Set up some 4 years ago by two Railway
volunteers, Dave Wellman and Mike Streeter, the Publicity Unit has grown to its current
size of 10 or so members.
Aims
The Publicity Unit's aims were then and continue to be
publicising the Swanage Steam Railway through meeting with
members of the public at venues both around and away from the
Railway's premises.
Events
In recent years, the Publicity Unit, supported by the SRT,
has attended Steam Fairs including the Great Dorset Steam Fair
- to whom we are extremely grateful for their support and help -
other Railways events, and local fetes and fairs across the Dorset
county and in some cases beyond. The Unit attends these events
to distribute information and spread the word generally.
Wider a
field, Tourism Trade Fairs are attended by group members on
behalf of Dave Green (Passenger Services Manager). It is known
that these attendances have
resulted in many visitors to the railway either as
individuals or group members as well as
to the Wessex Belle for evening meals or Cream Tea Specials,
and also Driver Experience bookings.
Slide show presentations are also given by
various members of the group (donation
welcome but only a cup of tea and a biscuit sought!) to a wide
variety of groups and organisations. Display units and
information are also provided on these occasions depending on
the venue size, location and the hosts specific requirements. These
presentations are generally given within a 25 mile radius of Corfe Castle but
approaches from venues further a field will be considered by
those involved. Acceptance is mostly dependant on timings etc.
but several members live
outside the Dorset county are involved with us giving such
presentations in their local areas.
Wherever possible a sales stand accompanies the Unit to help
raise funds and
over the years quite a substantial sum has been raised to assist
the Trust.
The Future
Following the appointment of Nick Brown as General Manager of
the Railway a re-evaluation of marketing and publicity for the
railway generally is being undertaken. The
Publicity Unit is fully involved in assisting him with this. It is hoped that over
the winter months new and innovative ways of reaching the
general public will be identified as many are not fully aware of the Railway
and what it has to offer. Distribution of
advertising material will also form part of this review and distribution by members in their
local areas may well be an area to be developed further.
Join Us!
If you would like to become a part of this team in any way
please get in touch. Principal team members currently are:
- Chairman - Peter Foster (Porter)
- Secretary - Liz Sellen (Membership Department)
- Treasurer liaison - Mike Streeter (TTI)
All are contactable via Station House, Swanage where they
work as volunteers (or in Mikes case works in Passenger
Services) on a regular weekly basis.
The Unit meets regularly, usually the first Tuesday of a
month, at Corfe Castle Station House and you will be welcomed by
them at any such meeting to discuss joining the group. . |