Nigel Smart, whose involvement with the Trust’s locomotives and site goes back decades, died on 4 December 2023. The video shows a band playing Happy Birthday to him at Washford for his 78th in 2016.
Nigel – who was a tool maker at Rolls Royce Filton, Bristol – joined the Somerset & Dorset Circle [the forerunner of the present Trust] in 1969/70. He had extensive involvement when the organisation moved to Washford, often spending his holiday time working on-site. He completed three 10-year overhauls of the Trust’s Peckett ‘Kilmersdon’ as well as laying and maintaining the track in the yard.
He was also involved with other steam locomotive owning groups, notably the 5542 group. In June this year he had moved to Bury St. Edmunds to be closer to his sister. At the time of writing, funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.