GRESLEY DUCK: Charity watchdog is called in

The Charity Commission has been asked to formally investigate allegations of voting irregularities at the Gresley Society Trust’s AGM in December, amid claims that the ruling council illegally declined nominations to the board by five Sir Nigel Gresley statue ‘pro-duck’ candidates. The new memorial is due to be unveiled at King’s Cross on April 5, and a 22-page document lists five allegations of breaking company law. They include the ‘technical reasons’ why members Ron Vale, Tony Faulkner, Gavin Whitelaw, Paul Bush and Gavin Stewart were declared ineligible as candidates as the meeting got under way. The CC is being asked to investigate why pre-AGM notices failed to mention there were vacancies on the council, or invite nominations; the refusal to let ‘pro-mallard’ society member Ron Vale cast 26 proxy votes; and the re-election of senior officers. The complaint document has been lodged by four of the five members excluded from the voting, railway artist Jonathan Clay, and former trustees Dennis Butler and Nigel Dant who resigned their posts in March 2015. An online petition has so far attracted 3,100 signatures. There are differences of opinion over whether President Sir William McAlpine and other vice-presidents support the mallard. The trust has said it does not, but last September Sir William signed the ‘produck’ petition. Chairman David McIntosh insisted: “There is no substance to the complaint. They keep inventing all sorts of concepts, but the AGM was conducted according to the rules. We have a full defence.”