Dean Forest mourns 'influential' Roger Phelps

ROGER Phelps, one of the founder members of the Dean Forest Railway, died at the end of January.

Hailed as one of the line’s ‘most influential characters’, Roger, 74, had been involved in numerous roles, including the appointment of the general manager.

A Network Rail manager, on retirement he became the DFR’s signalling inspector, as well as a signalling and telegraph technician, steam driver, and permanent way engineer.

His funeral was held on March 3. “We will miss him greatly,” said a DFR spokesman.