The Southern Railways Group gave WADEBRIDGE its Denys Fletcher
Award for 2007. The text of the letter advising of this was as follows:
"I am pleased to say that at our recent Management Committee Meeting it
was agreed that this year our Denys Fletcher Award would be given to your
locomotive, Wadebridge, following the successful completion of its restoration
and return to service
Many people have made complimentary remarks about your engine, having seen it
at various locations, and we would like to congratulate you on your success.
We endeavour to make the award at our Annual General Meeting, which will be
taking place on 15th September at St Nicholas' Church hall, High Street,
Guildford commencing at Mid-Day. We would therefore like to invite you or your
representatives of your Committee (or maybe a member or two who live near
Guildford) to attend the short ceremony. The award itself consists of a framed
certificate and a modest cash donation and an opportunity will exist for your
organisation to say a few words about the locomotive, say between 5 and 10
minutes, if you would like."
Denys Fletcher was an official of their organisation who, when he died, left
a bequest to be awarded to deserving projects, and ours was selected this
year.
John Butcher attended the AGM on 15th September where the SRG was very
complimentary about the locomotive, he made a ten minute speech about the
engine and collected the award (a cheque for £75) and the certificate
shown here.
Amongst previous notable winners of this award are the Battle of Britain
Locomotive Society's 34081 92 SQUADRON (1999) and the Maunsell
Locomotive Society's U class Nº1638 (2006).
