Chapter 15 - This should have been the end of it

So on 17.2.21 ‘independent’ investigator Ashton, as part of his ‘investigation’ interviewed Mike Sherwood and Geoff Garfield, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the West Somerset Railway Association.

I have redacted the comments about other ‘accused’ apart from those about Chris Austin’s resignation as WSSRT Chair.

I’ll leave you to enjoy their comments.

But just a few clarifications

Page 1

Note that the ’independent’ investigation is ONLY seeking evidence AGAINST…

Page 6 Point 5

MS would have to say which were the two instances of witnessing my being bullied but I believe these to have been:

(1) the Gruffalo nonsense (Mike intervened with JJP to tell the plc not to be so silly), and 

(2) an instance at Bishop’s Lydeard where Chris Pratt, JJP’s father, bawled me out on the platform amongst the public for my work as Line Controller the previous day.  Mike was on the loco.  I raised a formal grievance about this, but it was never actioned.  I would have a view why, of course.  This is mentioned on the last page of the notes, as is Mr Ashton’s abiding trust in ACAS guidance, which we saw last week, which, as we have seen, he does not appear to understand.

We Whites have never reacted well to bullys.

I have also included the WSR plc’s knee-jerk letter of 5 September 2020, which is what brought the Railway into disrepute, if anything did.

Robin Moira White

12th July 2024