Governance

The Gresley Society Trust is run by the Council. They are all volunteers and as of November 2024 they are:

PRESIDENT

John Cameron

John’s career has had two main interests, farming and railways.

After completing a term as President of The Scottish National Farmers Union he accepted an invitation in 1990 from the Scottish Secretary of State to become Chairman of ScotRail and the Scottish representative on the British Railways Board. He became Chairman of the Board’s Safety committee, was officially passed out as a driver which allowed him to drive his two locomotives on the mainline. He first purchased Gresley Pacific A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa in 1969, followed by the purchase of class K4 No. 61994 The Great Marquess some years later.

At the present time the two locomotives are stored on his farm on which he intends to open a railway museum in the near future. He joined the Gresley Society in 2006 as Society President.

For his services to railways and agriculture he was awarded the CBE.

CHAIRMAN

Philip Benham

Philip is a rail industry professional, who started his career in Derby but went on to have management responsibilities for the East Coast Main Line. He established the Association of Train Operating Companies at rail privatisation, before moving into heritage as General Manager of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

He has been chairman of the Gresley Society since 2016, and is also chairman of the Friends of the National Railway Museum, and a trustee of the Robert Stephenson Trust and Tramway Museum Society. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, Philip was awarded the MBE in 2025.

SECRETARY

Christopher Clark

Christopher’s interest in railways goes back to his teenage years in Scotland and South Buckinghamshire. His first involvement with railway preservation was with the King Preservation Society and the move of No. 6024 from Barry scrapyard. Joining the Gresley Society in 2015 he later took over as Society secretary. He was part of the team that produced the plaque and information board which now adorns the forecourt of Doncaster station.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Chris Nettleton

Chris was a ‘train spotter’ from an early age, and later a railway photographer. He joined The Gresley Society in 1999 becoming Secretary in 2003 and Membership Secretary the following year. Further roles to promote The Gresley Society since then have been on the annual ‘talks circuit’ and taking the Society stand to railway inspired events. In 2012 he was appointed Editor of the Society’s magazine, The Gresley Observer and, as with Membership Secretary, he is still active.

TREASURER

Steven Hogg

Steven blames his interest in railways on the Thomas the Tank Engine books and his Gresley credentials began with the first model in his extensive collection being of No. 4472 Flying Scotsman! He volunteered for a heritage railway from before he started work and was a Trustee of a major UK line for 25 years. In his working life, Steven is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

LOCOMOTIVE MANAGER

David McIntosh

David was born in Wales 1945, began railway career at ex-GCR Wrexham Rhosddu shed 1960. Graduate Trainee LMR 1968 then series of supervisory appointments culminating as Area Manager Northwich 1978-1982. Moved from Regional Railways District Manager East Midlands into Consultancy 1995. Became Gresley Society Locomotive Manager 2008 and served as Chairman 2012-2016. Education Officer Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust. Director Stanier 8F Society.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Ian MacCabe

Ian is a founder member of the Gresley Society having joined the original Gresley A3 Preservation Society in 1962 as a schoolboy. Followed the Gresley Pacifics up and down the East Coast until their final days and saw them all but three class A3s. Ian used to hide from Peter Townend when “bunking” Topshed – he later became a great friend and mentor. Have been a Gresley Society Council member for many years as meetings Secretary and now PRO. Ian is a retired Research and Development Engineer, keen photographer and representative of our class N2 when on tour – let’s hope it is back in steam in 2026!

FUNDRAISING MANAGER

Mark Allatt

Mark is a marketing consultant and former chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (builders of Peppercorn class A1 No. 60163 Tornado and Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales) and The LNER Society. He is also a keen railway modeller and is currently building an 00 gauge model of Doncaster in the 1930s.

EVENTS MANAGER

Mick Waterhouse

Mick is a retired railway operations specialist of 43 years, having progressed through the footplate grades to Driver, Traction Inspector, Senior Driver Instructor, and Driver Standards Manager. Responsible for a competent Driver workforce, primarily certification and assessment, but also working in other areas with other key rail industry bodies such as Network Rail, HMRI, RSSB and three years as Royal Train Traction Inspector. He is married to Debbie with two sons.