The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

Having had our Expression of interest accepted by the London and South Panel of the NLHF in June 2023, we announced at our Annual General Meetings on Saturday 29th June 2024 that we met the deadline and submitted our highly detailed Stage One application that comprised of an over 20,000 word application along with 93 separate supporting documents. This application has been completed along with our strategic application partners; our restoration home, The Swindon and Cricklade Railway, and our planned home for main line running The Yeovil Railway Centre.

The application is focussed around the reconstruction and restoration of the Merchant Navy Pacific to original Bulleid condition, making it unique in preservation. Whilst the work on 35011 meets the “Saving Heritage” element of the bid, the other key Heritage Fund investment principles have also been addressed with a new building at Blunsdon (which will be a Swindon & Cricklade Railway asset) to encompass engineering facilities together with training and education spaces,  and a new running shed to keep General Steam Navigation under cover when based for main line running at the The Yeovil Railway Centre. 

We hope to learn if we have been successful with the application to move making a Stage Two - development application in late September 2024.

Our application with the National Lottery Heritage Fund is being managed by following project team, the current co-opted members are as follows:

Jon Netting,CGMA, ACMA, AssocCIPD

Gerry Leyman

Dr Steve Rapley, CEng MIMechE

Chris Mileman

David Oborn 

Michael Abbott - Representing The Swindon and Cricklade Railway

Paul Gould - Representing The Yeovil Rail Centre. 

David Tucker - Application Consultant
Mark Thomas - Civils and Buildings 

Further details on the application will be with the next issue of our members magazine The Packet, if you are not already a member, for details on how to join and click here.