Your help is required, no matter how small, to run the Centre on Open Days and on Steaming Sundays.

As most of you are aware, we have been steaming on each Sunday from the end of March until the end of October this year and it has been quite a struggle to find enough bodies to man the various posts. In between, of course, we have had the main Open Days, so for the 'few' it's been hard going.

Do you know we have about 600 members, at least on paper - and only about 120 show themselves to give a hand. A lot of the old ones are wearing out, having been in attendance on most days for from 10 to 16 years - and some new blood is urgently required.

I am well aware that of this 600 many are wives, children, senior citizens, etc. - but I am certain we could muster at least another 150 able bodied souls who would be prepared to give us a few hours.

The usual excuses for not coming to the Centre are as follows:

1. I have no time
2. The wife will not let me
3. It's too far to come
4. I work all week
5. Too much decorating to do
6. There are too many more to mention

In my opinion none of the above hold water and, in the sixteen or so years I have been mixed up with this crowd I have proved it.

I joined the LRPS because I like railways and was one of the first to set foot on Quainton Road Station - and have been one of the relics ever since. Time was found to go up once a fortnight and on Open Days after a week in London, leaving home at 7 am and arriving back at 7.30 pm.

The wife and family all joined and are still members - and we do an 80-mile round trip each visit, taking turns at driving with another member. Decorating and other jobs still get done - and we all find that the visits are a great relaxation and we come home tired and happy.

I have since retired and, with the help of another retired member, make a midweek journey by train to do all sorts of odd jobs.

Now, talking about retired members, have we any living in the vicinity of Aylesbury and surroundings who would be prepared to spend a few hours on the site gathering the cash from visitors, who now have the habit of ignoring our notices and cash box, walk along BR track and have a free look round.

It's my idea - have we say twelve or more old'uns who would be prepared to get together, form a rota and spend a day on site doing a spot of gardening, painting and even just sitting reading, but keeping an eye on the bodies that arrive, so that the cash box can be filled? The period would be from say Easter to October, when people are on holiday and moving about. When we are on site during the week, it's surprising how people dip into their pockets and behave themselves when they see someone is working there.

Well, I think I have said enough. Please drop me a line or telephone if you have any comments or ideas as to how you can help.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1986 and so does not reflect events in the 28+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
A Happy Christmas ... and a New Year's Resolution - No. 58 - Autumn / Winter 1985 / 86