So long CvdA

News reached me this morning of the passing on Sunday evening of Chris van den Arend. If the West Somerset Railway was one of a pair of gloves, then Chris was the other glove. Chris was a central player in the hard work which enabled the Railway to re-open in 1976 and later became Administrative Director in those early years. Latterly many will know Chris as Station Master at Williton and through his work with the Steam Trust, especially on the Sleeping Car. Chris also served as Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Association, for a time as the Railway's Operating Superintendent and was a long serving Signalman. Above all Chris was a really good friend to a great many people. The obvious memorials will be the Sleeping Car and the Williton Footbridge but many will know that Chris's legacy is, in fact, the entire Railway - and its community - which has prospered from his tireless, gentle, energy.