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Nick Beard

Arkwright

Dash

Oct 04, 2022

Edited: Oct 04, 2022

John Humphrys RIP

in General Discussion

It is with more sadness that I can bring the news that the long standing service guru at Hornby especially for live steam John Humphreys has passed away over the weekend.

I’m sure those than knew him like Charles and many other on the committee will have good memories and stories to tell.

Paul Barnard informed me and sent the following tribute run to him, dialogue is hard to hear but just.

9 comments

Comments (9)

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charlesleekamdesign

Nov 02, 2022

i had the privilege of getting to know John rather well. From the very earliest days following the launch of OOLIVE Steam and purchasing my very first Mallard set during December 2003, I was invited to pay frequent visits to Johns test layout, located in a modest room within the vast empty cavern of a place that once housed the mighty industrial machinery that produced Triang and later, Hornby Triang Model Railways. He welcomed my twins Hugh and Isabelle then toddlers aged around 6 yrs and my lovely old chum Richard Hodding (now aged 96) who had an encyclopedic memory for anything remotely connected with trains especially B17s.

John always ensured that I left the premises with a good stock of spares. Some several years later. When Adrian and myself held our very first joint show at the Ally Pally, John came down with several of the directors.(I'm not sure if it included Simon Choler) and watched for a good couple of hours as we entertained the sometimes considerable crowd, to a fabulous show of how to run Hornby Live Steam.

The rest is history. It was the birth of the OOLSC. Believe me when I tell you that I will protect that wonderful legacy of our club together with the memory book of a remarkable and lovely guy, John Humphreys. RIP ole chum.

Chris Oakes

Oct 26, 2022

I have just had another email from Andy - extract below.

Thanks Chris,

I’ve been meaning to respond to this for ages but just so hectic at the moment.

We will definitely put aside anything that we think may help and send it through. I will let you know in advance before we do (may still be a little more time as a lot going on)

I have again replied to confirm that we will take anything they have.

Andy

Thanks again for the offer and as I said before anything you do send will be much appreciated and even OOLS stuff that may seem like rubbish to you may well be of help to us.

Chris Oakes

Oct 19, 2022

You will be pleased to know that I have now received a response from Andy Walker

Hi Chris

Thanks for your kind words and for the information.

I did know that John had tentatively set up a link with you guys but didn’t get the details so this will help greatly.

We are having a good sift through the mountain of John’s stuff and as we come across anything Live Steam we will be keeping them together . once we have a sizeable haul we will arrange to send what we have. I’m sure most will end up just being worthless to you but figured that you will know more than we will so apologies in advance for any “junk” you get!

Thank you

Kind Regards

Andy Walker

Head of Quality

Just to make it clear to Andy that we will be grateful for anything they send I have sent the following reply

Thanks for the reply and we will make the most of anything you send us. As they say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure and in the case of OO live steam this is very true.

This last year the club have serviced or repaired over 40 locos and just like preserved railways we have reached the point where sometimes to fix a loco it is necessary to cannibalise a duff loco for parts that are no longer available.

We would very much appreciate anything you can send to us, perceived as junk or not as I am sure it will be useful us.

Fingers crossed that Hornby's junk turns out to be useful.

adrian

Oct 20, 2022

Replying to

Well done Chris but AC models and our friend from South Wales will likely be sniffing too so I suggest again that a personal visit would benefit our relationship or at least a message to Simon Kohler to reinforce the contact.

I'd happily volunteer to go.

Chris Oakes

Oct 20, 2022

Replying to

Adrian Simon was copied in to the email I sent to Andy so he is aware.

As Hornby stopped doing repairs a year ago there would be no reason for AC Models or James Reading to to be chasing Hornby over spares.

I have no problem with with anyone taking a trip to Hornby but Andy has already said that if they do find anything they will send it to us. Simon has already agreed to speak if we do put together a celebration event for next year so I don't see what the purpose of a visit would be or what it would achieve.

adrian

Oct 13, 2022

With Andy Walker, Hornby's Head of Quality saying this on the public site....

"In the last few years, our ability to continue to service these locos was getting to be zero but somehow John eked out our almost negligible remaining spares and with his knowledge and expertise was able to help many people within the Live Steam community. I'm terribly sorry to have to say that, sadly now, we have to officially "call time" on our ability to help with Live Steam."

We really ought to appeal to Hornby to scavenge as many parts and miscellaneous left over bits thet they can find and let us have them.

Can we contact him officially and ask to visit to collect as much as we are able to.

It does risk seeming like circling vultures but as Andy realises, we are the only realistic resource to support the brand in future.

In the ebsence of a Chairman I think you need to pick this up Chris and maybe Nick should visit Hornby if he is happy/able to.

Nick Beard

Oct 13, 2022

•

Replying to

I think you’ll find it was a personal email to John Vizor who put it up on the public site. Your right though, there could be a small glut of live steam spares in margate that we could get our name on, or they might of already shipped off to AC Models. Chris is up to his eyeballs at the moment, so I think we should give the dust a chance to settle before going for the carrion. I would happily visit Margate if necessary.

Chris Oakes

Oct 17, 2022

Replying to

For once I was on the ball and sent this email to Hornby after John Vizor first posted . . . but I was not quite on the ball about posting here!

Andy

OO Live Steam Club member John Vizor has posted an email reply from Andy Walker on the OO Live Steam Club forum to inform members about the sad passing of John Humphrys and the impact this has had on Hornby Live Steam support.

In the email Andy writes ‘I am sorry to have to say that, sadly now, we have to officially "call time" on our ability to help with Live Steam and that I hope that you are able to find somebody else to be able to assist. Around 12 months ago John discussed with the OOLS Club chairman Maurice Rourke both the reduced level of support available from Hornby and the future need for continued support for these locos and as a result the club devised and launched the OOLS Service and Repair Scheme and over the last year we have been contacted by a number of people who have been referred to the club by Hornby and I assume that may will have been John passing on our contact details.

We would be happy for Hornby’s support department to refer any Live Steam support queries to the club using service@oolivesteam.com and would also be happy if you wanted to share that information with your past customers via your website.

Andy also reference the ‘almost negligible remaining spares’ and it you do still have some the OOLS club would be interested in acquiring them.

We also want to send our condolences to all who knew and worked with John.

Best regards,

Chris Oakes

OO Live Steam Club Secretary

So far no response . . .

adrian

Oct 04, 2022

That is sad news. Great friend to OOLS. I think we should respond as a club. Maybe have a word with Simon?

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