Two firsts for double Manor saviour group
THE Erlestoke Manor Fund (EMF) has broken new ground twice over, firstly with the appointment of Jane Preece as its first female company secretary and then making her its inaugural lady trustee at its recent annual general meeting.
Well known within the Severn Valley Railway, Jane was also the line’s first human resources manager and ran the Heritage Skills Training Academy from 2016 to 2020, after which she became an SVR working member, closely involved with the volunteer department.
Enthusiasm
Her love of GWR Manors – in particular for No. 7802 Bradley Manor – stems from her grandfather, Harry Edwards, who was a bridge inspector based at Caersws in the 1950s, and who often travelled on the footplate of No. 7802 to carry out his duties.
Jane, who had a career in public, private and not-for-profit sectors with human resources and governance, said: “As well as generally contributing to the development of EMF, I am really looking forward to using my experience to encourage young people to become involved in the fund through education and learning.”
Formed in 1973, the EMF was successful in purchasing Erlestoke Manor in 1974 and five years later Bradley Manor from Barry scrapyard.
No. 7812 was restored to traffic in 1979 and No. 7802, initially purchased solely for spare parts, in 1993. Since then, both locomotives have each covered more than 100,000 miles in the heritage era.