LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
JANUARY 2026
HORSHAM
BEER & BADGES
Horsham branch celebrated 2025’s beers, badges and retirements in style, with long service badges covering a total of 405 years drivers’ service. The longest service badge was to Denise Bloom who received her 35 year badge from Ben Boris, Southern DFC.
The event was made up of both Southern and Thameslink drivers at Horsham, additionally saying farewell to retiring members Chris Bassett and Peter Ambiguo.
A few not so serious badges were awarded after the main event – ensuring a few laughs around the room.
Mike Ryan
Horsham Branch Chair
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
APRIL 2026
HORSHAM
PETER BLACKMAN
It is with the greatest sadness that Horsham branch advises that our much loved colleague
Richard Black has passed away whilst in service. He fought the greatest of fights against several cancers while maintaining his amazing sense of humour and positivity.
‘Blackie’ was an absolute Horsham legend, a driver and ASLEF member for 25 years, lighting up every room he went into, with it rapidly turning into roars of laughter. His life was
celebrated at his full and standing funeral at Worthing crematorium which was flooded with family and friends. Tributes were made not just during the ceremony, but also in flowers with an amazing display including train design floral tributes.
Horsham football club also made their own tribute at their ground and in their programme to a loyal fan.
An absolute legend of a guy who fought on and on in the hardest of battles. Loved by every one he met, he gave out a fair bit of love too, on so many levels.
He leaves his boys Charlie and Louis as well as his sister Fiona and his parents.
Richard previously worked at Barnham depot and they share our shock and feelings, hollow without the man, the legend, Richard ‘Blackie’ Black, so loved and missed.
Mike Ryan
Horsham 102 Branch Chair
Brighton Driver Peter White
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
MAY 2026
BRIGHTON PETER WHITE
DEDICATED UNION REP
My husband, Peter George White, was a dedicated and lifelong union member and union rep.
He started work in 1956, aged 14, in the British Rail offices at Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.
In May 1960 he moved to March depot as a cleaner and, after 18 months, was promoted to
fireman, working on the main line. In 1971 we moved to Gillingham in Kent where he started
work as a driver and was elected Gillingham branch secretary. In 1973 he joined Faversham
Constituency Labour Party, becoming a town councillor in 1979 and also a Kent county
councillor. He was a school governor for Davington primary school and Bysing Wood
primary school and the first Labour Party man to be appointed for 600 years to Faversham
Grammar School! Peter moved to Maidstone depot, and then in 1984 to Yorkshire; he
transferred to Knottingley and, later, Huddersfield and then in 1993 to Brighton
which is where he retired and was given a great send-off. There was a dinner/dance at a seafront hotel in Brighton, we had a room there overnight, and received flowers and many gifts.
Yvonne White
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
MAY 2026
BRIGHTON DRIVER
MICK HAWKINS
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of our colleague Mick Hawkins from Brighton.
Mick was a dedicated ASLEF member and, since his retirement, has supported and attended all our RMS forums and AGMs. Mick was a gentle giant, caring, and very sociable; it was a pleasure to be in his company. It was an honour to have known him; he will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.
On behalf of the ASLEF RMS committee, we send our deepest condolences to his family at this sad time.
Bill Dale
RMS chair
A.S.L.E.F. PRESENTATIONS AT THE 2026 REUNION
