LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
THREE BRIDGES BRANCH
JANUARY 2018
TOM ROOKE
Tom Rooke began his railway career at Three Bridges M.P.D. in 1949 and remained there for most of his life, retiring in the 1990s due to ill health. A likeable character, it was not unusual to hear him relating his latest experience in the mess room, his tales resulting in peals of laughter. He never had any formal training as an engineer but had a remarkable gift for building model steam locos from scratch. He loved motorcycles, bringing numerous old crocks back to working order, and he once rebuilt an Austin 7 sports car. His later life passion was clocks, again built from scratch in his tiny workshop. Tom came from a large family and had a son and five daughters of his own, an immense source of pride to him and his wife June. He will be missed, but the love he gave will remain for all time.
Paul Eden, Three Bridges
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
THREE BRIDGES BRANCH
JANUARY 2018
ERNEST WHITE
It is my sad duty to report the passing of my father, retired Three Bridges and Redhill driver Ernest White at the grand age of 97. Known to all as Ernie, he started cleaning at his home shed of Dorchester in 1937, and after being stood off the first winter was called back. After a spell cleaning at Bournemouth dad transferred to Three Bridges as a fireman in 1941 where he progressed rapidly, for the time, to driver. Staying there until 1958 he moved to Redhill where we lived. Ernie retired in 1985.
Steven White,
Retired Three Bridges and Redhill driver
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
BATTERSEA BRANCH
JANUARY 2018
Beer and Badges
Battersea branch would like to thank G.S. Mick Whelan, E.C.1 Marz Colombini, D.O.1 Graham Morris and Southern company council for taking time out from their busy schedules dealing with the various parts of the Southern dispute to attend our beer and badges event. Mick, now a regular at our annual get together, presented long service badges to Nick Warner, Trevor Hale and Dave Lane (5 years); Rob Crouchley and Paul Shovlin (10); Micky Harbour, Jay Brook, Gary Warburton and Dave Gibbs (15); Steve Biggs (25); and Alex Holness (45). Thanks to all who attended for assisting with demolishing the buffet and for contributing to yet another successful presentation evening recognising the loyalty and support of our members. Special mention to Southern driver Ray Coates who was due to receive a 35 year badge but, unfortunately, missed the presentation due to illness.
Pas Luongo
Battersea branch secretary
Railway accident on
NEAL COWDREY COLLECTION
BRIGHTON DRIVER RICK LEWIS
JUST ABOUT TO DEPART CAMBRIDGE,
BEING THE FIRST BRIGHTON
DRIVER TO DO SO
26th February 2018
Presentations made at the Brighton A.S.L.E.F. Reunion
8th May 2018
PAT O’NEILL COLLECTION
L - R: Steve Chatfield (15yr badge) (Branch Chair) Marz Colombini (E.C. Member),Bob Kettle (25 yr badge), Harry Penter (30 yr badge) & Simon Weller (A.G.S)
DAVE LACE COLLECTION
Dave Lace at the T.U.C. Rally in London on the 12th May 2018
MARZ COLOMBINI COLLECTION
Bro S. Blake Brighton Delegate at A.S.L.E.F. 2018 A.A.D. Conference
The Caterham E.M.U.T. depot was originally a steam depot opened by the South Eastern Railway and was a sub shed of Purley shed.
On the 17th June 1928 with electrification arriving it become a South Eastern motorman’s depot was opened. A.S.L.E.& F. members would have been members the Purley & Stoat’s Nest Branch of A.S.L.E.&F.
They later become part of the Selhurst Branch of A.S.L.E.& F.
*Both Caterham & Tattenham Corner motorman’s depot open on the same day, but would have been existence a few months earlier for traction training and route learning purposes
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
SEPTEMBER 2018
SELHURST BRANCH
Staff travel facilities and the Rail Delivery Group
As the number of protected staff who have RDG national free travel passes diminishes (a point made by Paul Cutmore, Chingford, at AAD; reported in the Journal, July) I would welcome any push for improving travel facilities for all rail staff. With RSTL changing its name to RDG has anything changed? I would like to see an end of their god-like control of removed passes. With fellow council reps, I fought a five year battle on behalf of a member; a battle that had many eye-opening moments. At the start we were told RSTL has no appeal process; latterly we were informed there is a process. But it turns out to be so woolly and non-transparent it is hardly worth the paper it is written on.
