MEMBERS' MONTHLY BULLETIN - JULY 2020

We are pleased to report that West Shed will re-open for business on Monday 3^rd August after over three months Coronavirus closure. This is a couple of weeks later than previously expected, because of staffing complications. We have been communicating with PRCLT by Zoom to agree forward work.

On the financial front, regular donations are holding up very well but the rest of the income stream is suffering somewhat. One-off donations are £8k down on budget forecast and sales stand income is, of course, non-existent. On a more positive note, the income percentage achieved against budget is about the same as at this time last year. 

Sales have continued to tick over via website and post. The good news is that we will be taking the sales stand to Statfold Barn Railway on the 8^th and 9^th of August. We hope to see as many of you as possible there, so please pre-book by visiting their website. If you can’t make it, you can still support us by buying products from our web shop www.lms-patriot.org.uk/shop.

Work has begun on the next issue of The Warrior, which is planned to drop through your letterboxes in early September. Included in this issue will be an advert promoting our 2021 fundraising calendar which is usually launched at Members' Day, and then sold on our sales stand and via the website. Now that we are at the West Shed in the company of LMS thoroughbred locos 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and 46203 Princess Margaret Rose we thought it would be a good idea to combine paintings of 'Patriots' with 'Princess Royal' and 'Princess Coronation' classes, the result being a collection of wonderful paintings from some of the best railway artists around who have kindly given their permission for the Project to use them.

Although, as previously reported, we have made arrangements to hold this year’s AGM at the Kidderminster Railway Museum on 31st October, the latest announcements on COVID restrictions make it look ever less likely that such gatherings will be allowed. Our Board has decided to explore holding a virtual meeting using Zoom and will keep you posted on progress.