TEAS COFFEES & LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

OBITUARY

BRIAN JOHN WINTERS
16th. March 1948   to  10th. November 2008

It is with deep sadness that our club announces the death of our member Brian Winter.

Brian was born in South London in 1948 and his love of railways started almost immediately. Like most of us train spotting was his main hobby ( though he did spot planes for a short while), but unlike most of us his dedication knew no bounds - there were better things to do during the day than school sports - bunk off and train spot. The best illustration of this was the tale of him boarding an Edinburgh train at the age of about 10 ( probably on a platform ticket ) to expand his railway knowledge. On his return the following day he was met by more than concerned parents. He replied “But I'm O.K. aren't I ?”, but he still passed his 11+ going on to grammar school.

On leaving school he went to work for British Railways, working as a signalman at Balham Box for many years before transferring to the Midlands . His last post being the top man at the Birmingham Newstreet Box.

Retirement meant a move to Minehead in October 1998 and he immediately joined both the West Somerset Railway as a trainee signalman, which must have raised an eyebrow or two and also The Somerset Railway Modelling Club. At the SRMC he soon became club secretary bringing his railway knowledge for our benefit and improvement. Brian enjoyed sharing his experiences especially with our younger members and still enjoying travelling on the railway he took many of them with other seniors to all quarters of the UK . Some even as far as the States. Funding most trips himself.

He loved all locos, steam or diesel except if the latter “had 16 wheels” he hated them, but his favourite was always The Western.

For those of you reading this, but not members of the SRMC, you will be asking why the header to this obituary. Well reader you see Brian took it upon himself to be our club tea boy, and when it was ready he let us know by announcing unforgettably :-

“TEAS COFFEES & LIGHT REFRESHMENTS”

Brian will be greatly missed but if you visit us you will hear refreshments continue to be announced in the same time honoured refrain.