Photo:
The first LRPS working day at Bishop's Stortford, on 15th September 1962. Lunch-time inside the LCDR coach. Seated (left to right): R A Castle (former Hon. Secretary), the late D Noel Draycott (Chairman), the late P C Pugsley, and P M Gullard (Committee member). Who stand in the doorway?
(Photo by courtesy of Braintree & Witham Times)

Like many others, I was considerably saddened by the death at a comparatively early age of our member Peter C Pugsley. As a founder member and Hon. Secretary of the LRPS, I feel that the significant part he played in the success of the Society in its early days deserves to be put on record.

Apart from members of the Committee itself, Mr Pugsley was the very first ordinary member to contribute sustained and effective support for the Committee's efforts. The photograph was taken on 15th September 1962, which was the date of the first scheduled working day at Bishop's Stortford. He and I (together, of course, with several others) spent much time working together on this coach, which is our LCDR coach, during the years when it remained there.

In addition to this, he was the first ordinary member to contribute substantial financial support for any of the Society's projects. Immediately following the appeal to members for funds to save L44 (Met. No. l) a cheque for £30 was received from Peter Pugsley. This was substantial money in 1963 and was a great encouragement, as it was received at a time when fund-raising for locomotive preservation was an almost, but not quite, impossible task.

He frequently made constructive comment to me, which I was happy to pass to the Committee. He devoted time to publicity work, which was a crucial requirement if success was to be achieved. Also he helped bring about the preservation of the GER washstand, which was found in Braughing signal box. He encouraged my feeling that it was worth saving as a potential relic and helped me get it from the signal box to the Ford truck, which was used as a base for a mobile outdoor exhibition. It was his influence which in part caused me to save it from almost certain destruction.

It is gratifying to note, however, that, unlike the late D Noel Draycott, he lived long enough to see the outstanding success of the preservation movement, in which he participated during its pioneering days.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1987 and so does not reflect events in the 27+ 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 Tribute to an Enthusiast by Richard A Castle - Quainton News No. 61 - Autumn / Winter 1986 / 87