Difference between revisions of "John Hill"

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'''John Hill''' is a long-serving volunteer on the SVR. He was Chairman of the [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] between 1973 and 1976 and was also a Director of the [[Guarantee Company]] and [[SVR(H)]].
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'''John Hill''' was a long-serving volunteer on the SVR. He was Chairman of the [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] between 1973 and 1976 and was also a Director of the [[Guarantee Company]] and [[SVR(H)]]. He died on 14 January 2021 following a long period of ill health.
  
==Driving==
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==Volunteering==
John Hill was a driver with BR. With steam ended on the main line, he heard of the newly-formed Severn Valley Railway preservation society and became a member in 1966. He was on the footplate of [[3205]] when it arrived on at Bridgnorth from Stourbridge on 25 March 1967 and was the first person to drive an engine of the SVR in preservation.<ref>[https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2017/03/21/train-driver-marks-50-years-since-bringing-the-first-engine-onto-bridgnorths-severn-valley-railway-/ Express and Star interview, Published: Mar 24, 2017]</ref> The events around that time were later featured in the 2012 TV mini-series "The Golden Age of Steam Railways", for which John Hill is credited on the Internet Movie Database.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5442055/ John Hill on IMDb]</ref>
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John Hill was a BR driver, based at Saltley and Tyseley during his career. With steam ended on the main line, he heard of the newly-formed Severn Valley Railway preservation society and became a member in 1966. He was on the footplate of [[3205]] when it arrived on at Bridgnorth from Stourbridge on 25 March 1967 and was the first person to drive an engine of the SVR in preservation.<ref>[https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2017/03/21/train-driver-marks-50-years-since-bringing-the-first-engine-onto-bridgnorths-severn-valley-railway-/ Express and Star interview, Published: 24 March 2017]</ref> The events around that time were later featured in the 2012 TV mini-series "[[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway#TV News and Documentary|The Golden Age of Steam Railways]]", for which John Hill is credited on the Internet Movie Database.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5442055/ John Hill on IMDb]</ref>
  
 
John drove 3205 for the BR ‘Inspection Special’ on 31 March 1968,<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner (1997)]] p. 51.</ref> as well as other ‘specials’ in the 1960s. He also drove 3205 at the head of the first public train on opening day, 23 May 1970.<ref>SVR News 17</ref>
 
John drove 3205 for the BR ‘Inspection Special’ on 31 March 1968,<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner (1997)]] p. 51.</ref> as well as other ‘specials’ in the 1960s. He also drove 3205 at the head of the first public train on opening day, 23 May 1970.<ref>SVR News 17</ref>
  
John appeared in [[Carrie's War]], filmed on the footplate of [[5764]] on 5 November 1973 with the late Jim Bodfish. <ref>SVR News 31</ref> He also drove Holmes' train throughout the filming of [[The Seven-Per-Cent Solution]] in 1975<ref>SVR News 38</ref>.
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John appeared in [[Carrie's War]], filmed on the footplate of [[5764]] on 5 November 1973 with the late Jim Bodfish.<ref>SVR News 31</ref> He also drove Holmes' train throughout the filming of [[The Seven-Per-Cent Solution]] in 1975,<ref>SVR News 38</ref> appearing in the film's credits in the role of 'Train engineer'<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075194/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast Internet Movie Database]</ref>.
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His invaluable footplate experience was passed on to those volunteers wishing to become firemen/drivers and assisted in establishing [[Bridgnorth MPD]]. John also passed out as a signalman.
  
 
==Directorships and other==
 
==Directorships and other==
 
John was elected Chairman of the SVRA in succession to [[John Garth]] at the AGM on 17 November 1973.<ref>SVR News 30</ref>  One of his first duties was to organise a collection for a wreath for the late [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]].<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
 
John was elected Chairman of the SVRA in succession to [[John Garth]] at the AGM on 17 November 1973.<ref>SVR News 30</ref>  One of his first duties was to organise a collection for a wreath for the late [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]].<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
  
During his time as SVRA Chairman, the SVR extended services to Bewdley in 1974, resulting in a greater pressure of work on the already hard-pressed volunteer labour force which the SVRA represented.<ref>SVR News 35, SVRA Chairman’s report</ref> He was succeeded as Chairman of the SVRA by Ron Gardner during 1976.<ref>SVR News 40</ref>
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During his time as SVRA Chairman, the SVR extended services to Bewdley in 1974, resulting in a greater pressure of work on the already hard-pressed volunteer labour force which the SVRA represented.<ref>SVR News 35, SVRA Chairman’s report</ref> He was succeeded as Chairman of the SVRA by [[Ron Gardner]] during 1976.<ref>SVR News 40</ref>
  
 
By spring 1975 John was a Director of the Guarantee Company and also on the Board of SVR(H) as one of that company’s nominees.<ref>SVR News 36</ref>  
 
By spring 1975 John was a Director of the Guarantee Company and also on the Board of SVR(H) as one of that company’s nominees.<ref>SVR News 36</ref>  
  
