Obituaries (Page updated to 28 February 2008 ) to In Memoriam list
John M. Edgson (H7953)
Born in 1932 John, after completing his education, National Service with the RAF and a short period with the local water board, joined British Railways and went on to design many bridges and other structures. He worked in drawing offices at Kings Cross, Paddington.
The passion of his life was however the works of Sir Nigel Gresley, The London and North Eastern Railway as well as those companies that went to make up that organisation at the grouping in 1923 but especially the Great Northern Railway.
From around 1965 John set out on what I must describe as his life’s work. That was to prepare as many drawings of the locomotives and passenger carrying vehicles as was possible and to that end amassed much information that he would be able to set down on a drawing. Initially they were in 4mm scale but later he added 7mm to his portfolio. John continued to develop the range of drawings and he marketed them under the name of Isinglass Models. John was still working on new drawings until shortly before his death. The number of drawings produced eventually numbered in excess of 550.
His own modelling ability was of the highest order and also included making point work for various layouts but in particular Peterborough North of the Barnet Model Railway Club. The first meeting of that club was held in his home and he went on to serve as Honorary Secretary, Exhibition Manager and latterly, in recognition of the work he did for the club, as Vice President.
One of John’s first models was of Great Northern, the LNER Class A1 locomotive as operated in the 1930s and the last model he was working on was of Humorist an A3, the detail contained in both was awesome.
He regularly attended the Barnet Centre of the SLS contributing where necessary to the evenings entertainment and dispensing his knowledge when called upon to do so.
Always ready to discuss the works of his hero Sir Nigel Gresley, John was to be seen at Model Railway Exhibitions around the country with his trade stand dispensing his drawings with a smile and where necessary advice.
John was a longstanding member of the Gresley Society, having served as Joint Sales Manager for many years, and the Great Northern Railway Society (Member no 2 of this group) as well as other LNER associated societies. He supported other groups when his expertise was requested.
In later life John suffered from ill health and he eventually succumbed on the 3 February 2008. His funeral was held at East Barnet Baptist Church were he regularly worshipped. Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Margaret, and to Chris and Andrew, his sons, at this time of their loss.
He will long be remembered and his drawings are a fitting legacy.
Roy Mears
Peter T. Handford (H5436)
Peter Handford, as reported in the Jan/Feb ‘Journal’ passed away at his Suffolk home on 6 November 2007 at the age of 88 years.
He is best remembered amongst railway enthusiasts for the sound recordings he made of the then fast disappearing world of steam railways in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The many dozens of LP and EP records which were produced were done so on the record label he established, ‘Transacord’ later to become ‘Argo Transacord’.
Besides the many recordings of railway sounds now long departed from the railway scene his LP record ‘The Triumph of an A4 Pacific’ is particularly poignant to the Society. It was made on 23 May 1959 when Driver Bill Hoole, with A4 Pacific 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, on a special train from Kings Cross to Doncaster to celebrate the Jubilee of the Society, reached 112mph on the return journey down Stoke Bank. The recording, much of it unedited, is a wonderful example of the art of the sound recordist and particularly Peter Handford.
He inherited this great love of trains from his father and godfather but it was the film industry that was his main line of work. Here he was very successful as a sound recordist and much sought after by producers winning an Oscar and a BAFTA in 1985 for his work on ‘Out of Africa’, starring Robert Redford. He also worked on the railway-based films ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘The Railway Children’.
As Peter Handford said himself, “I’ve always thought that no source of sound has more variety than the steam locomotive … gives them their aura and mystique. You can get a sense of the weight and power of these mighty machines from the sound they make when puffing up an incline”.
We send our sympathy to his wife and family.
Brian Dotson
John Steel (NE3325)
John Steel was born at Crossgates, Leeds and later lived in Guiseley. I don’t think he had any family but I got to know him very well on his working visits to the Ffestiniog Railway. I don’t think he was ever employed on a railway, but he was a member of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society and his memory and knowledge of transport and railway matters was quite amazing, especially of things North Eastern. I can remember once having quite a discussion with him on the merits or otherwise of 4-4-4 tank locos which I think actually overflowed into the ‘Journal’.
His cheerful personality made him a very good friend, and although, as with myself, old age eventually intervened, I had always kept in occasional touch with him. He died last September, aged 88 years and was one of the old sort whose like we shall not see again and will be sadly missed.
Cyril A. Selman
We are also sorry to learn of the deaths of P.A.G. Michie (NW6236) of Altrincham and Peter Nettleton (H8282) of West Wickham.
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