Share Issue RIP

The much trumpeted Bluebell share issue, which we waited for for seven years finally closed on 31 December having raised over £600,000. Basically it was late and mishandled by management and as a result other fund raising opportunities were missed and the consequence is Bluebell still needs £4.4m to reach East Grinstead.

We now need to get on with serious fund raising. My experience is that little and often is the best method. However we do have time constraints so we need to exploit every possible way of prising money out of folk.

Tim Baker's buy a sleeper idea which if I recall he suggested some three years ago, but was told it would interfere with then the imminent share issue, needs to be launched. We have lots of grand parents visit the railway who will impulse buy a certificate stating their grandchild bought a sleeper on the Bluebell Railway.

We need to exploit to the hilt 50 years of BRPS this year and 50 years of Bluebell operations next year .

Crusty old life members like me might give up our membership cars for a medallion as used to be issued to officers of railway companies for a consideration say £200. I know when I worked at the Transport my bosses used to love to show their medallion at ticket barriers.

In the good old Bash days we organised strollathons (a fun walk with modest prizes) that would raise significant funds. We would milk the vent with free refreshments and a raffle.

All members should be encouraged to raise funds by any legal means.

I'd be delighted to post fund raising suggestions here.