As the National Railway Museum celebrates 50 years of making memories, we shine the spotlight on some of our long-standing members of our volunteer community who have played an invaluable part in the museum’s history.
Rob Tibbits who was recently awarded the Sapphire Award for 50 years’ volunteering at the National Railway Museum remembers clearly his first day as a volunteer on 27 September 1975, the day the National Railway Museum was opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
He witnessed the auspicious occasion with David Eastoe, who retired from volunteering just last year following 49 years of service. The event is etched in their memory.
‘Just before the official opening Dr John Coiley, the museum’s first director, decided it would be a good thing to have some volunteering activity taking place on the day, in case the Duke of Edinburgh chose to look outside. Along with David, I was asked to clean Flying Scotsman, which was visiting as part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s 150th anniversary.’
‘In the event, the Duke only caught a glimpse of Scotsman and its cleaners as the Royal Train, hauled by a Class 47, approached York Station from the north. My first day at the National Railway Museum was the day it opened, and I have been here ever since.’
Over the next 20 years, David and Rob (and other volunteers) became indispensable members of the Museum’s Locomotive Support Group, working on the engines that were steamed in those days such as Evening Star, the Midland Compound, City of Truro, and Mallard
In the early days there was no official volunteering organization although this began to change in 1977 when the Friends of the National Railway Museum, who remain major supporters, was established.
David Thomas, a founding member, recalls: ‘At the inaugural meeting in October 1977 it was stated that the Friends’ stand in the museum, manned by member volunteers including me, was proving popular. Our aim was to help the museum to fund the restoration of locomotives. This led to the locomotive and operations volunteers becoming part of the Friends.’
The volunteer support team became an essential asset to the museum and were involved in significant projects including getting Green Arrow working over the Settle to Carlisle line in 1978, returning Duchess of Hamilton to steam for the Liverpool & Manchester 150th celebrations in 1980, as well as helping to get several of the National Railway Museum’s engines including Evening Star, City of Truro and Mallard running on the national network in the 1980s and 90s.
Another of the museum’s long-serving volunteers Peter James, who officially joined in 1977 volunteered at the museum’s prestigious Railfest events in the 1990s, The Great Gathering of 2013 and was notably heavily involved in the overhaul of Flying Scotsman between 2006 and 2016. He became part of the museum’s support crew of this iconic steam locomotive helping to bring delight to the public who saw it on excursions and on heritage railways. Peter’s background as a shunter and guard for West Coast Railways led him to become a Rail Ops Volunteer for the museum he continues to do this role to the present day.
These volunteers and many more like them have shown passion, teamwork and an unwavering commitment to supporting our museum. Thanks to these pioneers and all those who followed them, our volunteers provide a wide range of services which are valued by visitors and colleagues. If you’re interested in becoming part of the next generation of volunteers to carry on this work, find out more on our Volunteering pages.
