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Home of the Great Western Society

Getting Involved

Information for Members

Page last updated:
29-Jan-2013
At an exhibition
 
Group Outings

Local Groups

The Great Western Society has local groups which organise meetings and events in the Bristol, North West (Warrington), Oxford, South West (Torbay), Swindon and Taunton areas. The groups also support the Society by undertaking practical work at Didcot or locally and through the vital elements of fundraising and local publicity.

Bristol Group

Chairman: Robert Heron
Secretary: Robin Jordan E-Mail>>

Group Events:

Bristol Group Meetings are held on Tuesday at, BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, BRISTOL, BS34 7RG (Phone: 0117 987 3244, Web: www.bawa.biz) 19:30 for 19:45 and all are welcome.

Tuesday 12 February

The Andrew Hook Memorial  Meeting
18000, New York, And The Next Station
Incorporating the Group Annual Meeting

Amyas Crump
Tuesday 12 March The Badminton Line Alan Freke
Tuesday 9 April The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Tim Maynard
Tuesday 14 May Narrow Gauge Steam Around the World Malcolm Ranieri
Sat/Sun 23/24 June Mini Road Motor Outing - “SOU'EASTER II” visiting the newly-extended Bluebell Railway, Kent & East Sussex Railway and Spa Valley Railway

See the Group Web Site for more details: Great Western Society Bristol Group

The Great Western Society is not responsible for the content of external web sites.

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North Western Group

Chairman: David Burns
Secretary: Peter Hanson

Group Events:

North West Group Meetings are held on Friday at, St. Hilda’s Clubroom, Slater St., Latchford, Warrington at 19:30 and all are welcome.

Friday 25 January The Corris Railway David Coleman
Friday 22 February Group Annual Meeting  
Friday 22 March Birth of the Llangollen Railway David Burns
Friday 26 April Stockport Viaduct Kevin Dransfield

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Oxford Group

Chairman: Ken Bampton
Secretary: Margaret Pargeter

Group Events:

Oxford Group Meetings are held on Friday at, Pauling Human Sciences Centre, 58 Banbury Rd., Oxford at 19:30 and all are welcome.

Friday 25 January A 1980s Somerset Insider Michael Mensing
Friday 22 February Group Annual Meeting  
Friday 22 March Western Shipping Brian Jackson
Friday 26 April County & Patriot Rebuild/New Build Projects  
Friday 31 May Narrow Gauge World Malcolm Ranieri

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South West Group

Chairman: Colin Stone
Secretary:

Group Events:

South West Group Meetings are held on Saturday at, The Parish Centre, Church End Road, Kingskerswell, Torbay at 18:30 and all are welcome.

Saturday 19 January An Evening with our own Peter Gray
Saturday 16 February Group Annual Meeting, followed by ‘The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’ Dave Tooke
Saturday 16 March Trains in the Snow Les Nixon
Saturday 20 April Last 30 Years of UK Steam Hugh Ballantyne

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Swindon Group

Chairman: Rodney Bagshaw
Secretary: Candy Castle

Group Events:

Swindon Group Meetings are held on Friday at, Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Ave., Off Windsor Rd., Lawn, Swindon, SN3 1JE at 19:30 and all are welcome.

Friday 11 January The Nostalgia of Steam Trevor Young & Peter Tough
Friday 8 February Group Annual Meeting, followed by ‘The  Quiz’  
Friday 8 March Enthusiastic Life with Steam Peter Jennings
Friday 12 April Railways in the Holy Land Frank Gleed
Friday 10 May Steam into Devon & Cornwall PowerPoint Presentation by permission of B & R Productions

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Taunton Group

Chairman: Stuart Trott E-Mail>>
Secretary: David Hartland - Tel. 01823 336262

Group Events:

Group meetings are held on the third Friday of each month, throughout the year, at Stoke St Mary Village Hall, near Taunton. TA3 5BY (unless otherwise indicated) commencing at 19.30, and all are welcome.

Friday 18 January South African Steam Finale Terry Nicholls
Friday 15 February Group Annual Meeting, followed by ‘Taunton & Beyond, 1953-1962’ Tony Whitby
Friday 15 March 50 Years of Railway Photography Les Nixon
Friday 19 April The Familiar, the Strange – 50 Years of Chasing Trains John Gulliver
Friday 17 May Steam in the Midlands Mike Clemens
Friday 21 June Light Blue, Reds, but Always Green Jon Trott
Friday 19 July Steam in the South West Peter Gray
Friday 16 August 30 Years of Transport Philip Bissat

The Group also arranges a programme of events almost monthly which include an Annual Dinner, day trips to locations of railway interest, a weekend trip and an occasional longer holiday which in the past has included Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Switzerland - details of all these events can be obtained from by e-mailing Carl Honnor.

We also operate a restored Pump Trolley on various railways and this has in the past raised funds for the Group, the Society and other charities.

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Recreating the golden age of the Great Western Railway