Join us for our Annual General Meeting, 2022

To be held in the Function Room, The Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, TN22 3QL

The Function Room is located above the Bressemer Arms at Sheffield Park station

It is a short five minute walk between the National Rail station and the Bluebell station at East Grinstead.  However, we do not recommend catching the later 10.20 from London Victoria as the connection would be too tight for comfort, especially when including the time to purchase tickets.

There is a cafe at the station (an old Mk1 coach) and also a nearby Sainsburys for a more substantial breakfast.

Travel From the Bluebell Railway

What’s Included?

The plans for the day include: the AGM; a ride on the 11 mile Bluebell Railway - the first standard gauge steam-operated preserved railway in the World, through the glorious Sussex countryside; a buffet lunch; a tour of the Atlantic House were a D.E. March, H2 Brighton Atlantic, 32424 Beachy Head, 4-4-2 steam locomotive is being created and a chance to see the many attractions at Sheffield Park Station.

Cost:

The cost for the event with the buffet lunch and Atlantic House Tour is £15.00.  This includes a small contribution to the room hire charge.

You can alternatively attend the AGM for free, without the buffet lunch and Atlantic House Tour - select “AGM Only” tickets on the booking form.

Members who paid for the AGM 2020 can have their monies transferred to the AGM 2022 - please select a transfer ticket on the booking form.

The cost does not include travel on the Bluebell Railway as most members would obtain a cheaper ‘priv’ rate ticket compared with a group booking. Please purchase a return ticket to Sheffield Park at East Grinstead Bluebell Railway Station.

Booking:

Bookings closed on 30th April 2022.

Educational Free Pass

This is an educational visit, so those members with protected (safeguarded) travel facilities can apply for an educational free pass.  Please see: Free Pass for further information.

The free pass ticket should be from your home station to East Grinstead.

Council Vacancies

From the 2022 AGM we have five vacancies on the Institution Council for the posts of Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Independent Financial Examiner, Newsletter Editor and a Council Member.  

If you are interested in undertaking one of  these posts, please see:  vacancies for more information.

AGM Agenda (provisional)

• Apologies for Absence;
• Chairman’s Welcome;
• Report from Institution Secretary;
• Report from Treasurer;
• Report from Independent Financial Examiners;
• Report from Membership Secretary;
• Report from Newsletter Editor;
• Report from Web Manager;
• Rule Changes
• Any Other Business

Event Timetable

There are a number of attractions at Sheffield Park including an extensive shop (including railway books and models), a museum, Steamworks! Interactive exhibition, the engine shed, Bullied Society Shop and the Bessemer Arms pub, which usually serves at least one real ale.

Travel to the Bluebell Railway

Travel from London

There is a direct train from London Victoria, departing at 09.50.  It is also possible to use a Thameslink services departing from London St Pancras at 09.30 and London Bridge at 09.45 by changing at East Croydon.  See table below.

Note platform numbers are those booked, but could change on the day - check customer information screens before going to the platform

National Rail Tickets to East Grinstead

For those cannot use an Education Free Pass (see above) a off-peak return from London Victoria or London Bridge to East Grinstead, valid on any train is £17.10, or £11.25 with a railcard.  The cost is marginally more from St Pancras (using Thameslink services, not Underground) at £17.20 or £11.35 with a railcard.  Whilst these tickets can be purchased on the day, there are often long queues at London Victoria to purchase tickets on a Saturday morning.  Tickets can be purchased at: Southern Railway or any National Rail website.

DO NOT use thetrainline or other similar third party sites as you will pay more as these sites charge fees which National Rail Train Operator websites do not charge.