WANTED: NEW VOLUNTEERS in all departments!

The railway can only function thanks to the work of volunteers; without them, the railway would simply not exist. New volunteers are always welcome, but we realise that it can be a bit daunting to take that first step, to come to the station and say “I want to help”, especially if you do not yet know anyone. We know, we have all been there!

Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th March 2012 will therefore be “New Volunteer Recruitment Days”, and we invite anyone who is thinking about getting involved with the running of the railway to come along, have an informal chat, have a tour round the station, meet some of the regulars, and let us try to persuade you to give us a hand.

We welcome anyone, with or without a railway background or skills, to join in the volunteer work and activities on the railway.

There are many ways in which you might be able to help: train crew (driver, fireman, guard), signalling, station staff (booking office, shop, tea rooms), engineering, locomotive and carriage maintenance, track maintenance, building maintenance and decoration, painting, gardening, fundraising, draw ticket sales, Special Train bookings,  office administration. Opportunities exist in all these areas, and more. Having said that, we are particularly keen to recruit new Guards, shop staff and tea room staff, all jobs which must be covered every day on which we are open to the public. Supervised work training will be given in any areas where it is required.

There is no upper age limit for becoming a volunteer on the L&B, although obviously some activities will require an appropriate level of physical fitness. If you are not sure what is involved, the best way to find out is to come along and talk to those who already do the job!

We also welcome participation by young people, although there are certain restrictions on what work can be done by particular age groups. Generally speaking, young people have to be 14 years of age in order to “get their hands dirty”, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

If you come along during the weekend, we can discuss ways in which you might like to help. Steam services will be operating on both days, so you can also enjoy a ride on the train.

If you cannot make it to Woody Bay on this weekend, do not despair! We would still like to talk to you about getting involved. You can speak to any of our staff at the station, any time you are making a visit. However, on busy days it can sometimes be difficult to talk about all the possibilities, so you might like to make contact with our Volunteer Recruitment Officer, Dave Tooke, in advance of your visit. You can contact Dave on his home number: 01271 862930, or by email dave.tooke@lynton-rail.co.uk

Alternatively, if you already have an idea about what you would like to do, please get in touch with Dave, he will arrange a suitable date to get you started.

Come and help run YOUR railway!