THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS

THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS WEBSITE.

HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO A NEW SITE CALLED

IGNITING THE FLAMING OF UNITY

https://ignitingtheflameofunity.yolasite.com/

PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW

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TO THE NEW UPDATED COMBINED AND WEBSITE

IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY WEBSITE

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THIS WEBSITE COMBINES THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
THE BRIGHTON A.S.L.E.&F., THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS
& THE SUSSEX MOTIVE POWER WEBSITES

WHICH EXPLAINS THE EVOLUTION OF THE FOOTPLATE GRADES AND THE
HISTORY OF THEIR TRADE UNIONS AND THE STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE
THEIR WORKING LIVES

Picture Gallery Of Brighton's veteran Drivers In

The Retired Link

Below: Features photos and a short video of the Bluebell footplate re-union, which was held on the 11th April 1998.

The re-union was held to commemorate the 40th aniversary of the closure of the Bluebell line.This line used to run between East Grinstead (Low Level station) and Culver Junction, which was South of Barcombe Mills station on the now closed Lewes to Uckfield line.

The video below features a number of now retired drivers from Brighton, Newhaven & Three Bridges Locomotive depots.

The video was filmed by driver Ian Munro (Brighton, West Worthing & Barnham).

All of these drivers actually worked over the Bluebell prior to the line closing. These loco-men would of worked over this line, either as a Firemen or as a Enginemen and some of them worked as both.

The re-union also features fellow drivers and other guest, who where invited as guests by those drivers who attended the event.

This event was organised by Gerry Butler (pictured right) who was well known Clerical Officer within the Brighton/South Central areas.

Gerry was a qualified Engine men on the Bluebell Railway

The video features former drivers from the following depots (Correct as far as I Know and in bracketts their later depots).

Brighton - Fred "Dinger" Bell, Peter Pollard, Lou Churcher (West Worthing), Ron Sheehan, Les Bradford, Ken Pursley (West Worthing), Ian Munroe (West Worthing), George Hards, Fred Locke, Les Forder, Tom Smith (West Worthing), Norman Tendall (Littlehampton), Ted Janes, Ernie "Chuckles" Southon, Reg Brooker (West Worthing), Geof "Killer" Reynolds, Brian Hall, Eric Francis, Ron Knight, Ernie Jackson, Ray Standing, Frank Geal (West Worthing), Fred Gambling, Jim Gambling

Three Bridges - Bob Hickman, Cyril Blundle, John "Chic" Debenham (Brighton), Jimmy Edwards (Brighton), Dave Shopland, Jim Sayers (Brighton), Dave ""Sweet Lips" Creasey (Newhaven, Seaford & Eastbourne) , Les "Tug" Wilson.

Newhaven - Vic Morris (Seaford), Fred "Ginger" Wheeler (Seaford), Ron "Burglar" Tirrell (Brighton), George "Honda" Hilton (Seaford), Vic Harris (Brighton), Colin Wickenden (Seaford), Tom Holder (Seaford).

Guest Drivers - Ron French (Brighton), Cyril Hutchings (Brighton), Mac McCabe (Brighton), Jonh Newcombe (Redhill), Roy Luxford (Three Bridges), Ted "Smokey" Crawforth (Bognor Regis).

Appologies to those drivers who I have missed out or I do not know their names.

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Pictures below are taken from the Bluebell re-union video

CHUCKLES & JIM GAMBLING

FRED GAMBLING

ERIC FRANCIS & BRIAN HALL

FRED LOCKE

GEORGE HARDS

GEOFF REYNOLDS

PETER POLLARD & FREDDIE BELL

ERNIE "CHUCKLES" SOUTHON

Left: LES BRADFORD & Above: LES FORDER

RON FRENCH B.E.M.

RON SHEEHAN

RON "BURGLAR " TYRELL

RONNIE KNIGHT & ERNIE JACKSON

Above: CYRIL HUTCHINGS

Right: TED JANES

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Mac McCabe & RON FRENCH

JIMMY EDWARDS

Left - Right: Les Bradford, Cyril Hutchings, Chuckles & Freddie Locke

Ted Janes & Ian Munro

Eric Francis & Brian Hall

Killer & Ian Munro

George Hilton (Nhvn &Sfd), Ron Sheehan & George Heaver

Unknown (1) Unknown (2) & John Newcoombe

Ian Munro, Frank Geal, Roy Luxford, Ray Standing, Mac Mcabe

Dave Greasey Smokey Crawford, Gerry Butler and the rest unknown

Frank Geal, George Heaver, Geoff Reynolds, Smokey Crawford & Gerry Butler

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Retirement Presentation

Mac McCabe’s

Retirement Presentation

Left - Right

Tony Harper, Ivan Wilson & Mac McCabe

Les Ward Retirement 7th March 2014

Left ~ Right: Chris Burchel (Managing Director), Rex Kitchener, James Burton (Department Director).

