The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) Society Limited has announced changes to its board following its first board meeting after the Annual General Meeting in June.

Continuing the Railway’s long-standing practice, the board has elected its chairman and deputy chairman for the coming year.

Charlie Wright becomes chairman, with Mike Hulme elected deputy chairman.

Charlie is a chartered accountant and chief executive of a group of manufacturing businesses. An active SVR volunteer, he serves as a steam fireman and has led the railway’s One Railway organisational restructure, including the successful conversion of the former SVR (Holdings) Plc into the Severn Valley Railway Society Limited.

Mike brings extensive senior rail industry experience, having retired as site managing director of Alstom’s rolling stock site at Derby after a career spanning engineering, operations and executive leadership across the rail sector.

The Railway has also appointed Antony Bartlam and Phil Swallow to the board. Both have been co-opted as directors.

Antony, a structural engineer and long-standing SVR volunteer, will take special responsibility for infrastructure. He played a leading role in coordinating the railway’s response to the Mor Brook embankment collapse and has been instrumental in developing long-term infrastructure resilience and inspection programmes.

Phil has more than 30 years’ experience in technology and business transformation, together with a long-standing passion for heritage railways as a co-owner of the SVR-based locomotive 34027 Taw Valley.

The changes also mark the retirement of two long-serving directors.

Chris Walton steps down after 40 years at board level, including serving as chairman during the recent period of multiple challenges that the SVR has faced.

Andy Barr retires after 12 years on the board, during which he made a significant contribution through his extensive rail safety knowledge and experience.

The SVR’s chief executive officer, Gus Dunster, said: “These appointments bring together an exceptional combination of commercial, engineering and railway expertise. Charlie, Mike, Antony and Phil each have a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing heritage railways, and I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to build One Railway.

“I would also like to record my sincere thanks to Chris and Andy for their outstanding service to the SVR. Their commitment and leadership have helped the railway through some exceptionally challenging years, including the COVID pandemic and rising operating costs, culminating in our successful transition to a Charitable Community Benefit Society.

“Both have made invaluable contributions to the Railway, and I’m delighted they will remain active as volunteers, continuing to support an organisation that means so much to them and to so many others.”