Michael Ward

On Friday I heard a familiar voice from the past. It was Mike Ward seen here in his horse tram driving days. Mike was regular volunteer in the 60s and at one time was Hon Work Organiser and I think a Board member.
Mike now lives near Seaton and was accompanying their engineering and operations managers on a visit to Crich. We had time a brief chat and he promised to vote for me in forthcoming Board elections.

The Quarry

Many children visiting the Museum on weekdays are interested in the quarry with its huge lorries and earth moving equipment.
1. The quarry in action.
2. Berlin 3006.
3. Blackpool 166.

4. Paisley 68 with an industrial background.

Grievance Procedure

My final appeal against unfair dismissal will be held under the Grievance Procedure for Working Members of the Society (section 2.1 paragraphs g and h).

" g) On receipt of such notice of appeal, the Board will arrange for a panel of three persons drawn from membership of the Board, who for this purpose may also include a Vice-President, to enquire into the appeal. Neither the Head of Department (if he is a Board Member) nor any Board Member may be a member of the appeals panel if he has been previously involved at any stage in the circumstances giving rise to the grievance."

" h) The appeals panel will inquire into the issue as soon as possible and the member will be given an opportunity to state his case. The appeals panel will submit their findings and recommendations to the Board in writing and the Board will thereafter reach a decision on the issue in light of the submission, which decision will be reported in writing to the member. The Board's decision will be final."

Tuesday 2nd June
I received a letter from the secretary of the appeal panel stating that the panel are currently making arrangements to have a preliminary meeting. Once this has taken place the panel will be in touch with me again.
However the composition of the panel does not appear to be in compliance with the Grievance Procedure.

Monday 8th June
A compliant panel has now been formed. I am waiting to hear from its secretary when I will ask for details of the procedure and timescales.

Friday 10th June
I received a letter from the panel secretary today suggesting a date for the hearing. I have replied asking for details of the procedure to be followed and asking for a pre-meeting to confirm the rules and for some specific assurances. I will now be on holiday until 5th July.

Board Selection Process

I find the process of vetting potential candidates for Board membership rather insulting. I submitted a completed nomination form and a statement of 100 words as requested. I received the following acknowledgement.
"I would confirm that I have received your nomination papers and they seem acceptable although I am not happy with your biographical details and may amend them. This will not however affect the validity of your nomination."
I don't think that the information that candidates provide for the benefit of Members should be altered in any way and I have asked that my details are not changed.

I then received the following request.
"Thank you for your nomination paper which I am now processing. As mentioned on the briefing note which accompanied the forms, in order to ensure that the full skills needs of the Board are fulfilled, the Board will consider the nominations received and may recommend to members how the vacancies are filled.
In order to do this the Board needs knowledge of the candidates standing for election and it is proposed that all candidates, who are not existing Board members, be invited to attend an interview with the Board."
I decided not to attend the interview for two reasons.
1. The interview panel consists of the entire Board and presumably Presidents and Vice-Presidents. I would find this very intimidating.
2. Board members seeking re-election and spouses of other candidates will be part of the interview panel.

I have submitted a brief CV and would be happy to provide any relevant information on a one to one basis or in writing.

Busy Tuesday

I called at the Museum briefly this afternoon. Three trams were in service carrying full loads (Blackpool 40, Blackpool 166 and Glasgow 812).

Wallflowers

Procession 5

Procession 4

Procession 3

I thought I had photographed every tram in the procession but somehow I missed Blackpool 40 which followed Blackpool & Fleetwood 2. I realised this when I read the list in the British Trams Online articles. Sorry!

Procession 2

Procession 1

Cardiff 131 lead the procession as the first tram to arrive at Crich. The other trams were in the sequence that they arrived with Berlin at the rear 3006 as the most recent.

Conversations

1. Richard Hartwell and David Smith.
2. David Johnson, Garth Tilt, Ian Yearsley, Anne Wiseman, Richard Wiseman.
3. Carolyn Senior, Roger Webster, John Senior.
4. Kath and Chris Radcliffe.

TED or GMJ

On January 31st 1959 officers of the TMS inspected Crich Quarry. They were taken up the line in an open wagon pulled by the narrow gauge diesel engine 'TED'. GMJ, an engine of the same type, still exists having been converted to standard gauge.
The members visited Crich on 31st January 1959 were invited to travel from Town End to Wakebridge on Sheffield 15 pulled by GMJ disguised as TED on one side only.
At Wakebridge group photographs were taken.

Crich50 - a memorable day

I joined the Tramway Museum Society in May 1959. Perhaps it was fifty years ago to the day. Kath and I both enjoyed the event and send our thanks to all concerned with organising it. We plan to be at Crich again on Sunday and to publish yet more pictures.

Sheffield 189 and Cardiff 131 with the big lorry leaving in the background. Whilst 131, was the first tram at Crich, the need to find a permanent home for 189 was an important factor in the decision to establish the Tramway Museum at Crich.

(More pictures including the workshop can be found on the official web site www.tramway.co.uk . The guests were divided into groups and the workshop was at the end of our group's agenda and we simply ran out of time.)