For the exhibitors, the Festival of Model tramways this year was marred by the collapse of Gerald Warner on the Friday during setting up. Gerald had put together his new layout ‘Bridge Street’ and had climbed the stairs to speak to Alan Kirkman, when he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to Charing Cross Hospital, where he died on Friday 30th September.
Gerald had been a part of the Thames Valley Area Group almost from its beginning. He first attended a meeting in September 1996. When the idea of building a layout to celebrate 100 years of electric street tramways in London was first mooted, Gerald became an enthusiastic member of the team. That is an understatement, as it was Gerald who built the baseboards, Gerald who designed the wiring, installed it and built the control panel. It was Gerald who went out to measure the floor plans of the buildings on the layout.
Many of the cars running on ‘Kew Bridge’ were his and not a few of its motor vehicles. No exaggeration, therefore, is needed to say that without him ‘Kew Bridge’ would never have got off the drawing board – indeed not even onto the drawing board!
Everything he did was to the same organised, neat, tidy and methodical standard. The ‘Operating Manual for Bridge Street’ is typical, with the wiring diagrams running to some dozen pages, neatly produced.
Weekends away showing ‘Kew Bridge’ at exhibitions were a pleasure. One could not ask for a more delightful companion. He was at the head of the queue when volunteers were required. On the Thursday before the Festival he was helping to put out the tables. He took on the job of General Manager of ‘London United Electric Tramways’ Kew Bridge Depot’ with enthusiasm. Perhaps that was because that first meeting he attended saw John Gillham speaking on L.U.T.
All his colleagues in Thames Valley will join me in saying that it is going to be very difficult to replace Gerald in all that he was and did. And we are already missing him greatly. It is sad that he never got to run ‘Bridge Street’ for the public. Those who did, found it greatly admired. He would have liked that.
To Monica and his family we extend our sincerest sympathy and join with them in mourning a great friend and true gentleman.
Ron Howes
