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__NOTOC__[[File:4930_Bridgnorth_20220909.jpg | thumb | 300px | right |4930 Hagley Hall on relaunch day, 9 September 2022]]The '''Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall''' is a support group based on the Severn Valley Railway. It was formed in early 1999 by a number of younger members, with the objective of raising funds to contribute towards the restoration of Ex-[[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall]].<ref>SVR News 137</ref><ref>SVR News 207, pp. 22-25</ref> The locomotive is owned by [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]]. ==History==''Hagley Hall'' was last in steam in 1986, after which time it was stored awaiting an overhaul. In early 1999 the Swindon Steam Museum contacted the SVR to ask if the locomotive could be placed on loan as a static exhibit at the Designer Shopping Complex (sited on the former GWR Swindon Works). The SVR(H) Board agreed, and after a cosmetic restoration was carried out at Bridgnorth, the locomotive left for Swindon in May 1999, with the loan expected to be for 'at least two years'.<ref>SVR News 130</ref> The move to Swindon stimulated interest among the working members for an eventual return to steam. Being company-owned, 4930 had no separate owning organisation to provide stimulus and support for this. A "Hagley Hall Restoration Group" was therefore established, with the approval of SVR(H) and the support of the [[SVRA]], and intended to be made up principally of the younger generation of working members. The first open meeting was held on 25 July 1999, just two months after 4930's move to Swindon. The group quickly morphed into the "Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall" and began fund raising.<ref>SVR News 190, 207</ref> The locomotive returned from Swindon in 2007 and then spent a period on display in [[The Engine House]]. The overhaul eventually began in October 2013, with significant involvement of members of the Friends and also SVR apprentices whose training was funded with the help of the [[Charitable Trust]].
In 2010 the Friends published on their website a letter from [[Nick Ralls]], the SVR's General Manager, stating that they would have an equity stake in the locomotive in return for their fundraising. By September 2016 the Friends had raised over £110,000 towards the overhaul.<ref>[http://www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/news/news.html Friends of Hagley Hall web site]</ref>
