Sir William Mcalpine RIP

[Crawley Ben]

Sir William McAlpine has passed away aged 82 after a short illness.

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/fawley/122843/saviour-of-flying-scotsman-dies.html

Sir William McAlpine, who lived at the Fawley Hill estate with his widow Lady Judith McAlpine, passed away yesterday (Sunday, March 4) following a period of illness.

The 82-year-old, a former director of his family's construction company, purchased the famous steam locomotive from America in 1973.

It had been due to spend the rest of its days in a museum but Sir William brought it back to England and pressed it back into service for day trips before selling it in the Nineties.

A keen rail enthusiast, he built a full-sized railway at his estate including the original station from Somersham in Cambridgeshire, which was closed during the Sixties.

Since 2004, Sir William and Lady McAlpine had hosted the Hambleden Valley's annual "railway nativity"......

RIP

Ben

(mods please feel to move elsewhere if posted in wrong section of the forum)

 

[theageofthetra]

Just seen a post from the RHDR that their chairman and preservation champion Sir William Mcalpine has passed away.

http://railnews.mobi/news/2018/03/05-railnews-chairman-sir-william-mcalpine.html

THE death has been announced of Sir William McAlpine, the chairman of Railnews Ltd and the patron or president of many other railway organisations.

Sir William, who had been ill for some time, was 82.

He was well known for his railway interests, including ownership of the Flying Scotsman locomotive, which he later sold.

He was formerly a director of the McAlpine construction business, and was also well known for his personal motto: “Life is not a rehearsal”.

Railnews managing director Cyril Bleasdale said: "He was a great friend to the railway industry, becoming chairman of Railnews 21 years ago. He made a big contribution to the newspaper's survival and success.

"Everyone at Railnews will miss him very much...."

 

[mushroomchow]

Very sad news - a real heavyweight of the heritage railway industry.

 

[Flying Phil]

Very sad - truly one of the "Good Guys".

 

[mushroomchow]

Been a tough month for heritage rail - we also lost Dick Hardy, former division manager of Top Shed in the last days of Steam and longtime preservation champion, on the 18th February.

 

[38Cto15E]

RIP.
It was good to see Class 37 'Concrete Bob' on snow clearing duties over recent days.

 

[AndyY1951]

I believe 'Concrete Bob' was Sir William's grand-father.