SVR 500 Club
The SVR 500 Club helps raise funds for SVR volunteer projects. Membership is only open to members of the SVR.
History[edit | edit source]
In 1968 SVR News reported that the Severn Valley Railway Society had started a '100 Club' at the instigation of the Society's Fund Raising Officer Chris George. The cost of entry was to be 5/- (25p) per week.[1] The first weekly draw for the £5 cash prize was held in May 1969, although after a further 5 weeks there were only 87 members out of the 100 (and out of a total SVRS membership of nearly 1,600 at the time), with Chris George still appealing for new members.[2] There were no further reports on the club in SVR News after that time. The SVRS merged into the Guarantee Company in December 1969.
The Severn Valley Railway Association began a new 100 Club in early 1983, with membership initially managed by Paul Hobson.[3] In 1988 the Association agreed to increase the number of members to become 'The 125 Club'.[4]
Paul Hobson had to give up running the 125 Club during 1991 owing to 'pressure of business' and was succeeded as organiser by Colin Clark.[5] Under Colin's stewardship the Club grew to become 'The 150 Club' in January 1995.[6] By winter 1997-98 it had become 'The 200 Club'[7], in which form it continued to operate since.
In 2015 the Severn Valley Railway Association merged with the Guarantee Company. In 2021 the Club contributed £5,000 to the Railway[8].
Colin Clark ran the 200 Club up to 2023,[9], after which time it was was suspended.[10] It was re-launched in April 2025 as the SVR 500 Club.[11]
Membership and raffles[edit | edit source]
In return for a monthly payment of £5, members can win one of three monthly cash prizes. All profits are used to help fund equipment, resources and opportunities for volunteer projects on the Railway.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ SVR News 12, Report of the S.V.R.S. AGM
- ↑ SVR News 13, SVR 100 Club
- ↑ SVR News 68, Notes of the SVR Association, Sue Thomas
- ↑ SVR News 90, SVRA 125 Club
- ↑ SVR News 100, SVRA 125 Club
- ↑ SVR News 113
- ↑ SVR News 125
- ↑ Guarantee Company Annual Report ending 31 December 2022
- ↑ Branch Lines, December 2018
- ↑ Branch Lines February 2023
- ↑ SVR News 223. p. 10.