SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

The SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION will be held at 11.00am on Thursday 12th September 2024 at the Severn Valley Railway Visitor Centre, Highley.

The SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION will be held at 11.00am on Thursday 12th September 2024 at the Severn Valley Railway Visitor Centre, Highley.
(Registered Charity No. 259095 Registered Company No 745621 Registered in England. A company limited by guarantee.)

The venue for this year’s AGM is the Severn Valley Railway, the award-winning heritage railway visitor attraction, running through 16-miles of beautiful Worcestershire and Shropshire countryside.  Climb on-board and step back in time to experience the golden age of travel, with journeys behind original steam trains and heritage diesel locomotives.  Discover beautifully restored original stations along the line, as well as the Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley, which will be the venue for our AGM proper.

Guests will travel to the AGM venue by return train departing Kidderminster Town Station, DY10 1QX at 10.00am. Refreshments will be served on the 40 minute journey to Highley on Thursday morning.

AGM registration will commence at 10.45am. The AGM will be run as a ‘face to face’ event and will take place in the Kinlet Room at the Engine House Visitor Centre, Highley, WV16 6NP.

Following the AGM, a buffet lunch will be served.  In addition to viewing the Engine Room and Royal Saloon (King George VI’s royal carriage), attendees will have the chance to get up-close-and-personal with some very special locomotives, including the impressive blue-liveried LMR 600 ‘Gordon’, as well as LMS Stanier 8F 48773, which had a famous encounter with a camel in World War II.

At 2.30pm, once the activities at the Visitor Centre are complete, members have two options:

1) Take a return train to Kidderminster departing Highley Visitor Centre at 2.37pm and arriving back at Kiddersminster at 3.30pm

OR

2) Board a special service train at 3pm and enjoy an optional luxurious Gin Tasting experience run by Piston Gin on the 2.5 hr return journey to Kidderminster. Guests will be welcomed with a refreshing Gin and Tonic made with Piston Gin’s renowned London Dry. Whilst sipping you will learn the History of Gin’s tumultuous past and how it became the drink we now know and love. After that, you’ll have the pleasure of tasting their Coal Infused Gin. The team from Piston will break down the flavours and botanicals for you, showing you how flavours impact your palette so you can fully appreciate the unique taste of this decadent gin and have the unique experience of tasting it on the tracks that inspired its creation! To round off the experience, you’ll learn how to stack a cocktail shot using Piston’s exquisite Forêt Noire Gin!

2024 is a Presidential handover year – so please come along to support & thank outgoing President Paul Sheppard who will hand over the reins after his successful three-year tenure to incoming President Elizabeth Humphrey.

Attendance at the AGM is free of charge for members. There will be a nominal charge of £25.00 per head for non-members wishing to attend the AGM itself.

• Cost for the express return train journey to Kidderminster after the AGM is free of charge.
• Cost for the additional 2.5 jour train journey WITHOUT the Gin Tasting element is free of charge.
• Cost for the additional 2.5 hour train journey with Piston Gin tasting experience is £25.00 per member/guest.

Members wishing to attend the AGM MUST pre-register using the attending link below. For catering purposes, please also notify us of any special dietary requirements when registering.

The event will also be 'live streamed' via Zoom for members wishing to attend 'virtually'. Members must indicate their preference when registering.

Places are strictly limited to 90 people, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Members unable to book a place will be able to follow the AGM via ‘live Zoom stream’.

The Agenda and Annual Report of Council for 2023 are available to Members on the OCCA website or by request – please email a request to admin@occa.org.uk.

Come along, get involved in the Annual General Meeting and then enjoy the train journey and gin tasting experience. Deadline for bookings: Wednesday 24 August 2024.