Islander Peter Taylor has been announced as the new Chairman of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
He takes over the reins from Peter Conway, who has retired from the board following 21 years of service.
Peter has a lifelong passion for steam and the Island’s railways. He first joined the Wight Locomotive Society as a teenager in 1967 and regularly joined working parties at Newport station prior to the move to Havenstreet in 1971. In recent years, he volunteered in the rolling stock department and qualified as a locomotive driver in 2017.
In his professional life, Peter initially worked for local bus companies and then joined the Isle of Wight County Council to follow a career in traffic and transportation engineering. Having risen to a senior role, he took early retirement in 2011 and has served as one of the Railway’s directors since 2013.
When not at the Railway, Peter is also the proud owner of a 1927 steam road roller which make regular appearances at the line’s annual steam fair and is currently completing the restoration of a 1923 traction engine.
Peter explains:
“The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the country’s leading heritage railways and one of the Island’s most-loved attractions.
“I feel very honoured to become the Railway’s chairman, and look forward to continuing the excellent progress made by my predecessors.”
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An excellent choice. Congratulations.
Typical, this guy will probably ask for more steam trains and the isle of wight council will probably blow their budget on them, if its not that non floating piece of s… for once.
What an idiotic thing to say! Bears no affinity to the story at all. Good luck to this new chairman, he’s a very good choice.