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Gresley and the duck

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:34 pm
by Bryan
Today wed 14th oct 2015 on Radio 2BBC Jeremy Vine after1300

There is a discussion about the new statue

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:12 pm
by silverfox
Looks like Micheal Portillo is for the duck as well (from the save gresleys duck facebook page)

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:24 am
by Mickey
Gresley and 'the duck' issue is currently being discussed on BBC Radio London this morning (02/02/16) and apparently the vice chairman of the Gresley Society who has been invited to speak on the subject has said 'the duck' ISN'T going to be included with the statue of sir Nigel.

Mind you a few 'non-railway minded' people who knew nothing about railways let alone anything about sir Nigel Gresley or Mallard rang up the radio station and claimed they will leave 'plastic toy ducks' at the base of the statue once it's in place and on view to the general public at Kings Cross station(?).

Mickey

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 4:53 pm
by Horsetan
Well, it's definitely got serious, according to today's "Times" :lol:

Isn't this all just ducking the question?

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:09 pm
by Kestrel

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:32 am
by Horsetan
I wonder what the state of the Society's finances will be after spending on serious legal fees....

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:49 am
by John Palmer
"Mallard pictured on July 3 1938, when it thundered along at speeds that have remained unmatched by any steam locomotive for three-quarters of a century."

Beneath a photograph of the locomotive in Sonning Cutting, no doubt during the 1948 exchanges. Welcome to the Daily Mail's version of history.

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:51 pm
by silverfox
The problem with all this hoo-ha is the amount of blatant untruths put out by the society on this matter
Claims are

All the members are in favour of the removal.... no they are not

We have never targetted children... yet in the MoA it specifically says
'To undertake educational activities and to encourage,develop and maintain,for the benefit of current and future generations, an understanding and knowledge of Sir Nigel Gresleys work........
In a copy of the Go it even requested members to get their grandchildren to join
as most of the members were over 60.....

We have told all of those who subscribed of the decision... not they didnt

All of the members who joined after the removal did so specifically as a result of our actions.. Well at least 5 didnt ,because i asked them

After widespread discussions with members. Absolute bollocks they have spoke to no one about it

The membership has been fully informed.... about 20 lines in three issues expaining it and saying it was a done decision.as no dissention has been received ( see my open letter to him on the society website) So at least one..how many others found their wy to the WPB?


They refuse to put a ballot to the members as and point out the first lie to justify it, thus disenfranchising the whole membership


Now i like the Mallard, especially as it was pointed out the reasons for it. All of which they now backtrack on

What i dont lke is the downright lies and scathing comments made by the chairman calling anyone who has the temerity to query the decision as 'Deranged' 'zealots' and claiming they are only doing it for their own self gratification convieniently ignoring the fact that it was removed on the specific threat by Godfrey that the 'special relationship' they have with the Society would be damaged. no one has ever explained what that is, apart fron him being a Grandson

Godfrey also forgets that on at least two occasions where plaqiues have been unveiled,that he has extolled his grandfathers love of wildfowl and also that his own mother suggested to Sir Nigel that the A4 class be named after birds, and yet he says the Mallard demeans the statue, but uses it to his own self gratiication where necessary


The Committee cannot give any proof of these claims, but they claim some members could be bringing the society into disrepute by pointing these lies out. Again ignoring the chairmans outbursts of calling members of the public deranged... you couldnt make it up
A lot of members would like to see a ballot of members , and that the council and Godfrey abide with the decision. But i aint gonna happen.
Nigel Harris made a tlling comment on twitter the other day reagrding the possiblr investigation by the charity ocmmission, ( and there could well be a second one as well) in pointing out that the chairman was very forthcoming previously,
'Nobody from the Gresley Society was available for comment'
He said
Normally means they know they are now in the brown stuff (I paraphrase that , but the sentiment is the same)

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:57 pm
by greenglade
I best stick my hand up then and say that I'm 'deranged' and proud of it.....I signed the petition to keep the duck...I am a member of the society ( which reminds me I need to send another cheque...wish they did direct debit lol) and more importantly I donated to the statue when first announced.

Pete

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:20 pm
by silverfox
Pete

I will give your favourie charity 50.00 if you can show me the letter Macintosh is supposed to have sent every contributor advising the change, and the other one that says you can ask for your moneyback if you disagree with their actions

I think my money is safe and just shows to what depths they stoop to placate Godfrey

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:47 pm
by greenglade
I can't say that I recall such a letter...I won't swear to it though as my memory isn't to good these days but it doesn't ring a bell and I think that I would remember having taken an interest in this whole fiasco....

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:18 pm
by silverfox
Pete

you wouldnt remember something you never received it. Yet another mis truth they put out. oh and here is one of the best

Chairman claims the following

The donations (from the public) for the statue have dried up since the 'save the duck campaign 'started .

That is a dim witted conclusion if i ever saw one. They cannot see that once they removed the mallard people would not give money to something they did not agree with. It was their actions alone that caused it to dry up. I would have given (250.00) but luckily didnt before it was removed, and if i had i would have requested a refund under false representation. as the picture of the complete statue was still being used in the Ads after the decision was taken.
And if they claim that they have written to every subscriber, and i have knowledge of three, and you make four, confirming no such communication has been recieved,saying that they can request a refund, why has no one seen this letter. again more bullshit.
Why dont you drop mac a line requesting your money back stating the reason that as a member you donated to a statue that the Council agreed on and not one of 'just a bloke' and see what happens... go on i dare you :-)

The main point is that they ( the council ) cannot handle the truth. I would also put a few pence down that not all the Vice presidents were against it either, certainly Macalpine has come out in favour of the Mallard, despite a grovelling ltter from Chair to say he was in favour of its removal. And although i abhor their actions and deceit and subterfuge in this matter, i am 100% against anyone who would go and festoon it with ducks of every description to make their point

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:33 pm
by Mickey
This things turned into a bit of a farce unfortunately.

Anyway personally speaking instead of one statue of sir Nigel Gresley i've been thinking (for a while) that i would like to see 3 statues (altogether) of the 3 CMEs associated with Kings Cross of the GNR & LNER eras combined in a statue of Patrick Stirling, Henry Ivatt & sir Nigel Gresley and no ruddy duck.

Mickey

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:51 pm
by Pebbles
The Genie is out of the bottle, no matter what the feelings of individuals may be I can see a street venders trade in yellow plastic ducks.

Re: Gresley and the duck

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:27 pm
by strang steel
I am not a member of the society and don't have great feelings either for or against a duck, but I read that the Gresley's descendants do not want a duck.

If that is correct, then the wishes of the great man's family are good enough for me.