Notice of WLA 52nd AGM 2026

14^th November 2026

Kidderminster Railway Museum

Station Approach, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, Worcs. DY10 1QX

AGM Commences: 12:30 in the Royal Star Room

The Western Locomotive Association Annual General Meeting will be held at Kidderminster Railway Museum on 14th November 2026. The venue is a short walk from Kidderminster Station. The meeting will start at 12:30 in the Royal Star Room. This will be our 52nd AGM. After formal proceedings are completed there will be a slide/film show from Keith Bullock. If anyone is interested in presenting anything else to Members and to those present after the formalities then please let the Secretary know at ian_c_clayton@yahoo.co.uk .

As a Company Limited by guarantee and a registered charity we are bound to holding an AGM every year and it is an important part of our governance where members can ensure the Association is being run properly. With the success over recent years of recruiting over double the amount of Members comes the need in making sure we have as many Members as possible vote on resolutions put forward by the Board and the Committee. As part of our Articles of Association (our charity and business governing rules) we must have at least 7.5% of Members voting either face to face at the AGM or via Proxy vote to be quorum. Please come along to the AGM to hear about the running of the WLA and our successes/challenges over the course of 2026, and plans for 2027, and of course your opportunity to vote on resolutions put forward. If you cannot attend, as a minimum please can we ask you to vote on the election/re-election of Committee Officers by Proxy vote. This year we again provide a short introduction for all Committee Members standing for re-election/election so you can meet the Team, along with your Proxy Voting Forms.

Important note to all Members: in light of the news that our Chair of the WLA resigned on 30th September, please read the enclosed notice entitled “Note to Members of the WLA Regarding the Resignation of the Chair Oct 26”. This note updates our Membership on how we need to take forward the permanent appointment of a new Chair onto the Management Committee (and Director onto the Board) in line with our Articles of Association. We will not be putting forward a resolution to appoint a new Chair at this year’s 2026 AGM and instead will defer until the 2027 AGM.

It should also be noted we are not appointing a Sales Officer at this year’s AGM. Whilst Peter Bamber has been busy handing over the role of sales to David Hewell and Paul Northcott, the Management Committee have decided to Co-Opt two new roles onto Committee to trial that of Sales Coordinator (David) and Merchandise Manager (Paul). The position of Assistant Engineering Project Coordinator was also recently co-opted onto the Management Committee with Jack Baldwin appointed.

If this overall restructure is deemed successful, we will propose an Ordinary Resolution update to our Articles of Association at next year’s 2027 AGM to add these new roles and ask for nominations. It should be noted that any Member can be put forward as a nomination for any role so long as they have a proposer and seconder from our Membership and so long as the nomination is received by the Secretary no less than 60 days before the date of the AGM.

Non-members can also come along to the AGM and hear all about the running of the Association but will not be able to vote on any resolutions.

David Hewell, Paul Northcott and the Sales Team will hopefully be bringing along some of the latest sales items on the day and our Membership Secretary will also hopefully be in attendance allowing you to renew your membership for 2026 on the day if you wish. A membership form is included to bring along on the day or return by post if you cannot attend. It should be noted that it is very easy to renew your Membership on our website now using the following website address https://westernlocomotives.com/membership-account/membership-levels/. You can even opt to auto-renew each year, which means you’ll never forget to renew again!!

The Agenda for our AGM is currently as follows below.

• Apologies for absence (please forward to the Secretary by post or email ian_c_clayton@yahoo.co.uk)
• Minutes of the 2025
• Matters arising (please forward any items including resolutions to the Secretary by email or post no later than 28 days before the meeting).
• Chairman’s and Board Report by Acting Chair Paul Finch.
• Engineering updates on our 3 locomotives D1062, D1013, and D1048 (including the latest engineering assessment of the latter).
• Officer
• Ordinary Resolution of Election of Officers.
• Any other business including potential 2027
• Dates of 2027 meetings and
• Close and end of formal proceedings.
• Keith Bullock slide/film shows.

Hope to see many of you at the AGM and many thanks as always for your continuing support of our Association. Ian Clayton - Secretary Western Locomotive Association.

Unable to attend the AGM? The WLA Members Postal Proxy Form for the 2026 AGM may be downloaded here.