I attended my branch and listened to a report from RMS members Les Muir, Tony West and Alan Taylor, three members with a total of well over 100 years’ service, and highly regarded in our trade union. They explained how RMS members are having passes removed or amended by over-zealous ticket inspectors, due to the legibility of the writing. And there is no appeal process. As we get older writing standards can diminish. I had the pleasure of informing them that there is an appeal service, and emailed them a copy.
As part of the five year battle, during which our GS made representations to RSTL, which were also unsuccessful, it has been evident that the appeal process is not fit for purpose. A letter of appeal cannot answer any questions that may arise, and cannot show the shaky handwriting of our more elderly members. It is a bureaucratic response that is usually negative. Surely, as RDG is made up of the TOCs we work for, it is time they pushed for a more open appeal process, allowing personal representation. There cannot only be one sanction available. After all, criminals have an appeal process, and receive varying sentences, not all of which are life.
Company Council Rep, and Selhurst Branch
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
SELHURST BRANCH
SEPTEMBER 2018
ARTHUR HUGHES
SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the passing of retired Selhurst driver Arthur Hughes. Arthur began his career as an engine cleaner at Norwood depot in 1946, progressing to fireman then driver. He went into the dual link and worked on steam and electric traction before transferring to West Croydon and then Selhurst where he remained until his retirement in 1996. He was a true Southern gentleman in every way, always ready to pass on his railway knowledge and experience to younger drivers. Arthur was a loyal ASLEF member and continued his interest in our union by joining the Retired Members’ Section and attending the AGM. The service was well attended at Beckenham crematorium and afterwards at Oak Farm Lodge for refreshments to reminisce about the good old times with family and friends. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Our condolences to his wife Val, daughter Kay and son Mark.
Mick Carroll,
ex-Selhurst
THE BRIGHTON A.S.L.E.F. AND WOMEN’S SUFFRAGETTE
CENTENARY BADGE
designed by Paul Edwards & Mark Johnson
In October 2018, Brighton Labour Councillor (East Brighton Ward) Nancy Platts, got in
contact with the Brighton Branch of A.S.L.E.F. seeking support for the funding of forth of
four Blue Plaques in honour of Brighton’s suffragettes and suffragists.
The plaques would be for the W.S.P.U., Minnie Turner, Elizabeth Robins and Clementina
Black. Each plaque will cost £1200 and they had already secured the funding for the first
three plaques.
Nancy was writing to each of the Brighton trade unions individually asking if they could
assist by making a contribution to the forth plaque. At the time of writing, Nancy had raised
£500 towards the fourth plaque for Clementina Black - £400 from the Labour Group of
Councillors and £100 from the Brighton Trades Council. Nancy was therefore hoping that the remaining £700 to be fully funded by the Brighton trade union and labour movement.
Clementina Black was a suffragist, writer and trade unionist, she was born at 45 Ship Street,
where the plaque would be placed, in 1853. She was a great friend of Eleanor Marx, she
joined the Woman’s Trade Unionist association and in 1888 attended the Trades Union
Congress where she moved the first resolution calling for equal pay, in 1911 she became Vice President of the N.U.W.S.S., she also edited the Suffragist newspaper, one of her many novels was The Agitator based on her work for trade unions, she died in 1922.
The Brighton Branch passed a motion at their October meeting to support the funding of the
Brighton A.S.L.E.F. Suffragette badge. The profit from the sale of the badge would then be
forwarded to Nancy Platts’s appeal. The Branch was able to raise £150 to contribute towards
the forth plaque.
Prior to the start of this campaign, a blue plaque was already in existence in Hove for
suffragette Victoria Lidiard, whilst Brighton had none.
Paul Evans Collection
Brighton Driver Dave Penny
on his final day prior to departing with the 09.20 Brighton - Bedford on the 12.10.2018
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
BATTERSEA BRANCH
DECEMBER 2018
867 years on the line
Battersea branch held its annual beer & badges night on Tuesday 6 November attended by G.S. Mick Whelan, E.C.1 Marz Colombini, D.O.1 Graham Morris and Southern company council; 28 presentations were made totalling 867 years’ service including Phillip Brand (40 years) and Steve Harding (45) plus 10 overdue medallions for 50+ years to Derrick Fendick, John Howcroft, Sid Rumbold, Peter Rood, Colin Deslandes, Colin Taylor, Graham Richards, Vic Raskin and Doug Crosby (who has 73 years membership of ASLEF!) and retirement certificates to Trevor Finch, Phillip Brand, Brad Mist and Graham Hoy.
Pas Luongo
Branch Secretary
