Two S&D Trusts benefit by £36,000
each from member's legacy


Bill pictured at his offices in Bristol
Photo courtesy Gerry Nichols

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust, based at Midsomer Norton, and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, based at Washford station on the West Somerset Railway, have recently both received a £36,000 legacy from the estate of one of their long standing members, Michael " Bill" Gates, who died in April 2007. This reflects his wish to build bridges between the two organisations to maximise the overall profile of the Somerset and Dorset Railway. A keen S&D enthusiast, Bill lived in Bristol, retiring after 29 years working for Imperial Tobacco in their research department. Corpus Christi College Oxford, the YHA and the Bristol hospice where he died are the other three major beneficiaries.

Bill would have been pleased to hear that all three S&D Trusts (including the North Dorset Trust, based at Shillingstone station in Dorset,) are now meeting twice a year to discuss joint ventures. The fruits of this will be seen in the promotion of a 2009 Calendar in collaboration with Julian Peters and Mike Arlett. This should be on sale in March and follows the pattern of the calendars produced for Midsomer Norton using a selection Ivo's pictures dating back 50 years to 1958. Midsomer Norton will be using Bill's legacy to bring the station and track up to the standard needed to run regular passenger trains whilst Washford intend to use it to enhance museum displays and access in memory of Bill's time as their former Museum Curator.

The Somerset & Dorset Trust's 7F 88 at Washford on 29th April 2007 carrying a wreath in memory of Bill, whose ashes were placed into the fire as it ascended Washford bank Photo: Roger Newport

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