Time Team star's 50p launches public appeal for museum project

TV Time Team star, Professor Mick Aston, has helped to launch a public campaign to raise £250,000 towards the Museum of Somerset project.
The well-known personality, who is a passionate supporter of the Museum of Somerset project, made his own 50p donation to the fund to kick-start it.
The overall cost of the museum work in Taunton is £6.5 million, toward which the Heritage Lottery Fund has set aside £4.8 million.
The public fund-raising campaign wants to raise £250,000 of the remaining £1.7 million to complete the project, which aims to create a 21st century visitor attraction telling the story of Somerset.
Mr Aston (pictured) said: “The wonderful collections here in Somerset deserve a first-class home, so I have firmly supported the bid to create the Museum of Somerset from the beginning.
“It is amazing to consider that, if everyone in Somerset gave 50p, we would reach the fund-raising target.
“By working together we can help to secure the future of Somerset’s important heritage.
“The current museum possesses some truly world class exhibits, however, these precious artefacts need to be presented in a more user-friendly way.
“The Museum of Somerset project will achieve this and improve the whole visitor experience.
“I am pleased that the bid is progressing well and would encourage people to find a little bit of loose change to give to this worthy cause.”
County council adult and community services portfolio holder, Councillor Justin Robinson, said: “Somerset County Council is committed to conserving the history of the county and providing opportunities for people to learn about their heritage.
“We believe that this will be best achieved through the creation of the Museum of Somerset, and over 10,000 people have publicly backed our plans.
“We hope that people will now donate to the public fund-raising appeal.”
One of the ways in which donations can be made is by calling in to the County Museum, in Taunton, and putting money into a large replica castle keep which has been designed especially for the appeal.
Photo submitted.

Long service award for three decades with heritage railway

TWO servants of the West Somerset Railway present on the day the heritage line reopened on March 28, 1976, are returning for duty at Minehead Station more than 30 years later on March 28 this year.
Don Spencer was on duty in Blue Anchor signal box on the opening day, and on March 28 this year he will be receiving a long-service award before the 10.15 train departs for Bishops Lydeard, running for 20 miles rather than the four which the very first train covered from Minehead to Blue Anchor, five years and two months after the branch line fell victim to Beeching’s ‘Axe’ and was closed.
He brought a wealth of experience to the safe operation of the train services and has since trained many volunteer signalmen who have served the WSR well down the years.
The 10.15 train will be headed by Great Western pannier tank number 6412 (pictured), the first working Great Western steam locomotive purchased by the West Somerset Railway Association.
The 6412 is a ‘Pannier Tank’ of a type which worked lightly loaded branch lines and suburban trains until the 1960s.
It was a mainstay of the WSR into the late 1980s, but as numbers of passengers on the West Somerset have grown, peak-season trains are now too heavy for it to haul.
However, it does its share of work in the early and late seasons, is often hired out to other steam lines for the summer, and has been a popular engine for the railway’s footplate experience courses, giving enthusiasts an opportunity to learn something of the driving and firing skills involved in handling steam engines.
Another regular duty for the engine is the ‘Quantock Belle’ dining train.
Railway general manager Paul Conibeare said: “After the hectic weekends of our Spring Steam Galas which bring thousands of visitors to West Somerset and Taunton Deane it will be good to look back on how the WSR adventure began over three decades ago and to mark Don’s pioneering contribution.
“We also will have time to reflect on the other early volunteers, some of whom are still contributing now and some of whom have passed on.
“Without them and the machines they have lovingly worked on and cared for there would be no West Somerset Railway today.”
Photo contributed.

WSR unveils second railway of the year award

A CEREMONY has been held on Minehead Railway Station to unveil a plaque commemorating the Independent Railway of the Year 2006 award to the West Somerset Railway.
It was the second time in three years that the steam railway had received the prestigious title, having previously won it in 2004.
In between, the Bishops Lydeard to Minehead line was also voted Heritage Railway of the Year 2005.
Among those attending the unveiling of the plaque were West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Granger, West Somerset District Council chairman Councillor Pam Driver, district council leader Councillor Christine Lawrence, who is also a county councillor for Dunster, past district council chairman Councillor Barbara Child, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Minehead Councillors Ann Foxhuntley and Stephen Dear, and National Railway Heritage Awards committee chairman John Ellis.
Guests were able to travel to the ceremony steam train from Williton, and returning from Minehead afterwards.
The independent panel of award judges cited reasons for the giving the title to West Somerset, including the railway’s contributions to the local economy along its route and its high standard of customer care.
WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said the railway was now looking ahead to its spring steam gala which has reached a level of popularity where it will run over the weekend of March 17 and 18 and then continue during the four days of March 22 to 25.
Among the gala’s featured attractions will be up to 14 steam engines in action, a Virgin Voyager train linking Taunton and Bishops Lydeard, vintage buses between Dunster Station and Dunster village, and museums and workshops opening along the route.
Mr Conibeare said: “The gala makes a major contribution to the economies of West Somerset, Taunton Deane, and the surrounding area with guest houses and hotels seeing bookings from all over the country.
“As the year progresses, we are due to welcome 21 excursion trains to and from the mainline network, and are looking to build on this aspect of our business in the future.”

• Our photograph (top) shows the plaque being unveiled by (left to right) David Allan, chairman of award sponsors Ian Allan Publishing, WSR general manager Paul Conibeare, and WSR chairman Chris Austin, watched by guests including MP Ian Liddell-Grainger (right). Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M010021. Order image reprints online at http://www.tcpbymtp.co.uk
• Our photograph (below) shows (left to right) National Railway Heritage Awards committee chairman John Ellis, WSR general manager Paul Conibeare, David Allan, chairman of award sponsors Ian Allan Publishing, and WSR chairman Chris Austin. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M010035. Order image reprints online at http://www.tcpbymtp.co.uk/.