IT IS WITH THE DEEPEST SADNESS THAT I HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT OUR BELOVED CHAIRMAN, MARK PEDLEY, PASSED AWAY ON THE MORNING OF THE 12TH APRIL FOLLOWING A BRAVE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.
I am sure that you will all join me in offering Marks`s wife, Lyn, and the rest of his family our heart felt sympathies.
As you can imagine the team at Ropley are absolutely devastated by the loss of Mark. He was a dear friend to us all and we all held him the highest regard. We will certainly miss his dogged determination, wicked sense of humour and his ability to extract money for 499 out of anyone who passed by.
Mark`s passing obviously leaves a huge hole, and as Mark Collins commented in his piece in Stovepipe it is difficult for us imagine anyone replacing him. But, we must move on, it is what Mark would have wanted us to do. Please be reassured that the team at Ropley are committed to doubling their efforts to get 499 running again, and we respectfully ask you, our members, to help us in any way you can. Please spread the word far and wide so that we can all enjoy the sight and sound of two Urie S15`s working together over The Alps on The Watercress Line.
With kindest regards to you all
Neil Marshall
Vice Chairman, Urie Locomotive Society
Following the loss of our beloved chairman, Mark Pedley, it is the ULS’s intention to create a lasting memorial to Mark on his much loved Urie S15 No 499 when she returns to service. To this end we are welcoming any donations that will go specifically to this memorial, the nature of which will be announced when a fitting tribute is decided. If you would like to help with this fund please visit our PayPal donations page by clicking here.