Governance, Patron, the Trustees and Board

Governance, Patron, the Society Trustees and GSN CIC Board 


The General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society is run by an elected and or co-opted Committee of Trustees. The Committee meets every calendar month to oversee and manage the Society’s affairs, including finance, engineering, fundraising, marketing, public relations, working parties and volunteer liaison.


The Society’s aims and objectives are to restore 35011 to represent her original 1950s condition complete with air smoothed casing and

Bulleids unique patented chain driven valve gear. In addition, we aim to provide education and learning to further railway heritage restoration.


Currently all the Trustees of the Society are also registered with Companies House as Directors of the General Steam Navigation Community Interest Company (CIC), Company Number 09894000.

The CIC is the legal owner of the Locomotive. It is also the entity in which any member can also be a shareholder, see here for more details.


Patron


We are delighted that Dr. Alice Bunn OBE (FIMechE FRAeS CEng) the Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)  has become patron of the project to restore the Bulleid Merchant Navy pacific locomotive 35011 to her original condition. For more details on our Patron click here...


As Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Alice has a direct connection with O V S Bulleid, who was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1946. 


Society Trustees and GSN CIC Board members


Our Society Trustees and GSN CIC Board members (BM) and their roles are as follows:


Gerry Leyman - CIC Chairman (BM)

Graham R Muspratt - GSN CIC Company Secretary (BM) & Society Chairman (Acting) and marketing and media officer 

Jon Netting, CGMA, ACMA, AssocCIPD - GSN CIC (BM) and Society Tresurer 

Dr Steve Rapley, CEng MIMechE - Chief Mechanical Engineer (BM)

Simon Shutt - Marketing and sponsorship officer (BM) & Editor of the Society magazine  'The Packet'

Chris Mileman - (BM) Society membership secretary 

Mel Seaborn - Society Trustee - BPLA Representative 

David Oborn - Minute Secretary (non exec) and volunteer liaison officer


To get in touch with any of the Trustees / Board members please use the Contact us form here.


Engineering Sub Committee


The aims of the Engineering Sub Committee (ESC)  is to drive the strategy and manage the engineering requirements in restoring General Steam Navigation to her original 1950s condition in line with the Society’s stated aims and objectives.

The ESC makes recommendations and reports to the CIC Board via its Chair / Chief Mechanical Engineer.


The current co-opted members of the Engineering Sub Committee are as follows:


Dr Steve Rapley, CEng MIMechE – Chair & Chief Mechanical Engineer
Gerry Leyman
Simon Shutt

David ObornTony Hammond
Jeff Chambers

Steve Humby


The National Lottery Heritage Fund 


Having had our Expression of interest accepted by the London and South Panel of the NHLF in June 2023, we now have twelve months to complete a highly detailed Stage One application along with our strategic application partners, the primary partner being, our home, The Swindon and Cricklade Railway


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 will be partially 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.


To support our application with the National Lottery Heritage Fund we have set up the 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)

David Tucker - Application Consultant


Volunteers


The Society could not function without the dedicated support of a much larger group of volunteers, who come from all walks of life, many of whom are part of the Working Party volunteers. We therefore encourage people of all ages, gender and abilities to join the Society and, if they so wish, become working members, to form the heart of General Steam Navigations future. The Society has always sought to be self-financing and as such donations, item sponsorships and CIC share applications are always welcome. Contact us here for more information on how to support the Society.