A message from the President of the Society
To start this winter newsletter, I would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I hope you can all spend it in the company of your families and have a most enjoyable festive season. Years ago, when people asked me what I wanted for Christmas I always used to say – time, because work always demanded so much of it! Now in retirement I am still very busy but at least I think that I have reached the age when I can sit back for a couple of days and let the world flow over me during the festive period, so could I suggest that you all do the same; just relax and have a good break at Christmas.
As I said in my presidential address that 2025 has been quite a momentous year; we have had many railway anniversaries, but of course the big one was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. I think Derby Railway Engineering Society celebrated this in fine style at The Greatest Gathering. It was good to work as a team with other Society Members, both in the preparation for the exhibition and during the staffing of the stall. The commitment that we had, gave me great hope that we could achieve a great deal during the next two years and I would like to record my thanks to all who took part in the preparation or organisation and our fruitful participation in a memorable show.
Again, going back to my presidential address, I want to achieve three things in the next two years – increasing outreach, an increase in membership and an increase in participation. We have made a good start under Neil’s Presidency and now we must continue his good work. It is easy to lose track of what the Society’s aims are and it is good just to recall that our founders wanted to share new techniques and developments with younger members of the Derby works team, particularly those on the shop floor. It was almost compulsory as an apprentice to join the Society. My aim is to restore that focus on the younger members of the railway engineering family in Derby and district and the engineers who are engaged in the construction and maintenance of the railway system. This means opening the Society’s events and activities to younger people and to a wider audience and I am pleased that we will be assisting in this direction by offering Corporate Memberships very soon. Also, as part of my desire to the Society to have more outreach, we are already actively pursuing a mentoring programme and several initiatives with fellow railway societies in the Derby area including the YRP and Women in Rail.
We now have a strong Committee with Neil Andrew, whose role as Past President means that he will be looking after the Vice-Presidents, Mark Zawisza managing the Media and acting as interim General Secretary, Richard Tapping doing sterling work controlling finances, Dave Saunders keeping tabs on membership numbers, Jonathan Wragg liaising with corporate organisations, Martin Giles organising the Annual Dinner, Richard Hobson planning Visits, Jimmy Austin taking over my position in charge of lectures and we welcome Sam Hurst as the new Young Members’ representative. It is great to have younger members taking an active part in the running of the Society. We are still seeking a General Secretary to lighten Mark’s workload, so please consider yourself for this role.
Over the past year, we have also welcomed five new Vice-Presidents (VP) who are already making a difference – Helen Simpson, Stephanie Coates, Jennifer Gladding, Jason Groombridge and Giles Pettit. We are looking to all our VPs to play a much more active role in the Society, not the least of which will be to recruit at least one new young member per annum!
So, we will start the 2026 on a very strong and positive footing. On behalf of the DRES Committee, we hope you enjoy the Christmas and New Year break and join us as often as you are able either in person or on Zoom at our meetings in the New Year.
Ray Pettit
DRES President
