Introduction

The Friends of Minehead Station was set up in 1997 to improve the overall appearance of Minehead Station and replicate, as finances allowed, a Great Western Railway terminus of similar size at the time of nationalisation. Also to promote awareness of the Station and the Railway within the area and to recruit and provide staff to assist the West Somerset Railway to operate Minehead Station. and last, but not least, to raise funds to enable these aims.

There are, at present, around 140 members and a Committee of 8 meet monthly.

Early Days

In 1997 an attempt was made to raise money by selling second hand books and magazines on the platform at Minehead using simply two or three platform barrows, with the items for sale weighed down with bricks to stop them blowing away. After braving the winds for the season it was decided that there was a need for a building, both to protect the stock and the staff, and in early 1998 the present Readers Halt was purchased amid a certain gloom and despondency as to whether it would ever pay it's way. They need not have worried, it was paid for by July and has gone on from strength to strength in the years since, thanks to the work of the Retail Manager and her dedicated team of helpers who run the bookstall throughout the season. As a result of their efforts Readers Halt has become the main fundraiser for FOMS, receiving regular donations of books magazines and other items to the extent that it soon became necessary to find additional storage and to this end a CCT was purchased, fitted out, and placed at the end of the Bay Platform line. The bookstall has become a mecca for people seeking back numbers and these have even been supplied to customers on the other side of the world.

While all this was taking place another team of workers had formed the maintenance gang and met regularly to carry out work around the Station. They meet for half a day when the 7day train service is in operation and for a whole day each week once there are no public trains. They obtained the use of the old Permanent Way workshop in the Car Park and this has been transformed into a useful working area.

Yet another team tackled the gardening, the area of which extends to the Signal Box and Seaward Way Level Crossing. The area from the Ops Portacabin to the Level Crossing has been transformed from a bramble strewn wilderness to a managed wildlife area which has attracted the attention of local Naturalist Groups while the platform flower beds and displays attract much comment each year.

FoMS are proud to have raised £33.000 to replace the small canopy at the Station (c) Alan Grieve

Achievements

The first job to be financed by FOMS was the installation of replica platform lights to replace the exiting fluorescents, followed by the tarmacing of the platforms which had previously been simply gravelled beyond the canopy. Fired with enthusiasm the Maintenance Gang then offered to take over responsibility for maintenance of the station, an offer which was gratefully accepted by the PLC, and since that time a number of large jobs have been tackled in addition to never ending day to day maintenance. Among other things the bookstall has been extended to provide additional storage space, the area by the Accounts Portacabin has been concreted, new power supplies were extended the length of the platform and the Station Toilets were completely refurbished at a cost of around £20000. as part of the upgrading of the power supplies on the Station the Maintenance Team worked closely with the company electrician and trenches were dug and cables run from the main building to the catering store and on to the FOMS workshop. FOMS were able to make a substantial donation to the refurbishment of the Platform Canopy last year while, at the same time, arranging and paying for the reinstatement of the Chimneys on the Station Building at a cost of over £13000.

Today

After helping financially with the Main Canopy it was decided that this year's project must be refurbishment of the small canopy between the Booking Office and the Gents Toilets and fund raising has been intense to raise the £33000 that this will cost. The target has almost been reached and a contract has been placed for the work to be carried out in the closed season early in 2006. Meanwhile the maintenance gang are making a concrete path from the sleeping coach to the new Ops Dept and Guards Portacabin.

Of course not every one of the 140 members is active but those who are have various social events throughout the year as well as regular Fund Raising events, a Summer Fayre on the Platform and a Christmas Fayre in the Methodist Church Hall in November. This was transferred to being an indoor event after a number of years of risking hypothermia on the Platform in November. An annual quiz is held, to which all departments of the Railway are invited to put up a team, and Skittles nights are held regularly during the winter

A Cheque is presented to the General Manager of the Railway

What you will need to know

An aptitude for DIY is helpful if you wish to join the maintenance gang, as well as a good sense of humour! As we are sometimes working in close proximity to the running line we need to be aware of safety requirements. The gardening team need to be fairly fit with at least a basic knowledge of gardening.

If working on the Bookstall you need to be happy meeting and dealing with members of the public and it is surprising how much a good sales technique can increase the day's takings. There is an element of lifting as boxes of books and magazines are always being delivered by generous donors.

Hours of Work

The Maintenance Gang meet at the FOMS workshop for 4 hours on Monday Mornings in the running season and usually on Wednesdays from 9am until about 4pm from November to April.

The Bookstall is open every day trains are running from about 9.30am until 4pm and during the closed season some members meet on Wednesdays to sort and organise stock. Bookstall Staff will be handling cash and an ability to do so and balance up at the end of the day is necessary.

How to volunteer

You should apply in the first instance to the FOMS Works Manager at Minehead Station, if interested in the Maintenance Gang, or to the FOMS Retail Manager at Minehead Station if interested in the Bookstall. They are not always on site but someone in the Information Office will take your details and pass them on.

Alternatively contact the FOMS Treasurer on 01643 706389 or email alan.grieve@tiscali.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Photographs on this site are (c) Respective owners and not to be used without written permission