It was good to have a well-attended Annual General Meeting, and as usual, thanks to Trinity Hub for use of their excellent facilities and our volunteers for providing the catering. It had been a concern that due to absences on holiday the meeting had a possibility of not being quorate, but in the event those present filled all the seats around the large conference table.

Our dedication and enthusiasm for the Aims and Objectives of Ribble Valley Rail in supporting a rail service in the Ribble Valley and beyond, both southwards and northwards into the national rail network, continues as it has done for what, in December, will be 40 years since RVR’s formation.

Maintaining, planting and keeping the stations tidy continues as ever, although the recent very hot and dry weather has presented some challenges and delays with the planting programme.

The reopening of the stations to the passenger service in 1994 means that they are now beginning to show their age.

One example is the platform edging stones at Whalley, crumbling due to a combination of frost and porous material and which Network Rail have recently replaced with better.

Another is the station fencing which has survived without rotting away for all these years, but as illustrated by the fence at the rear of platform 2 at Clitheroe, collapsed a day or two before the recent visit of HM the King by train.

It is good to report that Northern’s contractors cleared the debris two weeks ago and erected temporary fencing. Network Rail staff began erecting the new fence on 27th July.