Meet the chairmen

STEVE BIGG – SOCIETY

Following a career in the food industry in both manufacturing and retail sectors, Steve joined the Bluebell Carriage & Wagon Department upon his retirement as a working volunteer. He became skilled as a carriage trimmer and now, 16 years later, he trains and leads a team of nine volunteer trimmers. In 2016, he was elected as vice chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society, and in March 2020 took over as acting chairman.

The society is the membership organisation that sets the strategy for the railway and provides funds for plc activities.

VERNON BLACKBURN – TRUST

A member and regular visitor to the Bluebell since 1965, as a chartered accountant with a background of dealing with trusts and charities, in 2014 Vernon was appointed the administrator of the charity that supports the railway and in 2019 became its chairman.

The trust accepts donations and legacies for restricted and strategic funds, and also provides grants for major projects.

CHRIS HUNFORD – plc

A Chartered Civil Engineer by trade, Chris has been a working volunteer at the Bluebell Railway for 25 years, first joining the railway’s 9F Club before joining the Locomotive Department shortly after his 14th birthday. Moving through the footplate grades, he passed out for driving in 2007 and joined the plc board in 2014 as locomotive director, taking on the role of chairman in 2019.

The plc is the legal and regulatory entity, and owns the majority of the railway’s assets.