New general manger for SDR

The South Devon Railway has appointed a successor to popular long-serving general manager Richard Elliott when he retires next April. In a change of career, volunteer worker and Devon PR business owner Dick Wood will take over the reins during the railway's 40th anniversary season. The line re-opened in 1969.

Mr Elliott (62) is one of the most well liked and affable heritage railway managers in the country and has run the scenic, seven-mile line for 17 years since 1991 when the South Devon Railway Trust took over the line from the Dart Valley Railway.

New General Manager Dick Wood (52) has been a volunteer and supporter of the SDR since 1971 and serves as a fireman on the line. After working across the UK and the South West region in a number of senior PR and marketing positions for both central and local government organisations, Mr Wood has run his own successful PR business since 1998.

In addition to his railway experience on the SDR, Mr Wood is a steam driver and long-serving volunteer on the West Somerset Railway, and also worked for five years for the Tyne & Wear PTE and underground Metro system in and around Newcastle.

For retiring general manager Richard Elliott, leaving the comparative security of his previous job as a Devon bank manager in Chagford in 1991 to become the SDR’s first boss was a big step. But he set about his new task with tireless energy and enthusiasm and developed the South Devon Railway into one of the south west’s top visitor attractions.

 But, after a period of serious ill health last year, plus a lifelong involvement with the line dating way back to 1965 when the former Ashburton branch was first acquired with a view to running summer tourist trains, Mr Elliott decided to hang up his green flag and make way for a successor to continue the good work.

South Devon Railway Trust chairman Alan Taylor commented: “Richard Elliott has been a wonderful manager of the South Devon Railway and it’s hard to imagine what it will be like here without him. But, like everyone, he has to retire sometime and we believe we have found an ideal replacement in Dick Wood who is a long serving volunteer and who has been doing our PR work for the last two years.

“Next to taking over the line, finding Richard’s successor has been the most difficult task we've ever had to face. We wanted a new general manager with a firm grounding in business, good people skills and a sound understanding of the tourist industry, plus a passion for railways and industrial heritage.

“Richard will certainly be a very hard act to follow but he’s now looking forward to a well earned retirement. Our new general manager Dick Wood probably knows this railway as well as anyone and understands what the South Devon Railway is all about and what makes things tick here.

“Dick will now work part-time with Richard and our board of directors during a handover period before taking over completely in April 2009, and he will be one of the leading lights in planning our 40th anniversary celebrations next year.

“We have a very special, friendly branch-line atmosphere here with staff and volunteers working hand in hand, so Dick’s aim is to maintain that relationship and try to get the best out of our people, as well as obviously making our visitors welcome. 

New SDR General Manager Dick Wood.gif

Dick Wood

“We cannot run the railway without volunteers, so we’re pleased to have recruited someone who really understands that. We also needed someone with a proven track record to steer the South Devon Railway into the next decade and manage the major redevelopments planned at Buckfastleigh which will make the SDR even better.”

Commenting on his impending retirement, SDR general manager Richard Elliott said: “The South Devon Railway has literally been my life for almost the last 20 years and I was a volunteer here for another 26 years before that, so I reckon to have done my bit!

“I’ve loved every day of the job and the South Devon Railway is a joy to behold, and it has given me some very happy memories. But I won’t be leaving here completely and will still turn up as a volunteer when it suits and will also be helping the railway as a consultant.

“I’ve known Dick Wood for a very long time and know he will lead it by example and really has the South Devon Railway in his blood. I wish him good luck and hope his new job brings him just as much pleasure and satisfaction as it has for me.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Dick Wood said: “Until the summer of 1972, I had only seen photos of the Ashburton branch in old railway magazines. So, it was like a dream come true when I first walked down the drive as a very raw and inexperienced 16-year-old volunteer worker all the way from Newcastle.

“Even though the Buckfastleigh station site was in utter chaos at the time with the construction of the adjacent A38 trunk road, I was totally hooked on the experience and spent every holiday here from then until the late 1980s, having a go at almost very job on the line from the track to the locos.

“I’ve never grown tired of the beauty of this railway line through the seasons nor of the many good friends I’ve made here over the years. Most of my longstanding friendships are linked with steam railways in some way, and the SDR is certainly a very friendly place.

“Taking this job on from Richard Elliott is both a great honour and a real privilege for me. I’m looking forward to the challenge immensely and repaying the trust people have put in me.

5.11.08