredith have subsequently offered to help. Both have been co-opted onto the Committee, with Chris providing specific assistance for Geoff on Fixtures.

So to our programme of summer events. We do hope that you can join us on one or more of the Branch outings planned.

The first is on Monday 16 June, when we plan to visit the east/south east of London to view three new viaducts recently installed for the East London Line. Meeting at East Croydon station at 1800 hours, we will travel to London Bridge passing the first of our viaducts, which crosses the railway at New Cross Gate. From London Bridge we will go by bus to Liverpool Street and then by train to Stratford, seeing on the way the second viaduct at Bishopsgate (the bridge that caused problems after the May Bank Holiday). At Stratford we will have a chance to see, among other things, the new high level DLR platforms before travelling to Dalston and from there by bus back to London Bridge, taking in the third viaduct installed over Shoreditch High Street. The evening will provide an opportunity for members to see as a group some of the exciting railway developments that are taking place in this part of London. Please let one of us know ('phone numbers are at the foot of this Newsletter) if you intend to travel with us from East Croydon so that we can look out for you there. A Freedom Pass or Travelcard will be required.

On Monday 7 July, we intend to travel, as we did last summer, by Croydon Tramlink to Addington Village for dinner at The Cricketers Harvester restaurant. We will meet at East Croydon station at 1900 hours. Again, if you intend to join us would you please let either one of us know.

On Monday 11 August, we will meet for an evening of observations, beginning at 1800 hours at Clapham Junction at the London end of Platform 13. Some members may like to travel via the new Eastfields station at Mitcham to join us. Before 1900 hours we will cross Clapham Junction to travel by London Overground on the West London Line to Willesden Junction High Level and back to view the site of the proposed Imperial Wharf station and the, as yet, unopened new station at Shepherds Bush. A Freedom Pass or Travelcard will be needed.

Looking ahead to next season, you will find enclosed a preliminary Fixtures Card for 2008/09. The new programme will start on Monday 1 September with a presentation on The Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe, by Robert Hulse, the Museum's Curator. This will be followed, on 6 October, by Geoff Lipscombe (yes, our Branch Chairman) who will be dusting off his colour slides of Steam on the Isle of Wight in the 1960s. On Monday 3 November we will be welcoming the Stephenson Locomotive Society's Chairman, Brian Lewis (not to be confused with our Branch Treasurer) who has recently published a book on Brunel's Timber Trestle Bridges and this is the subject of his presentation to us.

The first part of the new season will also see the Branch's next daytime indoor meeting. This will take place on Wednesday 15 October when we return to Wimbledon Community Centre, St George's Road, Wimbledon, just a few minutes' walk from Wimbledon station, tram stop and buses. Starting at 1400 hours, Mike Walshaw will give his presentations on The Longmoor Military Railway and the transport of tanks by rail. We understand that these shows have been very well received by other RCTS branches and we hope that as many members who can will attend. Please put the meeting in your diary.

During the autumn, we start a new programme of exhibitions at which the Branch will represent the Society with a sales stand. On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October we will be returning to the Beckenham & West Wickham MRC Model Railshow at Langley Park Boys' School, South Eden Park Road, Beckenham, and are again looking forward to meeting old friends and, perhaps, new acquaintances and members. We have also booked a return visit to Brighton MRC's Model Railway Exhibition at Patcham Library and Community Centre, Ladies Mile Road, Brighton, on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November. As in previous years, we would welcome help with our exhibition attendances and if you can spend some time on the stand during either of these two weekends we would be very pleased to hear from you.

We propose to hold this year's Branch Christmas Dinner on Monday 24 November when we hope to return to the Porter and Sorter at East Croydon for a meal starting at 19.30. These arrangements depend, of course, on the pub being able to accommodate us. Full details will be sent to you in the autumn and in the meantime we urge you to pencil it in your diary.

Finally, as we look back on another very successful season for the Branch and anticipate the full and exciting programme planned for the next one, we would like to thank you, on the Committee's behalf, for your continued support of the Branch as a Society member over the past year. If you can join us in any of the Branch activities during the next year you would be very welcome - and more so if you bring with you a potential new member.

With all good wishes