We are pleased to send you the link to the latest UPdate newsletter from the Trust, giving details of the ongoing work to achieve our aim of restoring rail services in Norfolk (the Norfolk Orbital Railway) and preserving former rail routes. A lot is happening “behind the scenes”, as you can see. Click on this link to read the UPdate: UPdate August 2025
Along with the UPdate, we have included the link to the Executive Summary from the recent report commissioned by the Trust from Stantec on the potential passenger numbers and revenue should the railway be extended into Holt Town and to Dereham – Fakenham. An article within the newsletter by our Chairman, Trevor Bailey, gives more information. Click on this link to read the Executive Summary:
We will again be at Mid Norfolk Railway on Saturday, 13th September at Dereham Station (trains will be running) and on Sunday, 21st September at County School Station. We are looking forward to being able to talk with supporters about the Trust’s work. We hope that as many of you as possible may visit and have a chat. These events are FREE.
Freight at Fakenham East in the 1960’s. Photograph courtesy of the Fakenham and District Community Archive.
CHARITY DEBANKING: Many of you will now be familiar with the term ‘debanking’. Retail banks are closing many accounts – indeed, more than 23,000 charity accounts have been closed in the last year by retail banks – regardless of the charity’s history or financial situation. Added to this, retail banks no longer offer new charity accounts either!
The Melton Constable Trust is shortly to be ‘debanked’ by the retail bank with whom we have had accounts for many years and have never given any cause for concern; the NCVO reports that much of this is due to the increased regulatory requirements of the government being interpreted by retail banks not only very strictly, but also being used as the reason to close charity accounts (from which the banks make no money!). Trustees are in the process of setting up a new account with a specialist bank for charities. Our present bank closes the account on 10th October so we will be contacting all regular donors to ask them to cancel standing orders from the start of October and giving them the new banking details.
Holt signal box log book – last page in 1964 when the rail services stopped.
If you wish to donate to the Melton Constable Trust at the current time, we recommend using our Paypal account which is not affected by the change of bank accounts. If you would like any further information about the Trust, or are interested in joining us, please contact us either by replying to this email or coming and meeting us. We always look forward to meeting supporters and those interested.
We are pleased to send you the link to the latest UPdate newsletter from the Trust, giving details of the ongoing work to achieve our aim of restoring rail services in Norfolk (the Norfolk Orbital Railway) and preserving former rail routes. A lot is happening “behind the scenes”, as you can see. Click on this link to read the UPdate: UPdate August 2025
