It is with regret that we report the death of Wigan Branch Secretary William Baxendale.
Please see this THIS, sent by his son-in-law David Stephens.

Published 12th May 2021

To celebrate the launch of a brand new selection of 2021 cruises on Balmoral, benefit from our fantastic Freedom Fare PLUS offer, which includes a FREE Upgrade to All Inclusive Drinks and covers your tips, when you book any of the sailings below.

Throughout your holiday you could enjoy selected house wines by the glass, selected beers, spirits and soft drinks all day and evening without having to pay a penny more – they’ll all be on Fred. Olsen!

If that’s not enough, ALL tips for your Cabin Stewardess and Waiter are included too, so you’ll save even more when you secure your place on board your choice of these incredible 2021 Balmoral cruises.

All of these sailings are combinable with members affinity offers.

https://www.fredolsencruises.com/new-balmoral-cruises

Jamie Rudland | Groups & Affinity Account Manager | Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

‘: +44 (0) 1473 746169 Mob: 07775868036

8: jamie.rudland@fredolsen.co.uk  Web: www.fredolsencruises.com

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Fred. Olsen House, 42 White House Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5LL, UK

Vice Chairman of the BTPF, John Harrison

My name is John Harrison, and I was delighted to be elected National Vice Chairman of the BTPF in March 2012.  My railway career started as a Trade Apprentice in the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works, (Now Bombardier) and ended in a managerial role associated with Channel Tunnel Freight Services.  Along the way I had spells with British Transport Hotels, Travellers Fare, BR’s Civil Engineering Department, BRB HQ at 222 Marylebone Road, London Midland’s CM&EE Departments at Derby and Birmingham, Freight Engineering at the RTC Derby, and with Railfreight Distribution at Crewe.  I also completed a project for Transmark, the former BR Consultancy Group, in Tanzania, East Africa.

I have always believed that the railway industry is a great family of people, in many cases it is not just a job of work, but in reality it is a way of life.  People past and present have made our industry what it is, some of them we must never forget, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  We were proud to commemorate this, with the unveiling of our memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 22nd May 2012.

Whilst most definitely not forgetting the past, we are also very keen to keep moving our organisation forward.  Recruitment from people retired or thinking about retirement is a high priority of ours, and with that aim I am currently chairing a Recruitment Strategy Group, in order to ensure we make ourselves better known to both today’s industry employers and industry employees.

I believe that by joining the BTPF you will help us to secure a better future for all of us, whilst enjoying an amazing quality of life by being active in an informal and relaxing atmosphere, with humour generally high on the agenda.  As well as meeting people, you will help us to secure better travel arrangements, even for non safeguarded staff.  Please contact me anytime, I will gladly respond to all emails as soon as possible. It always gives me great pleasure to hear of railway stories and experiences.  I very much look forward to hearing from you and meeting you.

My telephone number is 0116 275 0730 or please drop me an email

To date, around 50,000 young trees have been planted to mark the 20th Century and the people who lived, worked and died during that period.  The trees represent the armed services, the Merchant Navy, many civilian organisations and even ordinary families.  On Tuesday 22nd May 2012, following an ambitious project led by the BTPF, a memorial to the Rail Industry was finally unveiled.

Les McDowell

It has taken some time and quite a few discussions  but I am delighted to welcome you to the new BTPF website.

It was our intention that the BTPF present a new look and easy to use website building on the great website previously developed. I think we have achieved that and with the easy access for all Branches to add and amend their own details I feel you will like what has been done. Please let me know what you think and we can include your comments on the site.

The BTPF has been busy promoting our Federation and along with the new website we have developed a new application form/information brochure that will be available to all Branches when we next meet in London in July. Again, this has been updated and adapted from the previous one but we have kept the BTPF logo which is quite well known.

John Harrison and I are now attending retirement seminars/clinics with Railway Companies and making presentations at various gatherings around the country. We do try and get to Branch meetings to meet you and understand particular challenges and success stories. It is heartening that membership in several areas is growing but equally disappointing that we are losing members elsewhere. This is, frankly, a serious challenge for the future and, linked with the difficulties Branches are experiencing in finding willing volunteers to occupy Branch Officials’ positions, we are concerned that we may find Branches struggling to continue. We will help wherever we can so please keep us informed.

I am hopeful that when we hold the Memorial anniversary service on 22nd May at 14.00 in the National Memorial Arboretum our contractors will have erected the third seat – this one will be between the roadway and the river to the east elevation of the Memorial. Whenever I go to the Memorial people really do stop me and ask about it and express their pleasure at seeing such a wonderful tribute. I am pleased to tell you that we have secured arrangements that will ensure the care and maintenance of the Memorial for several generations to come.

Thank you for taking time to look at our new site – I look forward to reading your comments.

Les McDowell,

Chairman.

Over the years we have secured many financial benefits for our retirees and their dependents, as well as improvements in their travel facilities.  We do this through:

• – Our lobbying of Parliament by our affiliation to the National Pensioners Convention.
• – Regular liaison with RPMI directly and through our Trustee Director.
• – A close relationship with ATOC, especially regarding free and privilege travel.

One of our key roles is to promote communications between like minded people and social activities with former colleagues across all our Branches.  Such activities include day trips by rivers, roads and railways, holidays in the UK and abroad, theatre trips, dances, lunches, and talks given by interesting and sometimes well known speakers.

We have over 50 Branches spread throughout the UK and membership is enjoyed by over 14,000 people..  We maintain excellent working relationships with all of the key pension providers and by joining us, you will help us to continue our work of providing protection for all retired railway people, and the continued safeguarding of all of our interests.

If you are or have been employed in any part of the British Transport Industry, you are most welcome to join us.  Friends, relatives and neighbours of members are also welcome to come along for the enjoyment.

You may be wondering what all this costs, it starts at just £3 per year, and there are heavily discounted life membership arrangements available.

By joining, you will help us to secure a better future for all of us financially, whilst enjoying an amazing quality of life by being active in an informal and relaxing atmosphere, with humour generally high on the agenda.  As well as meeting people, you will potentially have access to more affordable travel arrangements, even for non safeguarded staff.

If you’d like to join us, simply fill out the Contact Form and we’ll get somebody from your local branch to give you a call.