An incredible record in railway preservation took place last Sunday, 13th April, when Robin Jones, Treasurer of the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust, relinquished his post after 60 years of voluntary service.

Robin had held the post since 1965 and stepped down at the Trust’s recent Annual General Meeting, where, in front of a packed audience, he was presented with a commemorative plaque.

Robin is not retiring completely from his work with the Trust, as he has agreed to continue as a Trustee to help his successor, Ben Shaw, into the role.

Ben was not born when Robin became treasurer, but he warned members that it is extremely unlikely that he would hold the post for 60 years.

The Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust was formed as an arms-length organisation of the Warwickshire Railway Society when Rugby Portland Cement Ltd was searching for a home for a historic steam locomotive that had become redundant.

That locomotive was Manning Wardle No. 2047, and was the last locomotive constructed by Manning Wardle before the company closed.

Now named Warwickshire, No. 2047 is currently being completely rebuilt at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway; the Trust later purchased a second locomotive, Hunslet No. 686 The Lady Armaghdale.

Both locomotives were originally owned by a society of friends, but that is now a formal Charitable Trust with both locomotives based on the Severn Valley Railway.

Another Manning Wardle locomotive, Sharpthorn, built in 1877, is currently undergoing restoration at the Bluebell Railway.

“I’ve been asked how I was persuaded to take on the role. Well, the organisation was formed by a group of friends and needed a treasurer. They suggested that I could do the job, but carefully avoided mentioning for how long! I had no idea what was involved, but I learnt quickly how to organise a paper leger system before taking on the complexity of VAT and Gift Aid.”

Robin Jones, former Treasurer of the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust