It is with great sadness that the committee of TLC learnt of the unexpected death of our Vice-Chairman, committee member and former Chairman John Reynolds on 11 December 2021.
John first joined TLC (then called the Tonbridge & District Railway Travellers Association) in 1986 as an ordinary member. He joined the committee in May 1989 and his first Travel Topics article was published in the spring 1991 edition, covering the dangers of slippery Terrazzo tiling at stations.
John became Chairman at the 2003 AGM and served in that capacity until 2008 when, after his retirement from work, he stepped down to allow a committee member who was still commuting full-time to take the role. However, he continued to serve on the committee and frequently contributed articles to Travel Topics, including a 2008 article celebrating 50 years of the association. In 2011, after changes to the committee, John took up the role of Vice-Chairman. He continued in this position until 2017, when he was persuaded to step up to again take the role the Chairman. In 2020, John reverted to being Vice-Chairman, a position he held until his untimely passing. In recent years, John also acted as our Press Officer, getting many letters published in local papers and rail industry magazines, as well making as the odd TV appearance! He was also a strong advocate of the Tonbridge-Redhill line, including representing TLC at meetings of the Sussex Community Rail Partnership.
John will be remembered as an enthusiastic member of the committee with encyclopaedic knowledge of the railway, always ready to engage with the press, local and national government, and the railway operators. He was, appropriately enough for someone who lived in Paris for several years, a “Bon Viveur” and was always happy to head off to the pub after committee meetings. His ready wit and insightful comments on the topics of the day were always welcome. Above all he was friendly to all he met and a gentleman in all he did. He will be greatly missed.
John’s funeral will be held at 2.30pm on 12th January 2022 at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium. His family have requested family flowers only, but that donations to the Bluebell or Kent and Sussex Railways (c/o T W Boorman, Tonbridge, TN10 3DW) are welcomed.