In 1977 he took on the volunteer role of Operating Superintendent, and undertook a review and reorganisation of the structure of the Operating Department.<ref>SVR News 45,46</ref> In 1978 he headed a committee to draw up a formal Health and Safety policy.<ref>SVR News 50</ref> In Spring 1979 he announced he would be stepping down as Operating Superintendent but was prevailed upon to continue until summer 1980.<ref>SVR News 51,52, 56</ref> Shortly afterwards he resigned from the company Boards due to pressure of non-SVR matters,<ref>SVR News 59</ref> but as of 2017 was still an active volunteer.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blapril17 BranchLines, April 2017]</ref>
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In 1977 he took on the volunteer role of Operating Superintendent, and undertook a review and reorganisation of the structure of the Operating Department.<ref>SVR News 45,46</ref> In 1978 he headed a committee to draw up a formal Health and Safety policy.<ref>SVR News 50</ref> In Spring 1979 he announced he would be stepping down as Operating Superintendent but was prevailed upon to continue until summer 1980.<ref>SVR News 51,52, 56</ref> Shortly afterwards he resigned from the company Boards due to pressure of non-SVR matters,<ref>SVR News 59</ref> but remained an active volunteer until at least 2017.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blapril17 BranchLines, April 2017]</ref>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Chairmen|SVR Chairmen]]
 
*[[Severn Valley Railway Association#SVRA_Chairmen|SVRA Chairmen]]
 
*[[Severn Valley Railway Association#SVRA_Chairmen|SVRA Chairmen]]
  
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==Links==
 
==Links==
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*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012mq7r BBC iPlayer] 2 minute extract from The Golden Age of Steam Railways featuring 3205 and John Hill

Latest revision as of 12:37, 16 January 2021

John Hill was a long-serving volunteer on the SVRSevern Valley Railway. He was Chairman of the Severn Valley Railway Association between 1973 and 1976 and was also a Director of the Guarantee Company and SVR(H). He died on 14 January 2021 following a long period of ill health.

Volunteering

John Hill was a BRBritish Rail or British Railways driver, based at Saltley and Tyseley during his career. With steam ended on the main line, he heard of the newly-formed Severn Valley Railway preservation society and became a member in 1966. He was on the footplate of 3205 when it arrived on at Bridgnorth from Stourbridge on 25 March 1967 and was the first person to drive an engine of the SVRSevern Valley Railway in preservation.[1] The events around that time were later featured in the 2012 TV mini-series "The Golden Age of Steam Railways", for which John Hill is credited on the Internet Movie Database.[2]

John drove 3205 for the BRBritish Rail or British Railways ‘Inspection Special’ on 31 March 1968,[3] as well as other ‘specials’ in the 1960s. He also drove 3205 at the head of the first public train on opening day, 23 May 1970.[4]

John appeared in Carrie's War, filmed on the footplate of 5764 on 5 November 1973 with the late Jim Bodfish.[5] He also drove Holmes' train throughout the filming of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution in 1975,[6] appearing in the film's credits in the role of 'Train engineer'[7].

His invaluable footplate experience was passed on to those volunteers wishing to become firemen/drivers and assisted in establishing Bridgnorth MPD. John also passed out as a signalman.

Directorships and other

John was elected Chairman of the SVRASevern Valley Railway Association in succession to John Garth at the AGM on 17 November 1973.[8] One of his first duties was to organise a collection for a wreath for the late Sir Gerald Nabarro.[9]

During his time as SVRASevern Valley Railway Association Chairman, the SVRSevern Valley Railway extended services to Bewdley in 1974, resulting in a greater pressure of work on the already hard-pressed volunteer labour force which the SVRASevern Valley Railway Association represented.[10] He was succeeded as Chairman of the SVRASevern Valley Railway Association by Ron Gardner during 1976.[11]

By spring 1975 John was a Director of the Guarantee Company and also on the Board of SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) as one of that company’s nominees.[12]

In 1977 he took on the volunteer role of Operating Superintendent, and undertook a review and reorganisation of the structure of the Operating Department.[13] In 1978 he headed a committee to draw up a formal Health and Safety policy.[14] In Spring 1979 he announced he would be stepping down as Operating Superintendent but was prevailed upon to continue until summer 1980.[15] Shortly afterwards he resigned from the company Boards due to pressure of non-SVRSevern Valley Railway matters,[16] but remained an active volunteer until at least 2017.[17]

See also

References

  1. Express and Star interview, Published: 24 March 2017
  2. John Hill on IMDb
  3. Magner (1997) p. 51.
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 17
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 31
  6. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 38
  7. Internet Movie Database
  8. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 30
  9. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 34
  10. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 35, SVRASevern Valley Railway Association Chairman’s report
  11. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 40
  12. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 36
  13. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 45,46
  14. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50
  15. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 51,52, 56
  16. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 59
  17. BranchLines, April 2017

Links

  • BBC iPlayer 2 minute extract from The Golden Age of Steam Railways featuring 3205 and John Hill