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2014 News Archive

December 2014

• Claymills has featured on the BBC's The One Show. "Torbet's Extreme Christmas" features explorer Andy Torbet climbing up ladders on the outside of the chimney and abseiling back down the inside.


November 2014

• The replacement centre column for B engine governor has been machined. The fixing holes in the base are being drilled here.

• "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Claymills volunteers are all young at heart.


October 2014

• At the October steaming, the official presentation of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service took place. Photo-1 Photo-2 Photo-3

• We've been doing our bit for the community by allowing the fire brigade to conduct a rescue exercise at the Pumping Station. Engines from Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield and Abbots Bromley turned out. The scenario was that there had been an escape of steam and that three people were trapped in the basement which was in total darkness. Photo-1 Photo-2


September 2014

• The September steaming was attended by Fowler Road Locomotive "Foremost".

• The Junior Engineers' summer project to renovate a Parker cement mixer was completed.


August 2014

• Claymills remembers - On Monday August 4th the 112ft chimney was lit up from 10pm until 11pm. Photo-1 Photo-2


July 2014

• On July 19th Claymills hosted what we believe was probably the first virtual organ recital held in a steam pumping station. The picture shows Richard Morgan of Rugeley playing. The Friends of the Burton Wurlitzer are planning on a repeat visit next year.

• During the great summer weather, rapid progress has been made on our new "Activity Centre". The foundations have been dug out. The hardcore was rolled. The concrete base was poured. The building is partly constructed.


June 2014

• Claymills is delighted to announce that we have been awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2014.
This unique UK national honour was created by Her Majesty to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and to recognise the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers.
For more details please click here.


May 2014

• Work is continuing on B engine. One of the replacement bearing shells is shown here being fitted to its other half.

• The pipe drug has been moved from the position where most of the restoration work took place. A horse is shown here hitched up to the pipe drug for the first time in many years. Unfortunately, during the move some serious rotted timber was discovered and it was deemed unsafe for the horse to move it. Further major restoration work will be required.


April 2014

• The Easter steaming was enhanced by a visit from the Morgan Sports Car club. Our yard was full of wonderful cars. Photo-1 Photo-2 Photo-3 Photo-4


March 2014

• Work is continuing on B engine. The beam is being cleaned and the replacement bearing shells are being machined.


February 2014

• The Trust has been awarded a grant of £5,000 by the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust towards a new educational building.

• Here are a couple more pictures from the foundry showing the casting of the replacement centre column for B engine governor. Photo-1 Photo-2


January 2014

• The replacement centre column for B engine governor has been cast. Here is the casting before fettling.

• A major long term project was completed in January - completion of installing the brass bands on C and D beam engines. Ever since the original cladding was removed, as part of the asbestos disposal works completed by Severn Trent before the Trust was allowed on site, the intention has been to replace this. New mahogany strips were purchased with the aid of a £4,000 grant and work commenced in 2000.

© Claymills Pumping Engines Trust
Meadow Lane
Stretton
Burton upon Trent, DE13 0DA
Registered Charity No. 1030331
Accredited Museum No. 2334