London Area Group

January 2012

The London Area Group outing will be on Saturday 9^th June to the Spa Valley Railway in Kent. The exact travel details are to be finalised but most of the group will travel down to Eridge in time to catch either the 11.10 or 12.30 trains. Eridge is served by Southern Trains to Uckfield from London Bridge, with connections from Victoria, Clapham Junction, the south coast and Thameslink by changing at either East Croydon or Oxted. Anybody wanting to join us from the other end at Tunbridge Wells West can catch either the 10.10 or 11.55 trains from Tonbridge Wells. The Spa Valley is running its normal service on that day with trains hauled alternatively by steam or diesel locomotives. More details, including train connections from London, will be on Talyllyn Announce nearer the time.

Our next committee meeting has now moved back by a week, to Monday 26^th March 2012.

Steampipes was a much greater success than the organising committee could have hoped for. 377 tickets were sold, which was just 36 down on the total for 2010, so given the forced move to New Year this was an excellent result. The Area Group Sales stand took just over £200 this year, again the change of date meant that Christmas card and Calendar sales were not as good as in previous years, but over half of this total was the sale of second hand goods. My thanks to Bob Cambridge for helping me on the sales stand and to Tony Randall and Andy Lawton for stewarding and to Roger Patenall for acting as the Box Office Manager. Each of the Three Societies that present Steampipes received £700.

Steampipes 35 will be on Monday 3^rd December 2012, again at The Friends Meeting House, starting at 19.00 hrs, more details later in the year.

The Area Christmas Dinner was held back at the beginning of December in the Betjeman Restaurant at St Pancras station. The food and the drink were up to the usual high standards, and it was good to see our friends from other area groups attending again this year. Those attending voted to return to the Betjeman restaurant this year on Monday 10^th December.

Eric Nicholass.

London Area Group Diary Dates

Monday 26^th March, Committee Meeting, 18.00. Please contact Jeff Nettleton for details and venue. 

Saturday 9^th June, Area Group Outing, to the Spa valley Railway. Travel by train from London Bridge to Eridge, (connections from Victoria, Clapham Junction, the south coast and Thameslink at East Croydon). More details on Talyllyn Announce in May.

Monday 8^th October, Annual Business Meeting & Committee Meeting, 18.00.

Monday 3^rd December, Steampipes, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1, opposite Euston Station. Show starts at 19.00 hrs, doors open 18.30. 

Monday 10^th December, Area Group Christmas Dinner, Betjeman Restaurant, St Pancras International Station at 18.00 hrs.