Alan Osborne

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Alan Osborne CBE was a Director of SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) between 1994 and 2002 and of the Charitable Trust between 2002 and 2009.

He was born in 1928 and died on 23 August 2021.[1][2] He had a distinguished career in Civil Engineering. He was co-opted onto the Board of SVR(H) at the AGM on 10 May 1994. At the time he was Chairman of the Wolverhampton-based company Tarmac Construction Limited, and also served on several advisory bodies concerned with urban regeneration and engineering projects.[3]

He served on the Board for 8 years, before stepping down in October 2002 in order to devote more time to the newly-formed Severn Valley Rolling Stock Trust, with Nick Paul being co-opted onto the SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) Board in his place.[4]

He was a Director of the Rolling Stock Trust from Incorporation at the beginning of 2002. He initially served as Company Secretary with Chris Thomas being Chairman,[5] but relinquished the Secretary role and became Chairman early in 2003.[6] He was present in that capacity at the ceremony at Kidderminster on 17 April 2004 at which 7819 Hinton Manor was formally handed into the custody of the Trust.[7]

In September 2005 he announced that he would step down as Chairman at the following AGM.[8] He continued to serve as a Director of the Trust until October 2009.[1]

He was instrumental in expanding the initial Kidderminster Carriage Shed proposal from a 16 vehicle shed to the 60 vehicle building eventually erected. He used Tarmac contacts to produce the design and structural work free of charge.[2]

He was a was a 'key player' too in the concept and construction of The Engine House, making a significant personal contribution to the purchase price of the land.[9][2] On 21 October 2009 he was among the dignitaries who met with HRH The Duke of Gloucester at Highley on the occasion of the delayed opening ceremony.

An obituary by Paul Fathers appeared in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 216, Winter 2021.

SVRSevern Valley Railway Officerships

  • Director of SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) 1994-2002
  • Director and Trustee of SVRSevern Valley Railway Rolling Stock Trust 2001-2009, Chairman 2003-2005 succeeded by Chris Thomas

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Alan Osborne on Companies House
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 216, Winter 2021, pp. 52-53
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 111, Boardroom Notes
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 141, Appointments
  5. Companies House, June 2002 Accounts signed on 30 September 2002
  6. Companies House, June 2003 Accounts
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 147
  8. Companies House, June 2005 Accounts
  9. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 168