Rex Kitchener's retirement presentation 26.11.2010

Left ~ Right: Paul Horan & Rex Kitchener

Back row Left ~ Right: Russel Unknown, Geno (Guard), Alan Boon Guard, Rex Kitchener.

Front Michael Hurren (Guard), Bob Kettle, Harry Penter, Terry Grant (Guard), Bob Ogle & Jeff Simmons

Barry Brett's retiring due 2009

Left - Rght: Mehmet Suleyman, Harry Penter (seated), Ian Hughes, Graham Warren, Bob Knevett, Paul Overington, Steve Toughey, Bob Kettle (seated), Barry Brett, Chris Horlock Mark Angel, Martin Watts.

Below

Barry Brett & Dave Hunt

Brighton Thameslink retirement and leaving due 2004

Left - Right: Steve Doyle (St. Pancras), Ken Winter (retiring) & Phil Stoddart (Penzance).

Peter White's Retirement due December 2000.

Left ~ Right Tony Farmer, Dave Griffiths, Ivan Wilson & Peter White.

All four men have held position of A.S.L.E.F. L.D.C. reps at Brighton Thameslink.

Peter along with Tony Farmer become the first L.D.C. reps. at the newly opened Thameslink depot in 1997.

Peter entered the footplate grades on 02.05.1960. Peter transfered to Brighton in C1992. During his footplate career held various ASLEF positions at many depots.

Peter had worked at depots March, Gillingham, Hull & Brighton.

Jimmy Edwards receiving his retirement certificate from Dave Sawyer (Operation Manager) in 1996.

Retirement & Long Service Awards 1989

Back row left to right John Osborne*, Bill MacKenzie*, Tony Luff (Horsham), Mike Donnelly (Area Opperation Manager), Bob Morgan (Littllehampton), Mick Gillam* (Littllehampton), Stewart Fuller* (Seaford).

Front; Stan Walters, George Hever, Charlie Evans, Phil Plaine*, Harry Vincent, John MacNeil* (Littllehampton), Bob Trann (Non Clerical Timekeeper).

* Served as LDC reps

JULY 1991

Left ~ Right: John Naisby (Train Crew Manager), Cyril Hutchings, Roy Swetman, Norman Light, Don Hill, Harry Mitchell, & Gus Wright,

Norman Light's retirement due in 1991

Back row Left - Right: Jimmy Edwards, Roger Thomas (W. W.), Laurie Osman & Gus Wright.

Front row Billy Kenchington, Gordon Hatcher, George Hilton (Sfd), Norman Light, Harry "Zippy" Mitchell,

Eddie Forder (W. W.) & Eddie Ricketts.

Barry Brett's retiring due 2009

Below

Barry Brett & Dave Hunt

Miscellaneous photos of veteran

Brighton footplate men

Don Hitchings reliving his Brighton Belle memories in the cab of the Brighton Belle on the 4th March 2011.

The motor coach is currently being restored along with other coaches of the Belle and it is planned to enter main line services for special traffic purposes in 2012.

L-R: Billy Kenchington, Norman Light, Reg Jarrett, Jimmy Edwards & Les Forder.

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Retired Brighton driver David "the lobby cat" Jupp

(as seen on 05.07.10).

David started at Brighton on 10.06.1959 and retired early through ill health in C1997.

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Retired Brighton driver Ray Standing

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Retired former Brighton drivers

Left ~ Rightn Alan Ricketts (Plymouth) Mac McCabe (not retired) & Ken Benfell (Skipton).

Alan entered the footplate grade on 11.05.70 at Brighton. Alan moved to West Croydon to gain his promotion to driver and later transfering back to Brighton E.M.U.T. in the mid 1970's. Alan held the position of Brighton No.2 Branch Secretary 1981 ~1987. becoming the last Branch Secretaty of Brighton No.2 Branch. In the early 1990's Alan transfered to Plymouth where he remained until his early retirement. Alan now lives in Cyprus.

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Ken Benfell entered the footplate grade on 23.10.1972. Ken transfered to Eastbourne E.M.U.T. to gain his promotion to driver in the early 1980's. Ken moved back to Brighton in C1991. In C1995 Ken transfered to Leeds before transfering again to Skipton. Ken took early retirement owing to ill health.

Mac Mcabe Jim Sayers & Ken Benfell

Retired Brighton driver Jim Sayers (centre) C2003.

Jim entered the fooplate grade on 26.03.1940 at

Three Bridges. Jim moved to Brighton E.M.U.T. when Three Bridges Loco closed in April 1969. During his footplate career Jim served on Three Bridges L.D.C. and Section Council "B"

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REUNIONS AT OTHER LOCATIONS

THE ANNUAL NINE ELMS REUNION

WHICH IS HELD IN AUGUST AT THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY

Frank Heritage (left)

Former Brighton loco-man and Brighton Depot Manager Photo taken 12.08.09 at the Nine Elms re-union