Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications, and the Creative Industries attended a special handover ceremony at Reading Museum on Friday 1 July, when the Museum received a donation of a train nameplate bearing the name ‘Sir Felix Pole’.
Reading resident Sir Felix Pole was a British railway manager and industrialist, who rose from telegraph lad to become General Manager of the Great Western Railway in 1921 – serving through to 1929.
In later life, despite the onset of blindness, Pole continued with many activities, including chairmanship of the Reading Standard as well as local charity work.
He was knighted in 1924 in Stanley Baldwin’s dissolution list and elected for the office of High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1947. Pole died at 16 Bath Road, Reading, on 15 January 1956.
The plate was attached to Class 43 locomotive no. 43131, which was named on 23rd August 1985 − to commemorate the GWR’s 150th anniversary. (The plate was removed in 2007 when the locomotive went for refurbishment and a new engine.)
The donation has been made possible by the Railway Heritage Committee, the national statutory body which ‘designates’ items of historical significance and directs them to their most appropriate location.
Reading Museum Spokesperson Bobby Lonergan said:
“The railway system in Reading plays a vital part in our past, present and future. It is the reason the town has remained a centre for trade and commerce.
“The name plate is an excellent addition to our collection; reflecting the important contribution Sir Felix Pole made to the Railways and our town”.
Also attending the event were Mark Hopwood – Managing Director of First Great Western, Peter Ovenstone – Chairman of the Railway Heritage Committee, and Richard Faulkner (Lord Faulkner of Worcester) – former Chairman of the Committee.
Mark Hopwood said:
“Sir Felix played a key role in the life of Reading and the Great Western Railway. He understood the importance of working with the community the railway served and I am sure he would have been delighted to see how well both have developed.”
Under the provisions of the Public Bodies Bill, currently going through Parliament, it is envisaged that the Railway Heritage Committee itself will be wound up.
However, after much debate, the statutory powers of designation and disposal would now transfer to the National Museum of Science and Industry – rather than simply cease to exist.
In anticipation of this, this was the first Railway Heritage Committee event attended by a Minister from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Ed Vaizey MP paid tribute to Lord Faulkner and the Committee for negotiating a sensible way forward which had attracted support from all sides.
