Who’s Who

Neil was appointed as a Director in 2022 although also served in this role between 2010 and 2020 and has previously served as an officer of the BRPS. Neil became our Interim Chairman from June 2024.

Neil has been volunteering at the Bluebell Railway since the age of 14 and undertaken many roles in the Operations and Commercial departments, he is currently a Duty Operations Manager, Guard, Shunter and Signalman.

Away from the Bluebell Railway Neil is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and has a career working in the public transport industry for both bus operators and the local authority.

Michael joined the railway in August 2024 and is committed to collaborating with the dedicated staff and volunteers at the railway, aiming to contribute to the business’s continued success, ensuring that the heritage railway experience can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Michael brings 30 years of experience in the passenger transport industry and currently serves as a Director for a local bus company. In his leisure time, Michael enjoys exploring various modes of public transport, with a particular fondness for trains and ferries.

I spent nearly 40 years in the airport business, with almost 20 years in BAA culminating at senior management level at Heathrow. I had many varied roles but for much of my time in BAA I concentrated on jet fuel infrastructure projects which included major contract negotiations and the development of new jet fuel related facilities at Heathrow Terminal 5.

In 2008 I set up my own airport consultancy business and worked at a number of high-profile airports in the Middle East, focusing on the development of jet fuel infrastructure.

Following partial retirement in 2019, I became a volunteer project manager, initially in the Carriage & Wagon department before moving to Infrastructure to oversee the power upgrade project at Horsted Keynes.

Now fully retired, I have the time to take on new challenges.

Outside the railway, I enjoy skiing and continental touring cycling.

I first visited the Bluebell Railway in 1975 on a primary school trip. I still remember the experience and it was a lasting influence on my interest in all things mechanical and engineering. After leaving school, I found myself in one of the last traditional electrical apprenticeships and had a lucky break to move into the technology sector.

I have worked across all aspects of the technology industry from IT infrastructure, application, modernisation and digital use cases for business and the consumer. While a technologist at heart I have had the opportunity to build programs which help people and organisations evolve their culture and simplify technology so it is not seen as a barrier to using it. My current role is with Amazon Web Services where I lead a team of technical architects helping customers adopt the latest Amazon technology and move their business to the cloud.

I really appreciate being involved in organisations which have a community presence. I was the Chairman and Councillor for Cuckfield Parish Council and over nine years was able to deliver on community-based projects for the environment, events, planning and highways. Something I still look back on was saving the local playgroup and village hall from closure.

It is this belief of communities which brings me to the Bluebell Railway as IT Director.

Dave was appointed Operations Director in the summer of 2024. He previously held the position throughout the 1990’s as a trustee and director. This post is responsible for the safe day to day operation of the railway as well as train planning and rostering of operational staff including footplate crew.

He first joined the station staff at Sheffield Park, as a junior porter in 1971 and later became a station foreman, booking clerk, guard, shunter, signalman and Station Master at Sheffield Park, all of which duties he continues to perform today. He also holds the post of Signalmen’s Inspector and occasionally works with the mid-week infrastructure team based at Horsted Keynes.

Dave’s working life comprised 42 years in various posts in the rail industry, starting in ticket offices but mainly dealing with operational safety, including time at Eurostar and Network Rail, and short periods as signaller and controller. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport and a Member of the Institution of Railway Operators.

Tim has a background in the construction industry, specialising in electrical installation. Having been part of a family business (for which he is now running) within this sector, Tim has over 30 years of experience, and he also provides valuable service to various aspects and needs across the railway.

Tim has been volunteering at The Bluebell Railway in the locomotive department since 2010 and has progressed through the grade at the railway to Locomotive Inspector. He is also the Locomotive Department Chief Roster Clerk at Sheffield Park.

Simon is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators that has over 40 years of experience at board level.

He has some ten years’ experience as the Company Secretary with responsibility of health and safety and insurance of two FTSE 200 leisure companies during which he was also an adviser on corporate governance issues to the ICSA and the London Stock Exchange.

He also spent over eleven years in the Middle East where he completed a 2-year assignment as head of the health funding project for the Government of Dubai as well as holding positions as the Company Secretary of The Jumeirah Group, Senior Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Insurance Services LLC and Head of Compliance for ADNEC and Company Secretary of Excel in London. In each of these, he was responsible for the Health & Safety and insurance functions.

From October 2011 he ran his own small consultancy business based in the in the UK but is now largely retired.

Simon is currently a volunteer as a member of the platform staff at Sheffield Park and has started guard training in September.

He’s very much looking forward to working with the Board and the wider team at the Bluebell Railway to create a world class facility with a sustainable business model.

I was born and bought up in New Zealand during the final years of steam operations by NZ Railways. Occasional train spotting with my father meant I have always found steam power fascinating.

I am a retired Chartered Accountant (a life member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand). In New Zealand I was a partner in a mid-size business services practice and on the board of a large wine company.

In 1997 I came to the UK with my wife and family for a ‘sabbatical’. We loved it here and have ended up staying. In the UK I have worked as the Finance Director of a number of non-profit organisations.

I enjoy volunteering – its great to do something that is fun, interesting and where you get to meet a lot of people while doing something useful.

When I’m not working with the Bluebell team I’m busy with family, cycling, traveling and I have recently bought myself a 1952 Daimler. I have also been involved for many years with Dame Kiri te Kanawa’s foundation for young opera singers.

A huge number of volunteers have worked very hard over many years to make the Bluebell Railway the important and successful organisation it has become. I’m delighted to have a chance to do my bit to help it grow and develop further.

Graham qualified as a chartered accountant in 1976 and has been in public practice for more than 40 years, mostly in East Grinstead.

He has held numerous offices on the Bluebell Railway starting with the old Extension Committee and Extension Company in 1982, through managing the conversion to a Plc in 1985 as company secretary and director and serving as chairman of Bluebell Railway Plc for 18 years up to 2013.

Graham wrote the original Bluebell Railway Charity Trust deed and served as a Trustee from formation to 2013.

He was chairman of the Northern Extension Project (NEP) leading to the completion of the project and the reconstruction and reopening of the line to East Grinstead in 2013. He now chairs the Western Extension Project (WEP).

I have been a member and regular visitor to the Bluebell Railway since 1965 when I started volunteering in the station buffet and polishing the carriages. I am a chartered accountant with a background in dealing with trusts and charities.

In 2014 I was appointed the administrator of the Trust which supports the railway and in 2019 I became chairman.

Chris comes from a railway family – his grandfather was a signalman on the East Coast Main Line and his father worked on the engineering side of signalling, so railways have always been a topic of interest for him.

Chris has had a varied working career serving in the Royal Air Force and the police in addition to holding various senior HR and Business Change and Transformation roles in both public and private sector organisations such as PwC, Serco, American Express and Mercedes Benz. Chris currently works in the defence industry and has travelled widely with work spending a lot of time on projects in the Far East, South Africa and the USA. He also has significant board level experience in the charity and heritage sectors.

When not working, Chris enjoys shooting, motor cycling and all things steam having for many years been involved in a hands-on role in the preservation of a Burrell Special Scenic Road locomotive.