# GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED

## Details

- **Country:** England & Wales
- **Charity number:** 272616
- **Other names:** DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
- **Status:** Registered
- **Legal form:** Charitable company
- **Registered:** Feb. 1, 1977
- **Register:** https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_regId=272616


## Contact

- **Address:** Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxon
- **Postcode:** OX11 7NJ
- **Phone:** 01235 817200
- **Email:** info@didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
- **Website:** www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk



## Activities

**Objects:** (A) TO PRESERVE, RESTORE AND OPERATE AS A PERMANENT PUBLIC EXHIBITION AND MUSEUM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNICAL HISTORICAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION AND FOR PERMANENT PRESERVATION DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATION STEAM AND OTHER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES ROLLING STOCK EQUIPMENT MACHINERY AND RELICS OF HISTORICAL OPERATIONAL AND GENERAL INTEREST AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE FORMER GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.(B) TO COLLECT, COLLATE, EXCHANGE, MAKE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REFERENCE AND PUBLISH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HISTORY, EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE FORMER GREAT WESTERN AND OTHER RAILWAYS.(C) TO UNDERTAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES OF AN EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE NATURE AS MAY IN THE OPINION OF THE ASSOCIATION BE CONVENIENTLY OR ADVANTAGEOUSLY UNDERTAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION.(D)(I) TO UNDERTAKE THE PURCHASE OF AND TO PRESERVE AND OPERATE ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT LOCOMOTIVES ( OF ANY POWER SOURCE) AND ROLLING STOCK PRODUCED AND USED BY BRITISH RAILWAYS WESTERN REGION AND ITS SUCCESSORS SINCE THE NATIONALISATION OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ON THE 1ST JANUARY 1948.(D)(II) THE ASSOCIATION IS AUTHORISED TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND OPERATE ANY SUCH EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED BY THE ASSOCIATION UNDER 3(D)(I) OR BY AGREEMENT WITH ANY OTHER ASSOCIATION OR SOCIETY OWNING AND WISHING TO RESTORE PRESERVE OR OPERATE THE SAID EQUIPMENT ON THE PREMISES OF THE GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LTD. WITH THE COMPANY'S PRIOR AGREEMENT.

**Activities:** 1) To preserve, restore and operate as a permanent public exhibition and museum, steam and other railway locomotives, rolling stock and equipment, both for historical and educational purposes, and2) To make available for public reference the history, equipment and operation all with reference to both the former Great Western Railway and its successors since nationalisation on 1 January 1948

**Area of benefit:** NOT DEFINED




## Classification

- **How:** Other Charitable Activities
- **What:** Education/training, Arts/culture/heritage/science, Environment/conservation/heritage
- **Who:** The General Public/mankind



## Areas of operation

- Bristol City
- Devon
- Oxfordshire
- Slough
- Somerset
- West Berkshire
- Wiltshire
- Windsor And Maidenhead



## Finances

| Period end | Income | Expenditure | Assets | Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 31, 2025 | £3853845 | £2145263 | £4664194 | 31 |
| Jan. 31, 2024 | £2232098 | £1785937 | £2948603 | 33 |
| Jan. 31, 2023 | £1696734 | £2355117 | £2502442 | 26 |
| Jan. 31, 2022 | £1465300 | £1455638 | £3160825 | 17 |
| Jan. 31, 2021 | £1317020 | £1390936 | £3152986 | 15 |



## Trustees

- **RICHARD ALAN PRESTON** (Chair) — appointed Sept. 15, 2018
- John Bertram Crouch — appointed May 21, 2022
- John Plant — appointed Oct. 12, 2024
- Laura Suzanne Donaldson — appointed Sept. 7, 2019
- Marita Ann Middleton — appointed Oct. 12, 2024
- Mokbul Khan — appointed Feb. 12, 2021
- Richard John Varley — appointed April 16, 2016
- Robert Heron — appointed Nov. 25, 2023