Rob Tibbits interviewed by Tim Procter

Oral history interview with Rob Tibbits conducted and recorded by Tim Procter on 29 May 2012, at the National Railway Museum. Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes. Personal background; starting volunteering at NRM 1975; White Cross Lodge Group evening class, became York Railway Circle, links to NRM, Stockton & Darlington 150th celebration; NRM opening 27/09/1975, John Coiley (Curator), Flying Scotsman cleaning; [00:04:30] early volunteering at NRM, informal; [00:06:20] volunteering activities; beginning of locomotive operations, Evening Star, Green Arrow, informal activities; volunteer community; Invicta cosmetic overhaul (1976-1980), Jeff Bird, Tuesday night team; [00:08:40] other early volunteering activities; rail tours, Settle and Carlisle reopening 1978, Green Arrow, steam trip duties, tours,, informality; [00:11:40] volunteer backgrounds; relationship with other volunteers; previous engineering experience, Ffestiniog experience, similar for others; [00:15:10] informal training provided, health and safety concerns reported; Invicta Project, V2 engine clean, T9 tender work, Duchess of Hamilton (DOH) arrival (1976); [00:19:00] management of volunteers; John Bellwood for engine work, David Burrows for workshop, Bob Fearn, David Jenkinson for DOH work, Gwen Townend for running NRM trains, John Coiley, other museum staff; [00:21:20] the 55 Club; 1980 DOH operation, Pullman coach stock; details of 55 Club operation, routes covered, Premier Dining; 1984, end of 55 Club, Scarborough trip, Carlisle trip, 12 trips per year; [00:30:40] NRM recognition of volunteers; NRM staff views of volunteers, no formal recognition, RT record of volunteer contributions; [00:32:40] DOH operation, John Peck role (Chief Engineer, FNRM) and Kim Mallion (mechanical side), funding of DOH work; [00:34:30] balance of volunteers' work; engine work; projects examples; lack of links between engine work and other volunteer activities; [00:36:10] Front of House volunteer work; start of Information Points, FNRM presence, informal; volunteer numbers; locomotive work leading to DOH overhaul; [00:39:00] Tuesday night team; DOH overhaul, Richard Gibbon role, other roles developed; DOH overhaul; inspection of work, no formal training for DOH overhaul, no shortage of unskilled work, organisation, skilled work done by a few, good team, good relationships, Tuesday night and weekend working, social side; [00:45:50] volunteering in 1980’s; DOH; other activities, Liverpool-Manchester Celebrations, Mallard; [00:48:00] his favorite locomotives, DOH, Green Arrow, City of Truro, Hardwick; [00:49:20] relationship between volunteers and workshop staff, challenges, volunteers there to support; DOH ownership change from FNRM to NRM, good co-operation; [00:52:20] activities after DOH came out of traffic; more restrictive, reduced role; move to Tuesday night team; more work in 2000’s, DOH streamlining, NRM 6229 Volunteer Group; [00:55:00] 1990s change in volunteering; NRM organising volunteering, positive development; [00:56:50] reduced volunteer commitment; not easy, some unhappiness, maintained occasional involvement; [00:59:20] volunteers families generally supportive; [01:00:30] women volunteers, Tracey Parkinson, Helen Ashby (1984); support during DOH overhaul; [01:02:30] museum staff volunteers, library, education, support crew, workshop; [01:04:20] changes following appointment of Volunteer Officer; focal point for volunteers, communications improved, volunteer suitability checks, response to modern world requirements; [01:07:30] changes in volunteering over the years; Health and Safety requirements; now “golden age” of volunteering [01:09:00] discussion on how volunteering involvement impact on his teaching career; if museum recognises volunteers contribution, personally not feeling need for recognition, enjoyed volunteering[01:12:10] personal greatest achievement as a volunteer, fantastic memories and experiences[01:13:29] [end of interview]

Oral history recording made as part of a NRM oral history of volunteering initiative led by NRM volunteering team between 2012 and 2015, with the aim to record the voices of people sharing their volunteering experiences at the National Railway Museum, including NRM colleagues supervising volunteers.