One of the 'great old gentlemen' of Britain's railway preservation movement retired this week.

Ralph Povey retired after 37 years' service on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (K&WVR).

Mr Povey was co-founder with the late Bob Cryer MP in March 1962 of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society. This week he received a steamy retirement present from the railway he so much loves.

Steam-age enthusiast Ralph was elected society president in October 1978 and has served the famous railway faithfully in that position for 21 years. He has served on the society's governing council for 37 years and has only missed six meetings in the whole of that time.

On Sunday, the K&WVR operated a 'President's Special' consisting of the 125-year-old steam locomotive Bellerophon and the 'Old Gentleman's Coach' from the Railway Children film which was filmed in the valley.

"Ralph is one of the greatest 'Old Gentlemen' in the railway preservation movement" says society chairman Graham Mitchell. "We owe to him and Bob Cryer the very existence of the society which resurrected the Worth Valley Branch. Without Ralph and Bob we would have nothing. If anyone deserves the freedom of The Old Gentleman's Coach, then he does!"

The President's Special conveyed Ralph and his family along the valley and made a lengthy call at the Vintage Railway Carriage Museum at Ingrow.

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