These minutes were attached to the special newsletter made for the return to steam of the Society's S15 Class locomotive No. 847. It was a simple double sided A4 sheet, and gives an insight to the thinking of the society members at the time.
MINUTES OF THE 1992 AGM OF THE
MAUNSELL LOCOMOTIVE
SOCIETY HELD AT SHEFFIELD PARK STATION, EAST
SUSSEX ON 2 AUGUST 1992
Rodney Packham opened the meeting, as Chairman, and welcomed the 33 members who attended.
Apologies for absence.
Mrs M Bellingham, Mr M Floate, Mr C Groom, Mr G Hopkins, Mr M Nichols, Mr P Swetman, Mr B Wilkie.
The minutes of the the 1991 AGM were agreed.
The society's locos
Ray Bellingham gave a review of the condition of the society's three locomotives.
U class 1618. The 5 year boiler exam had been successfully completed and the loco was running well. New glands had been fitted to cure a steam leakage.
Q class 541. The 10 year boiler certificate was due to expire in 1992. The loco was in need of a full overhaul and it was debatable as to whether, it would be in traffic until October. The axle boxes, motion, valves, piston rings etc all needed attention. A complete re-tube was required and the smokebox would need to be replaced. The tender tank base needed to be replaced. The Bluebell Railway was committed to overhauling 34023, 75027, 92240 and 592 next and thus 541 would have to wait a while before it could be overhauled by the Bluebell Railway itself.
S15 class 847. The major overhaul was nearing completion. The railway had been asked to have the loco ready for a special Ian Allen sponsored event on 4 October and there was a 50/50 chance of it being ready. Major works undertaken in 1992 included the installation of the liners (at a cost of over £6,000), new rings purchased and fitted to the pistons, the ashpan completed and the grate installed.
Steve Pilcher reviewed the society.'s finances and presented a set of accounts that covered the seven months to 31 July 1992. He explained that the society had spent £4,900 so far in 1992 on restoration work, using all its money and about £2,000 of the money it had been loaned. Further sums of the loan money had been set aside to cover other bills that might arise. Various generous donations had been received during the year and Felix Cope was congratulated for raising over £200 for the society at the Bluebell's swapmeet in July.
Julian Heinemann queried the valuation of the locos in the accounts. Steve Pilcher explained that accounting conventions required assets to be shown in the accounts at the lower of purchase price or market valuation, as a matter of prudence. It might be possible to add the cost of the works undertaken to restore the locos, however as there
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are no share holders in the society, there was little point in showing a higher value in the accounts. In fact a higher figure might attract the wrong sort of person to join the society! Howard Strongitharm proposed that the accounts be adopted, as presented. His proposal was seconded by Malcolm Dunstan and adopted unanimously. Charlie Pyne proposed that Messrs King and Taylor be re-appointed as auditors to the society. The motion was seconded by Fred Emery and passed unanimously.
Rodney Packham invited nominations for the Board of Directors. He mentioned that he wished to stand down as Chairman due to other commitments, but was happy to stay on in his role as Membership Secretary. He understood that Ray Bellingham was willing to stand as Chairman and that all the other directors were willing to stand again. Also Mike Floate was willing to take on the role of Newsletter Editor and was free to stand as a director. Jon Elphick proposed the existing board be re-elected, with Ray Bellingham as Chairman and Mike Floate as a new additional director. The proposal was seconded by Paul Skinner and agreed unanimously by he meeting.
AOB
Malcolm Dunstan mentioned the recent death of Captain Manisty who had been unflagging in his efforts for railway preservation. Malcolm mentioned that it was only by persistent lobbying from Captain Manisty that the ban on the resale of scrap locos was lifted.
David Jones was asked for his thoughts on the way forward with 830. He and various other directors were still keen on restoring 830, possibly as a King Arthur, as and when 847 was complete and space was available in the yard. An appropriate six wheel tender chassis was likely to become available shortly. Various ideas were discussed, including the pros and cons of professional fundraisers and the need to conduct a feasibility study etc. The meeting noted that the directors had been pre-occupied with completing 847 and had had little time since the 1991 AGM to progress ideas for 830. Certain reservations were expressed about the project, but overall, the meeting supported the idea of the directors proposals to purchase and restore the loco. The meeting agreed the way forward for the next year would be to consider working on 541's tender, when 847 was completed and to review ways of restoring 830, either as a King Arthur, or as an S15.
Julian Heinemann, on behalf of the Camelot Society, thanked the Maunsell Society volunteers for their work on Camelot's cladding.
David Jones proposed a vote of thanks to Ray Bellingham for his sterling work with the final, complex stages of the restoration of 847.
The meeting closed at 11.25
S.Pilcher August 1992